Commercial Litigation

Commercial Litigation

At LCW Lawyers, we’ve built one of Ontario’s most respected commercial litigation practices. Our commercial litigation lawyers in St. Catharines are well-versed in handling complex corporate disputes and business litigation across various industries. We regularly represent clients in hearings before both provincial and federal courts and tribunals, including the Financial Services Tribunal, Ontario Land Tribunal, and Environmental Review Tribunal.

Beyond courtroom advocacy, we work closely with clients to identify and manage potential legal risks before they escalate into larger disputes. By understanding the intricacies of each client’s business, we provide proactive solutions that often prevent drawn-out litigation.

Whether through early resolution or alternative dispute methods, our approach is tailored to achieve cost-effective outcomes. With a skilled discovery team working alongside our litigators, we deliver efficient and customized solutions for every case.

Schedule a consultation to discuss your matter, understand how you can lower risks, assert your rights, and resolve disputes cost-efficiently.

Commercial Litigation Lawyers in St. Catharines with Over 140 Years of Experience

The Commercial Litigation Practice Group represents a broad range of clients in litigation matters that arise during the course of conducting business. Our clients are financial institutions, corporations of various sizes, shareholders, partnerships, sole-proprietorships, and individuals. 

Our Commercial Litigation lawyers also go to great lengths to help clients minimize liability. They routinely educate clients on techniques to limit corporate and personal liability.

EXAMPLES:

1. Bankruptcy and creditors' rights

Secure your position in complex bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. Our commercial litigation attorneys represent companies and creditors in disputes over unpaid debts, priority claims, and asset distribution. Whether dealing with secured or unsecured claims, we help with asset recovery and defence.

2. Fraud

Pursue legal recourse in cases of financial and corporate fraud that threaten your business. We assist with uncovering complex schemes involving embezzlement, insider trading, or misrepresentation in contracts.

3. Lender liability

Minimize exposure to lender liability claims arising from allegations of predatory lending, misrepresentation, or breaches of fiduciary duty. Our expertise includes defending against borrower claims of unfair loan terms, wrongful foreclosure, or failure to honor commitments.

4. Break of Contract Cases

Enforce or defend your contractual rights with precision. We help businesses facing breaches related to sales agreements, service contracts, partnership agreements, and more. Whether your business litigation involves non-performance, delayed delivery, or violation of exclusivity clauses, we pursue appropriate remedies to protect your commercial interests.

5. Appeals

Overturn unfavourable judgments by leveraging a detailed understanding of appellate law. Our corporate litigators specialize in dissecting trial records to identify errors in legal interpretation, evidence handling, or procedural fairness.

6. Class Actions

Defend your business against the potentially devastating financial consequences of class action lawsuits. We handle high-stakes litigation involving product defects, consumer protection violations, and securities misrepresentation.

7. Competition/Antitrust

We represent clients in disputes over price-fixing, monopolistic practices, and merger challenges under the Competition Act. We work closely with economists and industry experts to dismantle claims and mitigate the impact of regulatory investigations or private actions.

Construction and Infrastructure Litigation

Resolve disputes efficiently and prevent costly project delays. Our team represents contractors, developers, and investors in litigation involving construction defects, contract breaches, delay claims, and lien enforcement under the Ontario Construction Act. We also handle disputes arising from public-private partnership (P3) projects.

Corporate Governance and Securities

We advise directors and officers facing derivative actions, insider trading claims, and securities class actions. Our approach focuses on minimizing exposure by ensuring corporate compliance with the Ontario Securities Act, stock exchange regulations, and governance best practices.

Cross-Border Litigation

Navigate the complexities of international disputes with expertise in cross-border litigation. Whether dealing with jurisdictional conflicts, enforcement of foreign judgments, or multi-national commercial disputes, we offer guidance on international treaties and conventions.

Environmental Litigation

Protect your business from environmental claims that can lead to costly penalties or project shutdowns. We represent businesses in disputes involving contaminated land, regulatory breaches, and environmental assessments under laws like the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Franchise Litigation

Resolve franchise disputes with a focus on protecting your brand and business model. We assist franchisors and franchisees in litigation involving franchise agreement breaches, territory disputes, and compliance with the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure).

Insolvency and Restructuring

Our commercial litigation lawyers assist creditors, debtors, and other stakeholders in insolvency proceedings, including CCAA filings, receiverships, and out-of-court restructurings. Our approach focuses on preserving value, maximizing asset recovery, and crafting viable restructuring plans to ensure the long-term survival of your business.

Intellectual Property Litigation

We represent clients in disputes over patent infringement, trademark violations, copyright breaches, and trade secret misappropriation.

Product Liability

With experience in defending manufacturers and distributors under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, we craft effective defences to minimize damages and protect your brand. We handle disputes involving defective products, failure-to-warn allegations, and regulatory non-compliance.

Tax Dispute Resolution

Resolve tax disputes swiftly and effectively. We represent businesses in disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) over tax assessments, audits, and compliance issues. Whether contesting penalties or negotiating settlements, our deep understanding of Canadian tax laws helps mitigate the financial impact on your operations while ensuring compliance moving forward.