Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- Queen's University (1977) LLB
- Carleton University (1974) BA
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Peter Griffin , LSM, K.C.
is counsel and one of the five founding partners at Lenczner Slaght.
"Peter Griffin is one of the best litigation lawyers in Canada. He has an excellent grasp of the issues and the law, as well as the gravitas to address difficult issues." — Chambers Canada
Peter is recognized by his peers as one of the top litigators in Canada, particularly in the areas of corporate commercial litigation, class actions, securities matters, insolvency, and professional and director/officer liability. He has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario and the common-law provinces, and before the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2021, Peter was recognized with the prestigious Law Society Medal for his exceptional advocacy, unwavering commitment to education and mentorship, and involvement in positively advancing the legal profession.
Peter has extensive experience in complex cross-border litigation, especially as it relates to both class proceedings and insolvency and restructuring. He regularly advises boards of directors and national and multinational corporations with respect to their obligations. He is retained as counsel of choice on appeal. He frequently represents clients in arbitration and acts as an arbitrator in contested arbitration proceedings. Peter is constantly sought out as an expert speaker on advocacy, shareholder disputes, class actions, professional liability and insolvency and restructuring.
Peter is past President of The Advocates' Society, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and past Chair of the American College of Trial Lawyers Ontario Committee.
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Annapolis Group v Halifax Regional Municipality
Counsel to the plaintiff in an action concerning alleged de facto expropriation, misfeasance in public office, and unjust enrichment relating to the plaintiff’s efforts to develop its lands within the Halifax Regional Municipality. Successfully represented the plaintiff at the Supreme Court of Canada with the Court clarifying the test for de facto expropriation and concluding that our client’s claim for de facto expropriation could proceed to trial.
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Internal investigation into allegations of breaches of confidentiality in a publicly-traded corporation.
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Grant Thornton v New Brunswick
Counsel to Grant Thornton in a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada clarifying the rule of discoverability in limitation periods law across Canada.
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Counsel to the successful partner of a multi-billion dollar residential and commercial real estate developer and builder in obtaining successful order winding up and selling the partnership.
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Cameron Stephens Mortgage Capital Ltd v 1091369 Ontario Inc
Counsel to a construction lender in an application to appoint a receiver.
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12178711 Canada Inc v Wilks Brothers, LLC
Counsel to G2S2 Capital Inc., a significant creditor, in connection with a contested CBCA restructuring of Calfrac Well Services Ltd.
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In the Matter of the Receivership of Xela Enterprises Ltd
Counsel to the court-appointed receiver in an application to recover a judgment debt from Xela Enterprises Ltd., the parent company to several subsidiaries located primarily in Central America and the Caribbean.
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HH and GH v York Downs Golf and Country Club
Counsel to the York Downs Golf & Country Club in an application before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Successful in having proceeding dismissed.
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Re Investment Management Corporation of Ontario
Trial counsel to IMCO in a breach of contract claim with manager of public infrastructure projects.
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Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Aphria Inc.
Counsel to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Aphria Inc. in connection with allegations made by short sellers regarding the value of certain assets and insider dealings.
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American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow; Chair, Ontario Committee
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The Advocates' Society - Past President 2012–2013
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Canadian Bar Association
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Ontario Bar Association
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Sir William Campbell Foundation
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Commercial List Users' Committee
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Turnaround Management Association
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Quadrennial Commission for Judicial Compensation - Commissioner (2016-2023)
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Fixing the Mistake: Limitation Periods in Professional Negligence Cases
Over a decade after Ontario’s Limitations Act, 2002 came into force, courts are still grappling with when a cause of action is discoverable and a limitation period starts to run. An increasingly litigated question relates to whether a limitation period runs while efforts are ongoing to fix the error that gave rise to the plaintiff’s claim. The Court of Appeal for Ontario recently addressed this issue in Presidential MSH Corp v Marr, Foster & Co LLP.
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In contractual disputes, after-the-fact conduct is admissible after all
To most people, a contract is a written agreement, typically signed by all parties, that sets out what different parties promise to do. But what happens that the written agreement is ambiguous? Courts have long held that evidence of the “factual matrix” of the contract—that is, the surrounding circumstances that inform the context in which a contract is created—is admissible in the interpretation of a contract. In its recent decision in Shewchuk v Blackmont Capital Inc, the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed that evidence of subsequent conduct may also be admissible to interpret the agreement itself.
