Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- University of Toronto (2003) JD (Honours)
- McGill University (2000) BA (First Class Honours)
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Shara N. Roy
"Shara Roy is an exceptional litigator. She is tough and aggressive, but always civil and a pleasure to work with. She understands and is able to manage difficult and complicated cases." — Chambers Canada
Recently recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers, Shara is a tough-minded commercial litigator. Shara’s expertise is in complex commercial litigation. Her areas of practice include commercial disputes, securities litigation, professional liability, restructuring & insolvency, and class actions. Shara’s clients include financial institutions, underwriters, accounting firms and publicly-traded companies facing bet-the-company litigation. She also represents individuals facing complex legal issues.
Shara appears before all levels of Court in Canada as well as administrative and regulatory tribunals, including the Ontario Securities Commission. Shara is Secretary of the Advocates Society Securities Litigation Practice Group and is an instructor at the Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop through Osgoode Professional Development. Shara is a regular presenter on advocacy, commercial litigation and securities.
In the community, Shara is a member of the Steering Committee for Malachy's Soiree in support of the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit of St. Michael's Hospital and sits on the Engagement Committee of United Way Toronto’s Women United. Shara is a committed advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, leading Lenczner Slaght’s ground-breaking name-anonymization hiring process. Shara co-established and heads the Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee at the Commercial List Users Committee for the Commercial Court in Toronto.
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Orefinders Resources Inc. v Mistango River Resources Inc.
Counsel to the successful minority dissident corporate shareholder in various court applications involving a contested proxy battle.
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In the Matter of Benedict Cheng et al
Counsel to the respondent in Ontario Securities Commission proceedings alleging tipping in an insider trading matter. The proceedings were resolved by way of settlement.
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Counsel to the underwriters in connection with a securities class action and CCAA proceedings relating to Poseidon Concepts. The class proceeding was resolved in the context of the CCAA process.
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Counsel to a series of companies in proceedings involving a receivership over commercial real estate developments and efforts to recover $110 million in funds improperly diverted. The matter involved dozens of contested motions and several appeals on a variety of commercial, real estate issue and construction law issues, including at the Supreme Court of Canada on the issue of “knowing assistance” by corporate actors.
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In The Matter of Katanga Mining Limited
Counsel to Aristotelis Mistakidis in Ontario Securities Commission proceedings in respect of disclosure allegations related to Katanga Mining Limited, a Canadian publicly traded company, with copper assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The proceedings were resolved by way of settlement.
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Third Eye Capital v Dianor Resources Inc
Counsel to the applicant in bankruptcy proceedings and at the Court of Appeal for Ontario relating to a mining company. The Court of Appeal rendered a pivotal decision on jurisdiction of the Court to vest an interest in land off title as part of receiver proceedings; clarified the role and duties of the receiver; established the appeal period in joint BIA/CJA receiverships; and revisited the definition of an “interest land” in mining contracts.
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Counsel to Atos in a dispute respecting the termination of a subcontract for data conversion and software support. The matter was subject to numerous motions and proceeded to a five week trial before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, where Atos was successful in recovering approximately $5.5 million in damages.
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Counsel for the defendant auditors of Sino-Forest Corporation in connection with a shareholder class action claiming damages in order of $9 billion on behalf of primary and secondary market purchasers and debt-holders. Successfully resolved proceeding and coordinated precedent setting settlement approval of a Canadian class action within the context of an ongoing CCAA proceeding. Counsel in appeals from settlement approval to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada, both of which were dismissed.
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Zaniewicz and Clarke v Zungui Haixi Corporation
Counsel for one of the defendants in a shareholder class action alleging that the defendant company's public offering prospectus and other disclosure documents contained untrue representations on a motion for an order certifying the action as a class proceeding for settlement purposes.
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Re Ernst &Young LLP (Sino-Forest and Zungui Haixi)
Counsel to the respondent auditor in two proceedings brought by the Ontario Securities Commission under the Securities Act resulting in the first no contest settlement under OSC Staff Notice 15-702: Revised Credit for Cooperation Program.
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The Advocates' Society - Secretary of the Securities Litigation Practice Group
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United Way's Women United - Member
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Women in Capital Markets
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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Toronto Lawyers Association
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Turnaround Management Association
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International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation
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Women's White Collar Defense Association
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OSC Securities Proceedings Advisory Committee - Past Member
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Big Changes in Financial Regulation: Dialogue with the OSC 2020
On November 4, 2020, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) held its annual OSC Dialogue. Financial industry leaders, senior regulators and investors came together virtually to discuss changes in the industry and how they are working together.
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In Third Eye v Dianor, the Court of Appeal for Ontario revitalized the law of vesting orders, confirming that a motion judge of the Superior Court of Justice has jurisdiction to extinguish interests in land in a receivership, and setting a new test for when that power should be exercised. The Court also clarified the precedence between the 10-day appeal period set out in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) Rules, and the 30-day period prescribed through the Courts of Justice Act (“CJA”).
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It’s about time: Limitation Periods under the Ontario Securities Act
The past year has seen a flurry of interesting cases dealing with limitation periods. My colleagues and I have commented on them previously, including here and here. In Pennyfeather v Timminco Limited, the Court of Appeal for Ontario had the chance to weigh in on limitation periods under the Ontario Securities Act (“OSA”).
