Expertise
-
Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- University of Toronto Faculty of Law (2011) JD
- London School of Economics (2008) MSc (Distinction – Philosophy and Public Policy)
- University of King's College (2006) BA (Honours – Political Science and Spanish)
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Brendan F. Morrison
is a partner at Lenczner Slaght.
"Brendan is an exceptional litigation lawyer. His strategic mindset, meticulous attention to detail, and persuasive courtroom presence allow his clients to trust their case will be handled with the utmost skill and dedication." — Client
Brendan is an experienced trial lawyer with a focus on corporate and commercial litigation, shareholder and employment disputes, fraud, defamation, professional liability, and civil sexual assault. As counsel to both plaintiffs and defendants, Brendan has a record of success guiding his clients through their most challenging legal problems.
Brendan has appeared before all levels of courts, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also represents clients before courts of other provinces and various administrative tribunals such as the Capital Markets Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal, and the discipline tribunals of the Ontario College of Massage Therapists and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Brendan is consistently listed by Lexpert and Best Lawyers as a leading specialist in corporate commercial litigation, medical negligence and defamation. He is Co-Chair of Lenczner Slaght’s Student Committee and regularly speaks on panels about the practice of law and the legal profession.
Brendan is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he teaches upper-year civil procedure.
Brendan earned numerous awards for his achievements at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he represented the school at the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Competition and the Arnup Cup for Trial Advocacy. He also served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Law & International Relations and was awarded the Gordon Cressy award for leadership.
In 2023, Brendan was recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star for his exceptional advocacy, excellent client service, and his exemplary leadership in the profession.
Brendan speaks fluent Spanish and French.
-
Counsel to the successful defendant physicians in a complex medical negligence claim involving the alleged misdiagnosis of cerebral palsy in an infant. In June 2024, the matter proceeded to a successful 8-week trial before a Jury.
-
Lithium Royalty Corporation v Orion Resource Partners et al
Counsel to Lithium Royalty Corporation in a successful trial to enforce a binding contract for the purchase of an 85% interest in a Nevada lithium royalty for US$18.7 million total consideration.
-
Counsel to the successful Defendant Physician at trial in dismissing allegations of defamation and misfeasance of public office arising from the end of the Plaintiff Physician’s privileges at West Parry Sound Hospital at a time when the Defendant Physician was Chief of Staff. The action was dismissed by the Trial Judge and costs of $280,000 awarded to the Defendant Physician.
-
Contract Community Inc v Department of Public Works and Government Services
Counsel to Public Works and Government Services Canada in successfully defending a procurement complaint before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal involving allegations of breach of trade agreements in the procurement of real property project management support services for Government of Canada projects in the National Capital Region.
-
Counsel to the successful respondents in an Application by family members challenging the Will of a deceased on the basis of lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence.
-
1107051 Ontario Ltd v GG Kingspa Enterprises Limited Partnership
Counsel to Great Gulf in a large commercial dispute involving the development of two large condominium projects in the heart of downtown Toronto. Great Gulf successfully resisted the Plaintiffs’ motion to strike claims for repudiation made in Great Gulf’s counterclaim.
-
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario v Cheng
Counsel to the Defendant Physician in successfully defeating claims of sexual abuse of a patient at a trial before a panel of the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal.
-
Grillo Barristers P.C. v Kagan Law Firm
Counsel to the successful Defendants and Plaintiffs by Counterclaim on an appeal before the Court of Appeal originating from a registrar’s dismissal of a multimillion dollar action alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment.
-
Cadex v Department of Public Works and Government Services
Counsel to the Government of Canada in successfully defending a proceeding before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal arising from the procurement for the purchase of 229 multi-calibre sniper weapon systems for the Department of National Defence.
-
Davidson v Stableview Asset Management Inc et al
Counsel for the Individual Defendant in the dismissal of a class action brought by investors against their portfolio manager after it was demonstrated that the putative class suffered no damages.
-
University of Toronto Faculty of Law - Adjunct Professor
-
The Advocates' Society - Mid-Career Advocates' Standing Committee Member (2023-2024)
-
Canadian Bar Association
-
Ontario Bar Association
-
The Commercial Bar Association
-
Amici Camping Charity - Board of Directors
-
A Contract: 👍 or 👎? The Commercial Impact of Our Emojis
The King’s Bench for Saskatchewan has been turning heads and raising eyebrows 😲 following a recent decision on the legal force of emojis.
-
Vice Media pleads in vain for press freedom, facing order to produce messages with ISIS combatant
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently heard and resolved a conflict between two competing components of a free and democratic society. As the Court put it, the dispute involved a conflict between a free and vigorous press, on the one hand, and the protection of society from serious criminal activity on the other.
-
Court Rules Hockey Strategy Outside Bounds of Judicial Notice
The hockey season is once again upon us. Across the country, from water coolers to dressing rooms, Canadians have returned to their winter status as experts in the basic principles of our beloved sport. As the season began, the Court of Appeal for Ontario also weighed in on the conversation, releasing a decision that ruled that conclusions about hockey strategy must be supported by actual evidence.
