Strong Advocacy in Serious Business Litigation and Arbitration Disputes.
A business litigation and arbitration practice established more than 40 years ago, Ellyn Law Business Litigation & Arbitration Lawyers is a law firm in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which provides strong advocacy and litigation services to the resolution of serious business disputes, employment law, defamation and estate litigation cases.
Our expertise is focused on shareholder disputes, director and corporate litigation and arbitration, commercial disputes in many industries, appeals, international judgment and arbitration award enforcement, employment law and wrongful dismissal, real estate litigation, libel and slander and debtor-creditor cases. We act on estate litigation including contested wills.
Some of our individual clients are persons who have been drawn into serious litigation as a result of their connection or relationship with other parties in dispute, such as the parents of spouses in a divorce. While most of our clients are private corporations and individuals, we have also represented Canadian and international public corporations and financial institutions on many complex legal matters. Some of our successes are described on this website.
Experienced. Focused. Knowledgeable. Passionate.
Ellyn Law Llawyers approach every legal problem with our clients’ interests foremost in mind. Our lawyers are focused, knowledgeable, experienced and passionate about effective resolution of our clients’ legal matters. We are committed to providing sound advice, creative strategy, effective negotiations and experienced advocacy. Attention to detail and keeping our clients well-informed are key parts of our service.
On this website, you will find more details about our expertise, a sampling of the results we have obtained for our clients and some of the articles we have written for legal conferences. As a result of our exposure in the legal profession, our firm is well-known throughout Ontario. Many lawyers and other professionals have referred clients to us. Our senior partner, Igor Ellyn, QC, is a Certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation and has been highly peer-rated by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell directory. He is also a Chartered Arbitrator and mediator.
Thinking Out of the Box. Publishing Our Expertise.
At Ellyn Law Business Litigation & Arbitration Lawyers, we keep current on the latest developments in the law. Wherever appropriate, we use the latest techniques of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, to bring our client’s case to a resolution as promptly as possible. Our clients seek attentive service and effective solutions. We “think out of the box” to find the best solutions for our clients’ legal problems. When you have a serious legal problem, you need a lawyer you can trust. We hope you will consult and entrust us with your case. We are also at the forefront of the legal profession. We have published articles and books about the areas of our expertise, especially, Shareholder Disputes, Arbitration, Liability of Corporate Directors, Appellate Advocacy and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments.
We provide comprehensive legal services in the areas of law described below and throughout this website. The hallmarks of our work are sound advice, imaginative strategy, effective negotiations and seasoned advocacy. We recognize that the best resolution is one that occurs as early in the legal process as possible. Most of our cases settle before the trial. We are experienced in the use of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and settlement conference techniques to resolve the dispute without a trial where possible.
Solutions. Results. Trial Experience. Appellate Advocacy.
If a trial or a hearing is necessary, our focus is on marshalling the evidence which the court requires to find in our client’s favour. Our written and oral advocacy is based on careful research and attention to detail. We also have experience as counsel in the Ontario Court of Appeal, in the Divisional Court, in the Federal Court and in the Supreme Court of Canada. We provide independent opinions on trial judgments and if warranted, we can undertake an appeal to an appellate court.
Our appellate advocacy includes an emphasis on assessing whether there is a reversible error, policy or constitutional issue at stake. Thoughtful written and oral advocacy focused on what will persuade the appellate court are the keys to successful results on appeals. Important to the persuasive process are the 4Cs: Credible, Clear, Concise and Concrete.
Lawyers in our firm have many years of experience in all the Courts of Ontario. This is a partial list of cases decided in the Courts and Tribunals on which lawyers in our firm have acted as counsel. Decisions in arbitrations are typically confidential and are not shown below. For instance, we recently acted on a commercial arbitration case arising from shareholder dispute which resulted in a $1,275,000.00 award for our clients.
Well-Conceived Strategy. Skillful Negotiations.
Most cases settle before the final hearing. Settling complicated disputes is often the greatest benefit we provide to our clients. Settlements frequently result from hard-fought and skillful negotiations based on a well-conceived strategy. The settlement could occur through direct negotiations or with the assistance of a mediator. We recently settled several hotly contested shareholder disputes to the great satisfaction of our clients. One of the settlements resulted in a payment of $1 million to our client on the buyout of his shares in a family business. The buyout was more than double what the other shareholder had offered at the beginning of the negotiations. Another recent settlement involved the defence of a shareholder oppression claim against the majority owners of a successful sales and marketing business. As a result of our negotiations, the case settled for a fraction of the amount sought by the departing shareholder. The settlement was driven by our advocacy which showed that the claim for oppression would not succeed.
