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Richard B. Swan

Partner

Co-Head of Litigation Department; Co-Head of Commercial Litigation Practice

Co-Head of Litigation Department; Co-Head of Commercial Litigation Practice |

T: 416.777.7479

Toronto

Swan Richard
 
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

T: 416.777.7479


Toronto

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

A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Richard Swan is Co-Head of the Litigation Department and Co-Head of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group and carries on a focused litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution practice. He has comprehensive and extensive trial and appellate experience, regularly appearing before a range of tribunals, arbitral bodies and courts, including all levels of court in Ontario and the Federal Court.

Chambers Canada

Sources note that Richard Swan is "well known as one of the very smartest litigation lawyers on Bay Street," adding that "his approach to practising law is stellar" and he "is respected by opposing counsel," which helps with "deflecting the nonsense in a case and getting to a preferred resolution earlier and more efficiently." He co-heads the firm's dispute resolution practice and maintains a broad caseload.

Richard was named by Benchmark Canada as its 2015 Ontario Litigator of the Year.

Richard was a successful counsel in the Waxman litigation, one of the best known, most extensive and factually complex commercial proceedings in Ontario.

Richard's practice focuses on corporate, commercial and public law disputes. He has experience in matters pertaining to corporate, shareholder, oppression, securities, partnership, commercial contract, real property, injunction, domestic and international arbitration, technology, intellectual property, licensing, restructuring, project development, fiduciary duty, and professional negligence disputes, among others.

Richard is recognized for his expertise and standing in the areas of corporate and commercial litigation and dispute resolution by Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in Canada, Benchmark Canada, Euromoney Litigation Expert Guide and Lexpert (Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers). Chambers Global observes that his courtroom presentation "leaves judges and even opposing counsel wide-eyed with admiration". In 2002, Richard was named by Lexpert as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers in Canada.

As well, he regularly speaks on corporate, civil, administration and regulatory law at professional conferences.

Richard joined Bennett Jones from another leading national law firm. Previously, he clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa.

What Clients Say

"His ability to work with expert witnesses is unparalleled. He quite simply possesses a superior intellect.'"

Education

University of Manitoba, BA, 1985, with distinction McGill University, LLB/BCL, 1989, with honours 

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1991

Recent Experience

Former directors of Sears Canada Inc., in defence of multiple actions arising from the Board's approval of a $509-million dividend in 2013 and Sears' ultimate insolvency filing in 2017.
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., in the sale of Movie Distribution Income Fund's 49 percent indirect interest in Motion Picture Distribution LP.

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Litigation: General Commercial: Ontario

Chambers Global The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Dispute Resolution: Ontario
The Legal 500 Canada
Recommended, Dispute Resolution
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Litigation - Corporate Commercial
Consistently Recommended, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability
Benchmark Litigation: Canada
Recognized as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers
Recognized as a Litigation Star
Best Lawyers in Canada
Recognized as one of Canada's leading corporate and commercial litigation lawyers
Euromoney Litigation Expert Guide
Recognized as a leading litigation lawyer
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 dispute resolution lawyers
Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers
Recognized as a leading litigation lawyer in Canada

Insights, News & Events

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
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021

September 10, 2020
       

In the News

Richard Swan in CBC News on Kingsway Entertainment District

June 30, 2020
       

In the News

Richard Swan on Tom Fortin v. The City of Greater Sudbury

June 30, 2020
       

Articles

Richard Swan and Gannon Beaulne in Canadian Mining Journal

June 24, 2020
       

In the News

Christine Viney and Richard Swan on Insurance Issues and the Pandemic

June 02, 2020
       

In the News

Preet Bell and Richard Swan in Globe and Mail on Force Majeure and Coronavirus

March 16, 2020
       

Blog

Force Majeure Clauses and Risk Management in the Face of COVID-19

March 06, 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' Leading Lawyers in Chambers Canada 2020

September 19, 2019
       

Announcements

Lexpert's 2019 Guide to U.S./Canada Cross-Border Lawyers

June 14, 2019
       

Announcements

136 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

May 06, 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

Lexperts 2018 Guide to U.S. Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada

June 27, 2018
       

Announcements

120 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

April 16, 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

The Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies the Personal Liability of Directors in Oppression Cases

July 17, 2017
       

In the News

Richard Swan in Lawyers Daily on Representation in Court

May 12, 2017
       

In the News

Bennett Jones Acts in Lexpert Top 10 Business Decision of 2016

February 14, 2017
       

Updates

Any Amendment Must be in Writing Signed by the Parties

June 01, 2016
       

Related Services

Arbitration
Commercial Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Securities Litigation
Estate Litigation
Shareholder Activism & Critical Situations

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