Monique Jilesen Inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers
Congratulations to Monique Jilesen who was inducted into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers at a ceremony held on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers is extended by invitation only to outstanding litigators in the US and Canada whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Monique is the ninth member of the firm to be invited into the ACTL.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our Managing Partner on her induction into the ACTL,” said Eli Lederman, Partner and member of Lenczner Slaght’s Management Committee. “Monique exemplifies the best of our profession through her extraordinary advocacy and exceptional courtroom presence. She has successfully led some of the most important cases before our courts, all while positively advancing the practice of law and upholding the highest ideals of the legal profession. Monique is more than deserving of this recognition.”
Monique is a formidable advocate and one of the top litigators of her generation in Canada. Over the course of 25 years, she has proven to be a fearless litigator who clients trust to take on their most tough, notable, and high-profile cases. Highlights from the last few years of her practice provide a small snapshot of her experience and success in court.
Monique successfully represented the University of Toronto in securing an interlocutory injunction to peacefully end a 50-day encampment on Front Campus. She recently appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada representing intervenor, CFA Societies Canada, in an important appeal addressing reporting issuers' disclosure obligations under the Securities Act. In Li v Barber, she secured an unprecedented Mareva order freezing up to $20 million of assets and cryptocurrency of Freedom Convoy leaders. Monique was successful trial counsel to Canadian National Railway Company in a complex 6-week Commercial List trial involving employee fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, resulting in a $10+ million judgment for her client. She also represented Douglas Cardinal in an injunction to restrain the use in Canada of the Cleveland baseball team's racist name and logo on human rights grounds.
Her outstanding ability as trial counsel has been recognized many times, having received The Douglas K. Laidlaw Award for Excellence in Advocacy, Fellowship in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and Toronto Life’s Top 50 Most Influential, among others.
Congratulations, Monique!
About the American College of Trial Lawyers
The American College of Trial Lawyers is a distinguished organization of trial lawyers in North America, dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics and the administration of justice. There are currently 5,800 Fellows across the U.S. and Canada and membership can never be more than 1% of the total lawyer population of any state or province. Eligible lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the administration of justice.