One of Canada’s leading securities and class action lawyers, John is a trusted advisor to financial institutions and capital markets participants on their most sensitive and critical cases.
Co-head of Torys’ Securities Defence Practice and Co-head of the firm’s White Collar Defence and Investigations Practice, John focuses on all aspects of securities litigation and financial services regulatory matters, as well as on complex corporate and commercial litigation. He routinely represents clients across Canada before securities and other financial regulators, as well as before all levels of court.
Acting as lead counsel, John has successfully defended public and private company directors and officers, as well as financial institutions, in Canada’s largest securities class actions, including in Sino Forest and CannTrust. He was seconded for over a year to one of Canada’s largest broker-dealers to manage major class action litigation and related securities regulatory matters. He is also retained as a qualified witness in Canadian securities law.
In addition, John’s white collar defence and investigations practice transcends securities matters and encompasses internal investigations, crisis management and regulatory compliance of regulated entities.
John is available and his expertise is undeniable. It is a pleasure to work with him... He is one of the go-to people for securities litigation.
—Chambers Canada, 2024
2017-2024 | Chambers Canada—Leading lawyer in litigation: general commercial and litigation: securities (Ontario) |
2012-2024 | Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys—Litigation Star (class actions, securities and commercial) |
2006-2024 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in securities law |
2014-2024 | Lexpert/American Lawyer’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in securities litigation |
2011-2023 | The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Leading lawyer in securities litigation, directors’ and officers’ liability litigation and class actions |
2013 | Lexpert’s Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in securities litigation |
John is a member of the Education Sub-committee for the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) Compliance & Legal Section; a member of the Small Business Advisory Committee of the Ontario Securities Commission; and the Director for the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada. He has also served on the executives of the Ontario Bar Association Class Actions Law section, the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) and the Securities Litigation Section of the Advocates’ Society. He is a member of the American Bar Association and International Association of Defense Counsel.
John is a frequent speaker and lecturer on securities litigation, speaking at numerous conferences organized by the Ontario Bar Association, Insight Information, Federated Press and The Canadian Institute on securities litigation and regulation, as well as class action litigation. He has also been interviewed on securities and business law topics on the Report on Business Television and for various print media.