Leon Jeffrey

Education

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

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1979

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

Partner

T: 416.777.7472 / E: leonj@bennettjones.com

Toronto


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 is an Arbitrator and Mediator at Arbitration Place. 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.

Most recently, Mr. Leon was Co-Lead Counsel to the Public Order Emergency Commission.

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, panellist 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.

Select Experience

  • GFA Canada in a class action lawsuit raised against them by a former donor alleging that GFA Canada made negligent misrepresentations.
  • 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 Recognitions

  • Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders
    Recognized as a leader in Commercial Litigation
  • Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers

    Recognized as a leading Health Sciences lawyer

  • Lexpert Special Edition—Technology and Health

    Recognized as one of Canada's leading lawyers in Technology and Health

  • Chambers Canada
    Ranked, Litigation: General Commercial – Ontario
    Ranked, 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; Litigation - Securities; Class Actions; Litigation - Product Liability; Professional Liability
    Repeatedly Recommended, Commercial Arbitration; Litigation - Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law
  • Best Lawyers in Canada
    2024 Toronto Lawyer of the Year, Legal Malpractice Law
    Recognized for 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

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