Profile
Jeff is a respected leader and trusted advisor to his clients and colleagues. He skillfully manages a multidisciplinary practice as a partner in our Litigation group, specializing specifically in insolvency and restructuring law. More generally, clients call Jeff when their business is in jeopardy or they face other major, complex challenges, and they need timely, reliable advice from a lawyer who can not only assess the strengths and weaknesses of the parties’ cases, but also identify the opposing parties’ strategies at an early stage.
As a litigation lawyer with many years of business law experience, Jeff’s overall focus is understanding why the parties are where they are, and how the got there. Jeff brings this approach to every matter, whether he is acting for a Licensed Trustee, Monitor or Receiver in a Court proceeding; in a dispute between business partners or shareholders; for a borrower company with hundreds of employees when the bank calls its loan; for a secured creditor of any type (banks, credit unions, factoring companies, private equity lenders) in mortgage or personal property enforcement; or for a lawyer who may have committed an error in a complex financing transaction. To each matter, Jeff brings an acute business acumen, along with streamlined process management and a pragmatic approach that helps clients maximize the chances of achieving their goals in financially critical situations.
When resolutions cannot be reached in the boardroom, Jeff leverages his strong advocacy background to advance matters in the courtroom. Even in the most high-stakes situation, Jeff’s clients can rely on his even-tempered demeanour, strategic mindset and legal expertise that keep proceedings moving forward steadily. He has appeared before all levels of Ontario courts on various commercial litigation cases in the real estate, retail apparel, cannabis and manufacturing industries. He has frequently brought cases before the Toronto Commercial List, which has led him to enhance significant subspecialties in shareholders’ disputes / corporate oppression cases, as well as solicitors’ negligence cases involving allegations of solicitors’ errors committed in a commercial, lending or an insolvency context. He is thoroughly versed in all aspects of security enforcement and realization in Ontario, in real estate and personal property matters, having represented clients on matters related to the Personal Property Security Act (PPSA), mortgage enforcement and the law of guarantee.
Clients have remarked the unique combination of Jeff’s skillset, and commended his ability to anticipate their needs under a variety of circumstances. When issues arise, Jeff acts with urgency and precision to gain insight of the full picture before counselling his clients on the most streamlined direction to help them accelerate their matters with confidence.