David is a partner in Fogler, Rubinoff LLP’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. He maintains a litigation practice with a focus on construction law, real estate disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes.
David has successfully represented clients before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, Small Claims Court, arbitration panels, and adjudications under the Construction Act. In these legal settings, David has represented commercial landlords and tenants, property managers, purchasers and vendors of residential and commercial properties, shareholders, partners, mortgagees, mortgagors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, general contractors, design builders, construction managers, owners of construction projects and land developers.
In addition to his litigation practice, David drafts and negotiates construction contracts on behalf of public and private owners, general contractors, design builders, construction managers, subcontractors, suppliers and consultants in all sectors of the construction industry (infrastructure, commercial, industrial and residential).
Prior to joining the firm as a partner, David summered, articled and was an associate at the firm and was also legal counsel at a major Canadian general contractor, design-builder, and construction manager. These experiences enable him to provide creative solutions and a real-world perspective to the challenges faced by his clients.
David’s practical approach, strong analytical skills, and dedication to achieving effective solutions make him a trusted advocate for his clients, consistently guiding them through complex legal challenges with confidence.
Outside of the office David enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, hockey and travelling.
Michael is a seasoned lawyer bringing his expertise to Fogler, Rubinoff LLP as a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group. Having been called to the Bar in 1989, he possesses extensive knowledge and a wealth of practical experience.
Michael specializes in commercial litigation, construction law and occupational health and safety law. Throughout his lengthy career, he has successfully represented clients in a variety of legal settings, including arbitrations, the License Appeal Tribunal, Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Michael’s legal practice encompasses a wide range of areas, including commercial law, construction law, real estate law, commercial tenancy law, civil litigation, and defense in by-law and provincial offense matters. With a wealth of experience and expertise in these fields, Michael provides clients with valuable legal advice, and skillful representation.
Michael has built extensive expertise in advising and representing various professionals and entities, including architects, infrastructure contractors, mortgagees/mortgagors, commercial landlords and tenants, property managers, general contractors/land developers, residential and commercial construction builders, and title insurers. He is well-versed in preparing both standard and customized construction contracts for diverse projects, spanning residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure sectors.
In addition to his corporate clients, Michael serves as a trusted legal counsel to owner-managed companies, entrepreneurs, private individuals, and charitable corporations. His breadth of experience allows him to effectively address the unique needs and challenges faced by clients from various backgrounds.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Michael actively contributes to his community. He served as a valued member of the coaching staff for numerous minor hockey teams in both the Streetsville Minor Hockey Association and the Meadowvale Minor Hockey Association. Furthermore, he shared his legal expertise as a Business Law instructor at Sheridan College. These additional roles showcase Michael’s commitment to both his profession and making a positive impact outside the office.
Alain Bartleman is a partner in the firm’s Indigenous Practice Department and a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. He advises First Nations in complex negotiations involving Indigenous and Treaty rights, governance, and major resource and infrastructure projects.
Alain’s practice focuses on the negotiation and implementation of impact and community benefit, participation, revenue sharing, resource development and similar agreements (IBAs) on behalf of First Nations across Canada, as well as consultation, regulatory, and economic development matters. He advises First Nations on strategic engagement with all levels of government and negotiates with proponents in the mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors. His work also includes land management, project approvals, on-reserve real-property development, and the structuring and governance of band-owned enterprises.
Alain brings a strategic, principled, and solutions-oriented approach to all of his work. His practice is grounded in the belief that legal tools must reflect the values and priorities of the communities they are built to serve.
Alain has held leadership and advisory roles with several national and community-based organizations, including as Treasurer of the Indigenous Bar Association, Special Advisor on Indigenous Issues to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and as a board member of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. Alain is currently a Director with the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association (CAMA). He regularly mentors Indigenous law students and early-career lawyers, and speaks on Indigenous legal issues at civic, legal, and educational forums. He is also the founder of the Bartleman Award for First Nations students at Western University. In recognition of his contributions to the profession and to Indigenous communities, Alain was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Adam is a Partner in Foglers’ Indigenous Practice and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Departments.
As a seasoned litigator, Adam acts on behalf of clients in complex criminal, civil, constitutional, and Indigenous/Aboriginal law matters. He has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada, with a focus on appeals and judicial reviews. Adam has expertise in treaty litigation, specific claims, land claims, and regulatory matters, as well as litigation in other areas, including child wellbeing, human rights, health law, and professional discipline. Prior to joining Foglers, Adam acted as provincial Crown Counsel where he appeared in the Court of Appeal for Ontario on over 20 complex appeals and motions.
Adam’s practice focuses on issues related to the enforcement of Indigenous laws, inherent jurisdiction, and the duty to consult and accommodate. As a trusted negotiator and advisor, Adam supports Indigenous governments in complex regulatory areas, including natural resources and energy development, child and family wellbeing, and policing/criminal justice. His expertise in these areas is informed by previous work as federal Crown Counsel responsible for implementation of An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families in Ontario.
Adam also offers alternative dispute resolution services and has acted as mediator and adjudicator on a variety of matters. He is currently a member of the City of Toronto’s Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal.
Outside of his law practice, Adam advises on issues related to mental health and housing. He works with Ontario Health’s CEO, the Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Adam is also a leader in community mental health and supportive housing. He is past Chair of the Board for the Gerstein Crisis Centre, Vice-Chair of the Board for Madison Community Services, and a Board Member at Family Service Toronto, a social and developmental service organization in Toronto.
Adam’s thoughtful approach to dispute prevention, resolution, and litigation makes him a trusted resource to clients across the country.
Catherine is a Partner in the Litigation Group and Bankruptcy and Insolvency Group. Her practice is devoted largely to corporate/commercial, real estate, banking, and insolvency litigation.
