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Jeffrey S. Leon L.S.M., FCIArb

Partner

Partner |

T: 416.777.7472

Toronto

Leon Jeffrey
 
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

T: 416.777.7472


Toronto

  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

Jeffrey Leon, one of Canada’s pre-eminent counsel, helps clients develop practical approaches to complex, ‘bet-the-company’ business litigation and class actions. He advocates for companies, directors, officers, and individuals involved in domestic and cross-border securities, commercial, corporate, product liability, professional negligence and health care proceedings. Jeff has advised independent committees in a variety of corporate transactions and has acted as counsel and neutral in domestic and international arbitrations. He has had extensive experience in a wide variety of administrative law matters.  Jeff uses his deep experience to deliver the result sought by clients, whether through negotiated settlement or vigorous advocacy at trial.

Jeff has recently joined Arbitration Place as a Member Arbitrator and Mediator. For a number of years he has been an active Arbitrator and Mediator of international and domestic disputes. He brings to these roles his many years of understanding and experience with all nature of business matters and disputes, his common sense and practical perspective and recognized judgment, and an ability to focus on the real issues at the heart of a matter. He is familiar with the leading arbitral rules and regimes, as well as ad hoc proceedings. His energetic and pragmatic approach enables him to work with parties to fashion an effective process to achieve timely and efficient resolutions, whether through arbitration or mediation.

Client Interview, Chambers Canada

"tremendous advocate... very tough, very smart, and very skilled."

A Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Ontario and a former clerk to the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Jeff has been lauded in legal directories by clients and peers alike for his skill and demeanour.

Over his 40 year career, Jeff has been committed to continuing legal education and high professional standards in the litigation bar, evidenced by his role as an author, lecturer, panelist and teacher of trial skills and his many volunteer roles:

  • American College of Trial Lawyers – Past President
  • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Fellow
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers – former Board Member
  • The Advocates' Society – Past President
  • Pro Bono Ontario – Past Chair
  • The Sopinka Cup Society – Past Chair
  • International Society of Barristers – Member
  • Commercial Bar Association (UK) – Honourary Member
  • University of Toronto Tribunal – Past Co-Chair
  • Litigation Counsel of America – Fellow

Client Interview, Chambers Canada

"World class...impresses clients with his steadfast commitment and pragmatic approach."

Jeff is cited as a leading Canadian litigator in the areas commercial litigation, class actions, securities litigation and directors' and officers' liability by the independent legal market rankings of Chambers Global, Lexpert, American Lawyer Media, Best Lawyers (including their list of “Bet the Company” litigators), Expert Guides (including their Best of the Best guide), Who’s Who Legal and Benchmark Canada, among others.

Client Interview, Chambers Canada

“He is a strategic thinker and understands our goals.”

Other recent awards include the Benchmark (Canada) Hall of Fame Award (2018), Ontario Bar Association Award of Excellence in Civil Litigation (2014), Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013) in recognition for his achievements in law and his commitment to serving his community, The Advocates' Society's Catzman Award for Civility and Professionalism (2010), and the Law Society Medal from the Law Society of Ontario (2005) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the profession.

For many years, he was a member of a team of independent counsel that provided advice to the Discipline Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. He served as legal counsel to the Chiropractic Review Committee of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, and in 2008 he received their Presidential Award of Excellence for his work.

Education

University of Alberta, BA (Hons), 1973, gold medallist University of Toronto, MA, 1974 University of Toronto, LLB, 1977 

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1979

Recent Experience

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of British Columbia, in health-care cost recovery litigation from the tobacco industry (HMTQ v. PMI).
Defendants in litigation, alleging breach of fiduciary duties and fraud relating to several private family company transactions
Counsel to a foreign state owned entity in a $280-million international commercial arbitration against a Canadian company regarding a contractual dispute.
Provided advice to a well-known Canadian corporation, on corporate governance and shareholder rights issues
Representation of accounting firms and law firms in several proposed class actions involving claims based on reassessments by Revenue Canada of participants who invested in Canadian charitable tax shelter programs
Part of the litigation team representing the Provinces of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, in actions to recover health care costs from national and international tobacco companies
Representation of an international Company in multi-party construction litigation, involving a significant Canadian industrial project
Representation of a Canadian public company, in context of litigation concerning a proxy contest and misconduct by senior and corporate officers
Provided litigation advice to a Canadian company, involved in U.S. litigation concerning misappropriation of intellectual property
Representation of Canadian, U.S. and European companies, in proposed class action and other litigation alleging product defects in the automotive parts industry, the aerospace industry and other industries
Representation of Expedia, in a consumer class action relating to fees charged to customers (obtaining a dismissal on a summary judgment application)
Provided advice and representation in litigation to beneficiaries of significant Estates, in relation to the validity of wills and related matters
Appeared in Court on behalf of numerous Canadian public companies, in relation to court approved plans of arrangement
Representation of a departed executive, in the context of high profile litigation alleging breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of confidential information
Provided advice to several clients, concerning coverage under directors and officers liability insurance policies
Representation of a European company, in a dispute relating to a pharmaceutical supply contract
Representation of several American companies, in class action litigation concerning alleged price fixing in the automobile parts industry
Representation of a significant Canadian company, in litigation concerning a departed senior executive
Conducted investigation on behalf of Special Committee of a Canadian public corporation, relating to conduct of executives
Representation of clients in a proceeding regarding the liquidation of Reliance Insurance Company of Canada
Representation of a major Canadian private company, in litigation brought by a former executive concerning his entitlements
Representation of a Receiver, in the Ontario Court of Appeal concerning issues arising in the context of an investigative receivership
Representation of a public company, in a court proceeding concerning the validity of an option agreement
Representation of a client in a confidential arbitration proceeding concerning alleged breach of a franchise arrangement
Provided advice to defendants in relation to a proposed shareholder class action concerning a takeover bid
Representation of Manulife, in a proposed class action concerning premiums charged under certain insurance policies
Representation of Schroder Ventures, in a proceeding concerning a claim for $650 million by Allen-Vanguard in relation to alleged fraudulent misrepresentation in a corporate transaction
Provided advice to and representation of the Special Committee of RuggedCom Inc., in a shareholders' rights plan and proposed O.S.C. proceeding
Providing advice to the independent committee of a Canadian public company, on various securities and governance issues
Providing advice and representation to a shareholder/director in the context of an oppression application and other litigation alleging an international conspiracy to defraud
Representation of two parties in lengthy litigation concerning the ownership of assets frozen in Hong Kong and the United States by a Mareva injunction, including allegations of international fraud, conspiracy and money laundering in taking Chinese companies public in North America
Independent counsel to the Review Committee of the National Hockey League Players' Association, concerning events within the Association
Representation of an appellant in the Ontario Court of Appeal concerning obligations of shareholders in the context of the exercise of a buy-sell provision in a shareholders agreement