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Ontario Updates International Commercial Arbitration Act
Ontario’s new legislation governing international commercial arbitration, the International Commercial Arbitration Act, 2017, came into force on March 22, 2017, replacing the International Commercial Arbitration Act previously in place.
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Contracting Out: Court finds contract applies over Limitations Act
A recent decision of the Ontario Divisional Court upheld a contractually agreed-upon limitation period and enforced it against a third party, even in circumstances where it appeared to be at odds with the statutory provisions of the Limitations Act, 2002.
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Benchmark Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght as a “Powerhouse"
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized with the top tier ranking of “Highly Recommended in Ontario” for its Dispute Resolution practice.
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The 2021 Lexpert Directory Recognizes 30 Lenczner Slaght Lawyers
An increasing number of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners in their fields.
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The Women's Law Association of Ontario has featured Sana Halwani and Shara N. Roy in their Women Lawyers of Ontario series. Sana and Shara speak about the drive behind ReferToHer™ and their personal insights and advice on taking control of your legal career.
Read Sana's feature here.
Read Shara's feature here.
Read the feature on ReferToHer™ here.
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Lenczner Slaght Achieves 20 Years at the Centre of the Lexpert Bull’s-Eye
The 2021 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada continues to recognize Lenczner Slaght as the #1 firm in Toronto for Litigation and Commercial Litigation.
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Lexpert Recognizes Lenczner Slaght Lawyers for Litigation Excellence
An increasing number of our expert litigators continue to be recognized as the foremost litigators in their fields by peers and senior members of the legal profession.
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Sana Halwani and Shara Roy are mentioned in a recent Droit-inc article about the origin of ReferToHer™ and why it is important to be intentional when you refer work in the legal industry.
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Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2020 Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Expert Litigators
In the latest edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada, Lenczner Slaght achieves eight recognitions in the Litigation chapter, with a total of ten expert litigators ranked.
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Website aims to correct a lack of referrals to female lawyers
Shara N. Roy and Sana Halwani speak about ReferToHer in the Radio Canada International article Website aims to correct a lack of referrals to female lawyers.
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Lawyers team up to drive more business to female experts
Sana Halwani and Shara Roy were interviewed by The Globe and Mail for their feature on ReferToHer™, its inaugural virtual event, and what’s coming up next!
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized as a Top-Tier Litigation Firm by Chambers Canada
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized by world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Shara N. Roy will be speaking at the OBA's CLUC Education Day on Diversity in the Practise of Law.
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Shareholder Activism on Environmental and Social Issues
Shara Roy is leading The Advocates' Society program on "Shareholder Activism on Environmental and Social Issues". The program will include a discussion about the latest trends in shareholder activism on environmental and social issues in Canada and the US, and its implications.
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Class Actions Law and Practice
Shara N. Roy was a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto's Class Actions Law and Practice course. Shara shared her expertise on "Securities Class Actions".
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Shara N. Roy shared her expertise at The Advocates' Society's program Motions Advocacy. Shara presented on the panel "Demonstration and Discussion: Effective Advocacy in the (Virtual?) Courtroom".
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Shara N. Roy spoke at The Advocates' Society's program Legal Drafting for Litigators. Shara presented on the panel "Best Practices for Preparing Effective Pleadings".
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The Six-Minute Debtor-Creditor and Insolvency Lawyer 2020
Shara N. Roy shared her expertise at the Law Society of Ontario's annual program The Six-Minute Debtor-Creditor and Insolvency Lawyer. Shara presented on the topic "Enforcement and Debt Recovery from: Residential Tenants, Commercial Tenants, and Retail Businesses".
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Today’s law firm recruiting takes massive stakeholder co-operation
In The Lawyer's Daily's recent article, our Director of Legal Recruitment & Development, Natalie Zinman, and Co-Chair of our Student Program, Shara Roy, comment on the changes to summer student recruitment as a result of #COVID19.
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Securities Litigation Perspectives: Canadian vs. U.S.
Shara N. Roy spoke at The Advocates' Society's securities litigation program on the latest trends and issues in securities litigation in both Canada and the United States.
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Monique Jilesen and Shara N. Roy shared their expertise at The Advocates' Society's civil litigation program "Motions Advocacy".
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Canadian Lawyer's Women in Law Summit
Shara Roy presented at Canadian Lawyer's Women in Law Summit on the panel discussion: Addressing unconscious bias and discrimination. The session explored practical steps for addressing bias within the legal industry.
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Chambers Canada (2020-2021)
Litigation: Securities (Ontario)
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Canadian Lawyer (2019)
Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers
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Lexpert Zenith Award (2019)
Change Agent in Law
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2016-2021)
Class Actions, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Litigation - Securities, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring (Insolvency Litigation)
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Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (2020-2021)
Corporate Commercial Litigation; Securities Litigation
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2019-2020)
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada (2017)
Litigation Lawyer to Watch
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2016-2021)
Class Action Litigation, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Securities
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Benchmark Canada (2018-2021)
Litigation Star – Class Action, Commercial, Public Law, Intellectual Property
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The Legal 500 Canada (2018)
Dispute Resolution (Next Generation Lawyer)
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