Catherine has handled a diverse range of legal cases, including complex fraud investigations, lender liability lawsuits, oppression remedy applications, construction disputes, commercial tenancy disputes, environmental claims, employment-related matters, professional malpractice allegations against lawyers, accountants, appraisers and other professionals, and a wide variety of bankruptcy, receivership and other insolvency proceedings. She is extremely well-versed in the intricacies of bankruptcy and insolvency law and has represented debtors, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy, foreign representatives, and secured and unsecured creditors in numerous proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, Personal Property Security Act, Business Corporations Act, and other commercial and insolvency-related statutes. She is regularly consulted by other law firms and sole practitioners on insolvency-related issues.
Catherine has acted as lead counsel for both debtors and financial institutions in several major “lender liability” lawsuits. In the early and mid- 2000’s, she acted as counsel for the trustee in bankruptcy of Dylex Limited and spearheaded an extensive forensic investigation and legal action that resulted in the recovery of tens of millions of dollars for unsecured creditors. She has regularly achieved exceptional monetary recoveries for lending clients through fast and innovative approaches.
She has appeared at all levels of courts in Ontario, including the Commercial List and the Ontario Court of Appeal, as well as in private arbitrations. In 2002, Catherine served as a member of the Oral Board of Examiners for licensing trustees in bankruptcy. She has sat for a number of years on the Commercial List Users Committee of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, including as a member of subcommittees dealing with the implementation of the rule changes under the Rules of Civil Procedure and dealing with issues related to Access to Justice.
Catherine has presented and published various papers and lectures on issues arising in the areas of commercial, banking and insolvency matters, including the rights and duties of directors and officers in insolvency, recognizing the warning signs of insolvency and recovering assets.
Clients come to Catherine for her expertise and her no-nonsense attitude. She is approachable and frank with a strong reputation in the legal community and the judiciary for her integrity, oral and written advocacy skills and passion for the law. She approaches every case in a very detailed, analytical and tenacious fashion, with an unyielding determination to get the best possible result for her clients, whether through an early negotiated settlement or, where appropriate and necessary, litigating the issues by means of a full-blown trial and appeal process.
Stephen is a Partner in our Business Law and Financial Services Groups. His practice focuses on all aspects of banking and secured lending transactions, including acquisition financings, mezzanine financings, asset-based lending, and syndicated financings.
Stephen also provides advice on insolvency matters and has worked with a variety of stakeholders affected by or involved in formal and informal insolvency proceedings and financial restructurings, including secured and unsecured creditors, receivers and trustees, and debtors.
When not at the office, Stephen enjoys getting outdoors and can be found hiking, running along the waterfront with his dog, and playing a variety of organized team sports.
Ryan has a broad corporate and commercial practice with an emphasis on debt finance and private business transactions.
As part of his financing practice, Ryan acts regularly for both lenders and borrowers on a range of transactions often involving complex structures and multiple jurisdictions. Additionally, he has a particular expertise in automotive finance and is known as a “go to” service provider to the leading lenders across Canada in this dynamic sector.
In his private business practice, he represents clients across a range of industries. His experience covers: mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, estate/succession planning, private equity investments, shareholder and partnership disputes and corporate governance. Ryan also frequently advises real estate developers on the corporate side of their development projects including, corporate structuring, capital raises and the various stages of project financing.
Marie’s practice extends to all facets of branding and advertising law, and her expertise lies in helping businesses acquire, manage and defend their trademarks in Canada and abroad.
Marie has worked with and managed the international trademark portfolios of many of Canada’s largest corporations and the Canadian portfolios of some of the world’s largest trademark owners. She is ranked as a leading trademark lawyer by both World Intellectual Property Review and WTR 1000 – the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals.
Marie is a member of the Institute of Intellectual Property of Canada (IPIC). She served for several terms as an instructor in its trademark agent training course and for two terms on the committee charged with administering the trademark agent examination. She is also the former Director of the McGill-IPIC course on Managing Trademark Disputes. Marie is also actively involved with the International Trademark Association (INTA). She has worked on several of its committees, including the Trademark Reporter Committee, the Building Bridges Committee, and is a former co-chair of the Law and Practice North America Subcommittee of the INTA Bulletin. In 2021, she was appointed to the Trademark Examining Board of the newly created College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents.
Marie is fluent in both French and English and has studied and worked in both languages. She received a B.Sc. in 1987 from Queen’s University, specializing in Life Sciences. She then attended McGill University and obtained her common and civil law degrees in 1991. While at McGill, she was Comments Editor of the McGill Law Journal. Subsequently, as part of her articles, Marie clerked with Madam Alice Desjardins of the Federal Court of Appeal.
Paul has extensive experience in employment related litigation, grievance arbitrations, labour board hearings and human rights applications. He regularly appears before the courts, administrative tribunals and arbitrators. Paul also provides sound strategic advice tailored to clients seeking to avoid litigation. Paul takes a practical, customary and creative approach to his practice in ensuring that his clients achieve their desired outcome.
Paul is consulted daily to provide prompt and sage advice on all human resources matters affecting the workplace. In addition, Paul is regularly retained as counsel in connection with labour and employment implications arising out of complex corporate transactions.
Paul is a graduate of Queen’s University’s joint Master of Industrial Relations/Juris Doctor (MIR/JD) Program. Prior to law school, Paul obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University where he graduated with “distinction” and pursued a concentration in labour-management relations.
Julien is a partner in our tax department.
Julien’s practice consists of corporate and personal tax planning, estate planning, corporate reorganizations, cross-border structuring, and the taxation of trusts. Julien also has experience with voluntary disclosures and regularly advises clients on departure tax.
Prior to joining the firm, Julien was an associate in a Montreal law firm specializing in taxation law.
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