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Litigation: General Commercial - Ontario and Dispute Resolution: Class Actions (Defence)
Chambers Global The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Disputes (International & Cross Border)

The Legal 500 Canada
Leading Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Ontario

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Litigation - Corporate Commercial
Consistently Recommended, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Class Actions, Litigation - Securities
Repeatedly Recommended, Commercial Arbitration; Litigation - Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Product Liability; Litigation - Regulatory and Public Law; and Professional Liability
Best Lawyers in Canada
Recognized in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Legal Malpractice Law; Securities Law
Euromoney Legal Media Group Litigation Expert Guide
Recognized as one of the leading practitioners in litigation
Expert Guides The Best of the Best
Recognized as one of Canada's Top 60 litigators
Benchmark Litigation: Canada
Hall of Fame
Recognized as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada
Recognized as a Litigation Star
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating
Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Ranked, Litigation - Corporate Commercial
Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada
Recognized as one of Canada's leading cross-border litigators
Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers
Recognized as a leading litigation lawyer in Canada
Ontario Bar Association Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation
Winner, Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation
Who's Who Legal Canada
Recognized, Litigation
Who's Who Legal Litigation
Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of litigation
Who's Who Legal Product Liability Defence
Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of product liability
Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders - Litigation
Highly Recommended as a leader in the field of Litigation

Insights, News & Events

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2021

February 22, 2021
       

Announcements

Twenty-Five Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory

December 17, 2020
       

Announcements

40 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Litigation

November 27, 2020
       

Speaking Engagements

Jeffrey Leon on the Future of Commercial Dispute Resolution

September 22, 2020
       

Articles

Jeff Leon on Court vs. Commercial Arbitration After COVID-19: Part Two

September 14, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021

September 10, 2020
       

Articles

Jeff Leon on Court vs. Commercial Arbitration After COVID-19: Part One

September 04, 2020
       

In the News

Jeffrey Leon Joins Arbitration Place

July 20, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2020

February 13, 2020
       

Announcements

Twenty-three Bennett Jones Lawyers in Leading 500 in Canada

December 13, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers

November 29, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500

November 18, 2019
       

In the News

Learning From the U.S. and Vice Versa

November 12, 2019
       

Blog

Q&A with Jeffrey Leon: His Year as President of ACTL

October 29, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones' Leading Lawyers in Chambers Canada 2020

September 19, 2019
       

Announcements

136 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

May 06, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Chambers Global 2019

February 14, 2019
       

In the News

Jeffrey Leon on Why Companies Should Draft Insurance Policies Carefully

January 07, 2019
       

Announcements

22 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Leading 500 in Canada

December 12, 2018
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones—Lexpert’s Leading Canadian Litigation Lawyers

November 30, 2018
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018

November 01, 2018
       

In the News

The Lawyer's Daily on Jeffrey Leon Elected ACTL President

October 12, 2018
       

In the News

Law Times on Jeffrey Leon as ACTL President

October 08, 2018
       
2018
Oct
04
       

Event

The 7th National Pro Bono Conference

Announcements

Jeffrey Leon Elected President of American College of Trial Lawyers

October 01, 2018
       

Blog

Ontario Court of Appeal Certifies Class Action Against Sun Life

September 13, 2018
       

Announcements

120 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

April 16, 2018
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones: The Benchmark in Litigation

February 23, 2018
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Litigation Lawyers—Lexpert’s Canadian Leaders

November 24, 2017
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers—Canadian Leaders

November 24, 2017
       

Blog

Keeping up with the Convention: Ontario Modernizes Its International Commercial Arbitration Regime

June 20, 2017
       

Announcements

Four Bennett Jones Practices Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global 2017

March 16, 2017
       

Articles

Canada: Arbitration

December 09, 2016
       

In the News

Jeff Leon in Lexpert on Insider Trading Violations in Ontario

October 26, 2016
       

Related Services

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Class Action Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Constitutional Law
Corporate Governance
Intellectual Property Litigation
Securities Litigation
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