Establishing Strengths. Exposing Weaknesses. Realistic Approach.
You expect your counsel to be forthright and realistic. Where required, we point out evidentiary and legal aspects of our clients’ cases which may have an impact on the final outcome. As a result of our experience and ability to think “out-of-the-box”, we establish positions of strength by thoughtfully and intensively identifying the best aspects of our clients’ cases and exposing the weaknesses of the opposing party’s position.
Some of the decisions on which ELLYN LAW LLP lawyers were counsel
Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, Federal Court of Canada, Federal Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada and some tribunals.
114567 Canada Ltd. v. Attwell; 2000 11 B.L.R. (3d) 207; OntCA
1162740 Ontario Limited and Venanzio Pingue, 2013 ONSC 5577
1256975 Ont. Ltd. v. Taveres, 2007 CanLII 21113 (NSC
1565385 Ont. inc. v. Canadian Private Copying Collective, 2007 FCA 335
1565385 Ont. Inc. v. Canadian Private Copying Collective, 2010 FCA 79
1754765 Ont. Inc. v. 2069380 Ont. Inc. 2008; 49 C.B.R. (5th) 214; Ont SCJ
2072270 Ont. Inc. v. Dish Family Trust; 2009 CarswellOnt 4141 Ont SCJ
436399 Ont. Inc. v. Bank of Nova Scotia; 1983 49 C.B.R. (N.S.) 142
A & BB Rice Inc. v. Wigmore Farms Ltd.; 2005 CarswellOnt 7316; Ont SCJ
Accentuate Ltd v Asigra Inc [2009] EWHC 2655 (30 Oct 2009) (UK High Court)
Accentuate Ltd. v. Asigra Inc., 2010 ONSC 4327 (CanLII)
Accentuate Ltd. v. Asigra Inc., 2011 ONCA 99 (CanLII)
Adler v. Vescio; 2006 CarswellOnt 175; Ont SCJ
Al Reisman Limited v. Indrasenan, 2009 CanLII 68478 (ON SC) Ont. Div. Ct
Albert Bloom Ltd. v. Intermetco Ltd.; 1992 8 O.R. (3d) 625; Ont CJ GD
Alizadeh v. Akhavan, 2004 CanLII 15085 (ON S.C.)
Alizadeh v. Akhavan; 2003 CarswellOnt 2859; Ont SCJ [Comm List]
Alizadeh v. Akhavan; 2004 CarswellOnt 2006; Ont SCJ
Alizadeh v. Akhavan; 2004 CarswellOnt 3410; Ont SCJ (Div Ct)
Bakemates International Inc., Re; 2003 CarswellOnt 3075; Ont SCJ
Baradaran v. Lee, 2009 CanLII 72058 (ONSC) Div Ct.
Bargman v. Rooney; 1999 CarswellOnt 160; OCJ (GD) [Comm. List]
Belittchenko v. Belittchenko 2006 CarswellOnt 5894 OntCA
Belittchenko v. Belitchenko 2007 CarswellOnt 3531 OntSC
Belittchenko v. Belitchenko 2007 CarswellOnt 6083 OntDivCt
Bester v. Balroop, 2009 ONCA 799 (CanLII) OntCA
Beverly (Trustee of) v. Beverly; 2007 CarswellOnt 3876; Ont SCJ
Bimman v. Neiman, 2011 ONSC 4274 (CanLII)
Bimman v. Neiman, 2014 ONSC 5965 (CanLII)
Bird v. Mangat, 2012 ONSC 1236 ONSC
Bleile v. Kozierok; 1995 CarswellOnt 2410; OCJ (GD)
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. v. Ord, 2007 CanLII 24673 (ON S.C) SCJ Ont
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. v. Ord; 2007 CarswellOnt 4252; Ont SCJ
Brownstone Press Ltd. v. Rosenfeld 1992 40 C.P.R. (3d) 575; OntCA
Brownstone Press Ltd. v. Rosenfeld, Malcolmson 1988 CarswellOnt 929 OntSC
Canada (Competition Bureau) v. Yellow Pages Marketing B.V., 2013 ONCA 71
Canadian Jewish Congress v. Makow, 2010 CHRT 13 (CanLII)
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Blue Media Group Inc., 2010 FC 328
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Cano Tech Inc., 2006 FC 28,
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Fuzion Technology 2005 FC 1557.