-
There’s nothing like a jury trial. The Honourable Justice Brian Dickson famously commented that juries were “endowed with an abundance of common sense”. The virtues of civil jury trials to our justice system may be too numerable to list here. But as a point of advocacy, the exercise of telling your client’s story to a jury of their peers – instead of to a judge sitting up on the dais – requires different skills, different sensibilities, and different presentation styles.
-
Lenczner Slaght Lawyers Recognized as Canada’s Leading Litigators
Following an in-depth peer review process across the legal profession, 21 Lenczner Slaght lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers guide for their extensive courtroom experience and subject-matter expertise.
-
Chambers Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Deep Bench of Expert Litigators
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to advance their position in the latest edition of the world-renowned directory.
-
Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized as the Best Lawyers in Canada
In the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, Lenczner Slaght is proud to receive 168 total rankings, with 45 of our expert litigators recognized for their expertise across 25 practice areas.
-
The 2024 Lexpert Directory Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence
Lenczner Slaght’s litigators continue to be recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners in their fields.
-
Brendan Morrison Named a 2023 Lexpert Rising Star
Brendan Morrison was recognized as a leader, change agent, and rising star at last night’s award ceremony at the Liberty Grand in Toronto.
-
Lexpert Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Strength
An increasing number of our expert litigators continue to be recognized as the foremost lawyers in their fields by peers and senior members of the legal profession.
-
Ruling Reinforces Contract Formation Principles During COVID-19 Pandemic
Canadian Lawyer Magazine interviewed Brendan F. Morrison and Kate Costin on their recent trial success, which involved one of the world’s largest lithium mining projects and has reinforced the principles of contract formation in the modern world.
-
Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized as Best Lawyers in Canada
In the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 41 of our expert litigators are recognized for their expertise across 24 practice areas. The following lawyers have also been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for receiving the highest overall peer-feedback in their practice areas in Toronto.
-
Ontario Court Enforces US$18.7 Million Contract to Purchase Royalty Interest in Mine
Interviewed by Law360 Canada, Brendan F. Morrison and Kate Costin comment on their trial success for Lithium Royalty Corporation, which has significant commercial implications for securities markets and the growing North American lithium industry.
-
Lenczner Slaght’s Trial Lawyers Successful in Enforcing Significant Lithium Contract
In a significant trial decision released yesterday in Lithium Royalty Corporation v Orion Resource Partners, our expert litigators were successful in...
-
Brendan F. Morrison was invited to share his expertise at The Advocates’ Society’s program on Advocacy Hour: Joint Briefs. This program discussed how to negotiate a joint document brief, determine what to include, and how to ensure that counsel actually agree on what inclusion in a joint brief will mean for each document.
-
11th Annual Professionalism Issues for Business Lawyers
Brendan Morrison and Margaret Robbins were invited to share their expertise at the OBA's 11th Annual Professionalism Issues for Business Lawyers. Co-chaired by Margaret, the program also featured Brendan as he discussed, Modern Contract Formation and the Risks of Casual Communications.
-
Brendan F. Morrison was invited to share his expertise at The Advocates' Society's Commercial List Advocacy program. Brendan presented on the panel "Hot Topics in Commercial List Advocacy".
-
Civil Litigation Careers Panel
The Osgoode Society for Civil Litigation in joint with the University of Toronto Litigation Society invited Brendan Morrison to speak on their Civil Litigation Careers panel.
-
Effective Advocacy for the Virtual Hearing
Brendan F. Morrison and Samantha Hale co-authored an article on their top tips for effective, and efficient, advocacy in the virtual world. The article was published by the ADR Institute of Canada Inc., in its ADR Perspectives newsletter.
-
Brendan F. Morrison presented at the Thunder Bay Law Association's Fall Advocacy Program. Brendan shared his experiences as an advocate in the world of virtual litigation.
-
Anti-SLAPP: Where We Are At and Where We Are Headed
Brendan Morrison presented at the Defamation Law 2019: Current Issues + Emerging Trends Conference on the panel “Anti-SLAPP: Where We Are At and Where We Are Headed”. The panel examined key lessons from the Court of Appeal on interpreting and applying anti-SLAPP legislation and other practical considerations and strategies for anti-SLAPP motions.
-
Foreign Judgments: Challenges of Enforcement
Brendan F. Morrison presented at LSO's program: Enforcing Judgements. He discussed the challenges in the enforcement of foreign judgments.
-
Geopolitics of Mining Conference: Responsible and Sustainable Business Practices
Brendan F. Morrison was a panelist at the Geopolitics of Mining Conference discussing responsible and sustainable business practices on March 10, 2016 at... -
Litigating Foreign Cases in Canadian Courts
Brendan Morrison presented on the topic Litigating Foreign Cases in Canadian Courts in a panel discussion at the International Law Students Conference on...
-
Lexpert Rising Stars (2023)
Leading Lawyers Under 40
-
Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2020-2024)
Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Medical Negligence, Professional Liability
-
Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2020-2024)
-
Best Lawyers in Canada (2020-2025)
Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Defamation & Media Law, Healthcare Law, Medical Negligence
-
Chambers Canada (2025)
Healthcare: Contentious (Nationwide – Canada)
-
Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award (2011)
University of Toronto
-
Laskin Award in Constitutional Law (2009)
University of Toronto
-
Valedictorian (2006)
University of King's College