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Chambers Canada Recognizes Lenczner Slaght as a Top-Tier Litigation Firm
Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators continue to be recognized by world-renowned directory, Chambers & Partners.
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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.
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Peter Griffin Receives King’s Counsel Designation
The King’s Counsel designation is given to lawyers who have demonstrated a commitment to the pursuit of legal excellence in service to the Crown, the public and their communities.
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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 Stands Out as a “Litigation Powerhouse” in Legal 500 Canada
Canada’s leading litigation firm is once again ranked in Tier 1 for Dispute Resolution by Legal 500 Canada.
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Lenczner Slaght Successful for Annapolis at Supreme Court of Canada
In Annapolis Group Inc. v Halifax Regional Municipality, our expert litigators were successful at the Supreme Court of Canada in reversing a decision of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal granting summary judgment against Annapolis Group Inc. (“Annapolis”). The Supreme Court of Canada concluded that Annapolis’ claim for de facto expropriation (or, “constructive taking”, the term preferred by the majority of the Supreme Court) could proceed to trial. Peter Griffin, Scott Rollwagen, Rebecca Jones and Amy Sherrard were counsel to Annapolis Group, the successful appellant.
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SCC Takes Expansive Approach to Regulatory ‘Constructive Taking’ Claims Against Public Authorities
The Lawyer's Daily discussed the SCC's decision in Annapolis Group Inc. v Halifax Regional Municipality. As counsel to the successful appellant, Peter Griffin, Scott Rollwagen, Rebecca Jones, and Amy Sherrard are mentioned in the article.
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Peter Griffin was invited to the Queen's Law Litigation Society's Industry Night. Peter spoke about his litigation practice, the future of the practice, and more.
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Peter Griffin co-chaired The Advocates' Society program "Litigating Contract Disputes". Peter led the panels Drafting Effective Pleadings in Contract Disputes and View from the Bench: Litigating Contract Disputes.
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Peter Griffin presented at The Advocates' Society's program "Litigating Contract Disputes". He will share his expertise on the panel Framing Your Contract Claim.
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Peter Griffin and Tom Curry spoke at The Advocates' Society's 19th Annual Spring Symposium on the module The Civil Advocate. Their session included an update on principles of civility for advocates and how to handle questions from the Bench on appeal.
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Professionalism and Civility at Trial
Peter Griffin presented at the Ontario Bar Association's premier program Anatomy of a Trial: A Deeper Dive Into Jury Trials that provided a comprehensive examination of the best techniques for conducting a jury trial. Peter spoke on the panel "Professionalism and Civility at Trial".
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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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Peter Griffin spoke at The Advocates' Society's program on "Litigating Contract Disputes". He was a member of the "Framing Your Contract Claim" panel.
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15th Annual Symposium on Class Actions
As one of the leading experts in Class Actions, Peter Griffin spoke at Osgoode PD's 15th Annual Symposium on Class Actions on the panel "What Goes Around Comes Around: Lawyers Under Class Action Attack".
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Peter Griffin presented at the Advocates' Society's program on Motions Advocacy. He shared his expertise and experience on how to prepare oral and written submissions.
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The Appeal: The Travel Ban on Trial in the Supreme Court of Stratford
Peter Griffin appeared at Stratford Festival's Forum Showcase on September 30, 2017. He acted as counsel to Romeo in the Appeal of Prince Escalus' executive order banishing Romeo from Verona. Peter cross-examined the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson appearing as the expert witness and challenged the legality of the travel ban.
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Law Society Medal (2021)
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Ontario Bar Association Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation (2017)
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American College of Trial Lawyers (2004)
Fellow
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Benchmark Canada (2012-2023)
Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada & Litigation Star – Commercial, Competition, Insolvency, Professional Liability, Securities
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2006-2024)
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Corporate & Commercial Litigation, Director & Officer Liability, Health Care Law, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring, Legal Malpractice, Medical Negligence, Securities
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2013)
Toronto Corporate and Commercial Litigation "Lawyer of the Year"
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2014)
Toronto Bet-the-Company Litigation "Lawyer of the Year"
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2016)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Director and Officer Liability
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2017)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Corporate and Commercial Litigation
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2019)
Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Legal Malpractice Law (2019)
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