Boutique litigation firm Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP routinely represents real estate, telecoms, finance and energy-sector clients in commercial reorganizations and restructurings, private and court-supervised debt workouts, directors’ and officers’ liability matters and shareholder disputes. Matthew Gottlieb directs the ‘talented, results-oriented’ team and specializes in corporate, commercial, insolvency and restructuring, and fraud and securities litigation. Also noted is Andrew Winton, who majors on shareholder disputes and insolvency mandates, including as counsel to the court-appointed monitor, receiver and directors of insolvent entities.

The practice at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP acts for debtors, court officers and secured lenders on a range of restructuring and insolvency mandates. The team has notable expertise in the financial services, mining, cannabis, real estate and energy segments. The department is directed by Calgary-based Kelly Bourassa and Toronto-based Linc Rogers. Bourassa handles in-court and out-of-court matters for major public companies, and Rogers regularly assists foreign-based lenders, corporations and private equity and hedge funds with restructurings, distressed acquisitions and distressed financings. Additional key contacts at the Toronto office include Pamela Huff, Chris Burr and Caitlin McIntyre, who handles insolvency litigation, financial restructurings and debt enforcement. Vancouver-based Peter Rubin has experience acting as independent counsel for monitors in reorganization cases.

Bennett Jones LLP's practice group acts for creditors, debtors and CCAA monitors across the range of insolvency and restructuring mandates. The department is directed Toronto-based Kevin Zych, who specializes in private loan workouts and judicially supervised restructurings under the CCAA and the CBCA; and Calgary-based Kelsey Meyer, who has focused her practice on bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring litigation. Sean Zweig, who is based in Toronto, is an additional key contact. Ex-practice head Christopher Simard was appointed a Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, effective June 2023. Kenneth Lenz KC retired in December of the same year.

The restructuring and insolvency group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP takes care of restructuring and liquidation mandates and is regularly instructed to act on the insolvencies of companies in the food and drink, energy, financial services and retail segments. Toronto-based Jane Dietrich leads the national department and specializes in restructurings, insolvency and related litigation. Additional partners of note at the Toronto office include Ryan Jacobs, Shayne Kukulowicz, Joseph Bellissimo and Alan Merskey.

The practice group at McCarthy Tétrault is well-placed to represent debtors, corporate creditors, court-appointed monitors, receivers and trustees in domestic and cross-border restructurings, workouts and insolvencies. A recent standout mandate saw the team represent the trustee to the bankruptcy of Public Bike System Company in a dispute relating to the City of Montréal’s claim. Toronto-based James Gage heads up the practice and handles domestic and international workouts, CCAA, receivership and bankruptcy proceedings. Additional key contacts include Calgary-based Sean Collins (out-of-court and court-supervised restructurings); Toronto-based Heather Meredith; Vancouver-based Lance Williams; and Alain Tardif and Jocelyn Perreault, both of whom are based in Montreal.

Norton Rose Fulbright's practice group is well-versed in all stages of restructuring and has particular sectoral expertise in financial services, energy and mining. The team is regularly called upon by financial institutions, court-appointed officers, foreign representatives and corporations alike. Key contacts include Calgary-based Howard Gorman KC, who handles workouts, insolvencies and oil and gas and commercial disputes; ‘real leader in the field’ Jennifer Stam and ‘next generation leader’ Evan Cobb, both of whom are based in Toronto; and Guillaume Michaud in Montreal. Former Montreal managing partner Luc Morin was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec in March 2024.

The practice at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP regularly handles insolvency, bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, including liquidations in the financial services, construction, mining and energy sectors. The group is routinely instructed by senior secured lenders, insolvency professionals acting as monitor, and debtors alike. Toronto-based Alex MacFarlane leads the national department and specializes in cross-border restructurings and insolvency proceedings under the CCAA. Also noted is Montreal-based litigator Isabelle Desharnais. Ex-practice co-head Marc Duchesne recently retired.

Gowling WLG's practice group is frequently called upon by debtors, creditors and court appointed officers seeking support with multi-jurisdictional restructuring and insolvency mandates. Montreal-based Geneviève Cloutier heads up the national department and specializes in insolvency and restructuring, distressed acquisitions and commercial litigation. Also noted are Toronto-based David Cohen, who majors on corporate and commercial law and restructuring and insolvency mandates; and Calgary-based Sam Gabor, who focuses on court-appointed receivership and interim receivership proceedings, CCAA restructurings and out-of-court restructurings.

Torys' practice group is routinely called upon by boards of directors and senior management to act on restructuring and insolvency mandates across a range of sectors, among them financial services, retail, pharmaceuticals and mining. The practice is jointly directed by David Bish, who has experience handling bankruptcy proceedings, proposals, wind-ups, liquidations, reorganizations, restructurings and receiverships; and Tony DeMarinis, who focuses on negotiated workouts, recapitalizations, distressed investments and acquisitions, and court proceedings under the federal CCAA. Also noted are Scott Bomhof; litigator Jeremy Opolsky; and Adam Slavens, who is lauded by one client as ‘practical, experienced and technically sound’. All lawyers mentioned are based at the Toronto office.

The practice group at Dentons regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, accountancy firms, trustees and corporations in the energy, mining, tech, hospitality and real estate segments in insolvency proceedings. The department is co-directed by Toronto-based Robert Kennedy, who has substantial expertise in receivership and bankruptcy proceedings, creditor rights and enforcement, and out of court restructurings and work-outs. Alongside him, Vancouver-based John Sandrelli has particular experience in the cannabis sector. Ex-practice practice co-head David W Mann left the firm in October 2023.

Lauded for its ‘practical approach to problem-solving’, the practice group at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP is equipped to represent debtors and creditors on the insolvencies of financial services, mining, forestry and real estate companies. Vancouver-based Colin Brousson, who is praised for his ‘can-do attitude to challenging files and situations’; and Toronto-based Edmond Lamek share leadership of the practice. Both specialize in corporate restructuring mandates across a broad range of sectors.