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Fuzion Technology 2006 FC 1284
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Fuzion Technology 2006 FC 1448
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Fuzion Technology 2007 FCA 335
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. J & E Media Inc.; 2008 FC 1197
Canadian Private Copying Collective v. Fuzion Technology 2009 FC 800,
Cano Tech Inc. v. Canadian Private Copying Collective, 2007 FCA 14
Card v. Reid 980 CarswellOnt 1553; OntSC
Carmona v. Rubinoff Estate, 2012 HRTO 709
Commissioner v. Yellow Page Marketing et al., 2013 ONSC 850
Cotleur v. Varty; 1986 CarswellOnt 2043; Ont. Master
Crowther v. Litman; 1982 37 O.R. (2d) 570; OntHC
D & R Holdings (Markham) Inc v. Singer et al, 2012 ONSC 980
Decision No. 2282/05; 2006 ONWSIAT 1093; Ont Workplace Safety Ins AppTrib
Decision No. 2282/05R, 2006 ONWSIAT 1928 Ont Workplace Safety Ins AppTrib
Deerhurst Inv.Ltd. v. FPI Management Systems 1984 50 O.R. (2d) 687
DRX Corporation v. Alembic Limited, 2010 ONSC 4570 OSC
Dziecielski v. Lighting Dimensions Inc., 2012 ONSC 1877
Dziecielski v. Lighting Dimensions Inc., 2013 ONCA 565
Double D Dev.Ltd. v. Green; 1979 99 D.L.R. (3d) 572; OntHC
Ellam v. Ellam; 1975 CarswellOnt 185; 21 R.F.L. 357; OntCA
Farah v. Sauvageau Holdings Inc., 2011 ONSC 1819
Federman Estate, Re; 1994 CarswellOnt 2834; OCJ (GD)
Georg v. Hassanali; 1989 18 R.F.L. (3d) 225, 33 E.T.R. 124 ONSC
Gerry v. Toronto Bd of Education; 1987 CarswellOnt 2620; Ont Dist Ct;
Giannotti v. Wellington Enterprises Ltd.; [1997] O.J. No. 574; Ont CJ GD
Golan v. Sparkling Distribution Inc., 2009 CanLII 3508 (ON L.R.B.)
Hains Marketing Associates Ltd. v. COA 2000 CarswellOnt 933; Ont SCJ
Hains Marketing Associates Ltd. v. COA 2000 CarswellOnt 1250; Ont SCJ
Harding Estate v. Beverly, 2007 CanLII 22656 (ON S.C.) SCJ Ont
Husain v. Hicks; 1981 33 O.R. (2d) 737; OntSC
Husain v. Hicks; 1982 141 D.L.R. (3d) 738; OntSC
Iliescu v. Voicegenie Technologies, Inc., 2010 ONCA 104
Isailovic v. Gertner, 2008 ONCA 895 (CanLII)
Just Speakers Inc. v. Benia; 2002 CarswellOnt 1713; Ont SCJ
Kiss v. Palachik 1981 34 O.R. (2d) 481 ONCA
Kiss v. Palachik [1983] 1 S.C.R. 623
Krabi v. Krabi; 1989 CarswellOnt 1449; OntHC
Le Barreau du Haut-Canada c. Mireille Landry, 2007 ONLSHP 109
Le Barreau du Haut-Canada c. Mireille Landry, 2007 ONLSHP 121
L. v. Children’s Aid Society 1976 24 R.F.L. 134; OntSC;
Lamperstorfer v. Sprackman, (1984)54 C.B.R. (N.S.) 37; Ont SC Bkcy
Lavon v. Shalom-K Tours Ltd.; 1999 CarswellOnt 144; OCJ (GD)
Law Society of Upper Canada v. Landry, 2008 ONLSAP 12
Le Barreau du Haut-Canada c. Landry, 2007 ONLSHP 109 (CanLII)
