Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- University of Cambridge (1988) LLM
- University of Toronto (1965) LLB
- University of Cambridge (1962) LLB
- McGill University (1960) BA
Details
- Bio
- Associations
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Ian Binnie , C.C., K.C.
is Of Counsel to Lenczner Slaght.
One of Canada's most respected arbitrators and advocates, the Honourable Ian Binnie served for nearly 14 years as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. When he retired in 2011 he was described by The Globe and Mail as "arguably the country's premier judge" and by La Presse as "peut-être le juge le plus influent au Canada dans la dernière décennie."
During his time on the country's top court (as only the fourth modern Justice appointed directly from the bar) Ian authored more than 170 opinions, including in landmark cases involving corporate and commercial disputes, issues of contractual interpretation and torts, patent interpretation and validity, aboriginal rights, copyright and protection of trade-marks, media law, punitive damages, expert evidence and many other aspects of constitutional, criminal and administrative law.
In his role, Ian shares strategic and practical advice, as well as his dispute resolution expertise, with his colleagues and the firm's clients. In doing so he draws not only on his judicial insights, but also his wealth of courtroom experience as one of Canada's top litigators. Over the course of three decades, he argued cases in most of the common law provinces and appeared regularly before the Supreme Court on a range of constitutional, civil and criminal matters.
Throughout his career as a litigator, Ian has often taken on public service roles as well. In the early 1980s he served for four years as Canada's Associate Deputy Minister of Justice. He was later appointed Special Parliamentary Counsel to the Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on the Meech Lake Accord. An elected member of the International Commission of Jurists, he has appeared before the International Court of Justice and various international tribunals in governmental litigation matters, and has acted as Canadian representative in high-profile disputes involving France and the U.S.
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International Commission of Jurists (Geneva) - Commissioner
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United Nations Internal Justice Council - Chair
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American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
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Commercial Bar Association (U.K.)
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Middle Temple Inns of Court (U.K.) - Member
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Canadian Council on International Law
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Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
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Canadian Forum on Civil Justice
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The Advocates' Society - Advisory Group Member of the Modern Advocacy Task Force
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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L'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario
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The Philippe Kirsch Institute - Faculty
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Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence Recognized in 2023 Lexpert Directory
Following comprehensive peer review surveys and interviews with senior members in the legal profession, the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has recognized 31 of the firm’s expert litigators for their experience, knowledge, and precision, with 108 rankings spanning 17 practice areas.
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Chambers Global Recognizes Lenczner Slaght for the 21st Consecutive Year
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized for its dispute resolution expertise by world-renowned directory, Chambers Global, alongside notable full-service, national, and international firms.
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Lenczner Slaght’s 22nd Year at the Centre of the Lexpert Bull’s Eye
The 2023 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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Lenczner Slaght Recognized Among Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers
Following an in-depth peer review process, the 2022 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers guide recognizes 15 Lenczner Slaght lawyers for their extensive courtroom experience and subject-matter expertise. We know courts, and courts know and trust us. That is why clients turn to us to solve their most complex legal problems.
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Lenczner Slaght Ranked Band 1 in Chambers Canada for 5th Consecutive Year
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized in the latest edition of world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized Among the Best Lawyers in Canada
In the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, 39 of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers for their expertise across 24 practice areas.
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The 2022 Lexpert Directory Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Excellence
31 of our expert litigators are recognized by their peers as the foremost practitioners across 18 fields.
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Lenczner Slaght Ranked for the 20th Consecutive Year in Chambers Global
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized for its dispute resolution expertise by world-renowned directory, Chambers Global, alongside notable full-service, national, and international firms.
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Lenczner Slaght’s 21st Year at the Centre of the Lexpert Bull’s Eye
Lenczner Slaght continues to be recognized as the #1 firm in Toronto for Litigation and Commercial Litigation by the 2022 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
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Lexpert Recognizes Lenczner Slaght’s Litigation Expertise
Following an in-depth peer review process, the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers guide recognizes 19 Lenczner Slaght lawyers for their extensive courtroom experience and subject-matter expertise.
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Chief Justice George Strathy in conversation with The Honourable Ian Binnie, C.C., K.C.
Ian Binnie was invited to speak at the Toronto Law Association's banner event marking the launch of the "TLA Award Recipients in Conversation" series. Ian will join the current Chief Justice of Ontario, Chief Justice George Strathy to discuss their lives and careers.
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Dirty Tricks of Appellate Advocacy?
Ian Binnie was invited to make a keynote address at The Advocates' Society's program titled "Dirty Tricks of Appellate Advocacy?" hosted by its new Appellate Advocacy Practice Group.
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Arbitration Place Virtual Pre-Moot Event
Ian Binnie presented at the Arbitration Place's virtual pre-moot event for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Ian participated in the opening mock debate titled This House Prefers Virtual Hearings.
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Ian Binnie and Monique Jilesen shared their expertise at the inaugural Canadian Litigation Forum. Ian discussed the current international arbitration landscape for Canadian companies on the panel International Arbitration - a new paradigm emerges. While Monique discussed trends in litigation risk for Canadian companies on the opening panel Setting the Scene: The Canadian Litigation Landscape.
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ADR Advocacy: Advanced Techniques
Ian Binnie was invited to The Advocates' Society's ADR Advocacy: Advanced Techniques program. The program featured an exclusive fireside chat with Ian Binnie himself.
- Ian Binnie presented at The Advocates' Society's 18th Annual Spring Symposium, on the panel "A Question of Advocacy: Handling Questions from...
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35th Annual Joint Colloquium on International Arbitration
Ian Binnie and Peter Griffin presented at the 35th Annual Joint Colloquium on International Arbitration. They shared their expertise on the panel discussion Mastering Effective Techniques for Cross-Examination.
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Ian Binnie and Vanessa Park-Thompson contributed an article to the Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine publication.
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Keep your greedy hands off my genes!
The U.S. Supreme Court's invalidation of gene patents is a victory for basic principles of patent law, but public policy concerns remain unresolved
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The Harold G. Fox Moot, 2014 Canadian Intellectual Property Moot
The Honourable Ian Binnie will hold the Fox Lecture on Friday, February 21, 2014.
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2017-2023)
Administrative & Public Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Practice, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Defamation & Media, Intellectual Property, International Arbitration
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2020)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Alternative Dispute Resolution
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2022)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Administrative & Public Law
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2014-2023)
Commercial Arbitration, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Defamation & Media, Litigation - Public Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Professional Liability
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Chambers Canada (2016-2023)
Dispute Resolution: Most in Demand Arbitrators (Nationwide – Canada)
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Chambers Canada Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)
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Chambers Global (2017-2023)
Dispute Resolution: Most In Demand Arbitrators; Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (2017)
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Companion of the Order of Canada (2012)
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Honourary Colonel, 426 Squadron (Trenton) (2002-2005)
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Honourary Doctor of Laws (2001-2013)
Law Society of Ontario, McGill University (2001), University of Western Ontario (2012), Trinity College, University of Toronto (2013)
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