MacPherson v. Ritz Management Inc.; 1992 CarswellOnt 3213; OCJ (GD);
Makarchuk v. Mid Transportation Services Ltd.; 1985 6 C.C.E.L. 169; OntSC
Manley v. Manley; 1990 29 R.F.L. (3d) 283; OntSC,
Mexam Corp. v. Coffee, Tea Or…Me Bakery 2002 CanLII 3516 Ont Div Ct
Min Mar Group Inc. v. Belmont Properties 2010 ONSC 1814
Molinaro v. U-Buy Discount Foods Ltd.; 2000 CarswellOnt 4656; Ont SCJ
Morris v. Call the Car Alarm Guys Inc.; 2005 193 O.A.C. 238; OntCA;
OEMSDF Inc. v. Europe Israel Ltd. 1999 42 C.P.C. (4th) 229
Painter v. Painter Estate 2008 ONCA 203; OntCA
Park Lane Homes v. Pecotic; 1989 CarswellOnt 1565; OntCA
Payless Home Marketing Inc. v. Silverman, 2003 CanLII 45665 (ONSC)
Portable PkgSystems Inc. v. Brackin, 2011 ONSC 4440
Piechocki v. Costa 2009 ONCA 88 (CanLII) OntCA
Pothos Leasing Ltd. v. Headon, 2003 CanLII 25534 (ONSC)
PT ATPK Resources TBK (Indonesia) v. Diversified Energy and Resource Corporation et al., 2013 ONSC 5913
PT ATPK Resources TBK (Indonesia) v. Hopaco Properties Limited, 2014 ONCA 466
PT ATPK Resources TBK v. Hopaco Properties Ltd, 2013 ONSC 6640
Red Poppies Ltd. v. Film Opticals 1995 CarswellOnt 4048; OntCA;
Rizek v. Rizek; 1989 CarswellOnt 1806; Supreme Court of Ont. (High Court of Justice
Robitaille v. Cosford; 1998 CarswellOnt 2961; ONSC
Rosen V. Muller, 2013 ONSC 1709
Sadie Moranis RE Ltd. v. 1338941 Ont. Ltd. 2003 13 R.P.R. (4th) 276; Ont SCJ
Sadie Moranis RE Ltd. v. 1338941 Ont. Ltd. 2003 CanLII 20408 (ONSC
Sadie Moranis RE Ltd. v. 1338941 Ont. Ltd. 2003 CarswellOnt 4737; Ont SCJ;
Sadie Moranis RE Ltd. v. Hongkong Bank 1998 39 O.R. (3d) 691, Ont CJ GD
Sadie Moranis RE Ltd. v. Hongkong Bank 1998 117 O.A.C. 123; OntCA
Schwartz Levitsky v. Stone 1998 CarswellOnt 3479; OCJ (GD)
Schwartz Levitsky v. Stone 1998 CarswellOnt 3480; OCJ (GD)
Schwartz Levitsky v. Stone 1998 CarswellOnt 5541; OCJ (GD)
Schwartz Levitsky v. Stone, 1999 CanLII 2992 (ON C.A.) OntCA
Srebot v. Srebot Farms Ltd., 2010 ONSC 2842
Srebot v. Srebot Farms Ltd. 2011 ONSC 4512
Srebot v. Srebot Farms Ltd., 2013 ONCA 84
Standard Chartered Bank v. Torontour; 1988 CarswellOnt 2162; Ont HC
Standard Trust Co. v. Brillinger 1994 CarswellOnt 3869; OntCA
Steidman v. Lettieri, 2005 CanLII 35790 (ON SC)
Strawrene Ltd. v. Kay; 1986 55 O.R. (2d) 429; OntSC
Temar Const.Ltd. v. West Hill Redev. Co.; 1986 21 C.L.R. 156; OntSC
Tessis v. Scherer 1982 39 O.R. (2d) 149 OntSC
Texaco Canada Ltd. v. Minnis 1974 6 O.R. (2d) 218,Ont. Co. Ct.
TD Bank v. Forsythe; 2000 47 O.R. (3d) 321OntCA
Toronto Dominion Bank v. Forsythe, et al., 2000 CanLII 5675 (ON CA)
Walker v. Rosser; 2001 148 O.A.C. 211; OntCA
Zingone v. Zingone; 1985 4 C.P.C. (2d) 281; OntSC,
Zingone v. Zingone; 1986 53 O.R. (2d) 411, 38 R.P.R. 106, OntSC