Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP is one of Canada’s top corporate commercial and securities litigation firms. We are best known for our expertise in representing clients who participate in the capital markets and financial services industry. Our partners have been ranked nationally among the best of their peers. We focus on achieving the best outcome for our clients, no matter how challenging the circumstances. We apply and instill in our lawyers best practices in trial advocacy and dispute resolution in order to provide professional and skilled representation that both serves and reflects well on our clients.

Main Areas of Practice:

Securities Litigation:

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP is the largest dedicated securities litigation team in Canada. Our securities litigators are client-focused and business-minded, providing representation for market participants in a wide range of disputes and regulatory investigations. We have successfully represented clients in some of the most significant and high-profile securities law cases in Canada. We specialize in securities litigation and regulatory defense.

Our securities litigation practice includes primary and secondary market liability claims, claims arising out the restatement of a company’s financial statements, claims arising out of alleged fraud, claims against investment dealers and advisors in respect of allegedly problematic investment products, strategies and tax shelters, and claims against investment funds, fund managers and traders arising out of allegedly problematic trading strategies. Our firm has particular expertise with investment loss litigation. Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP has represented clients in cases that range from suitability claims to more complex trading in options, commodities, derivative products and leveraged investing.

Our securities regulatory defence practice includes investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by the OSC and CIRO (formerly, IIROC and MFDA). We have significant experience with cross-border investigations involving the SEC and other US regulators.

Corporate/Commercial Litigation:

We are business litigators who act for plaintiffs and defendants in all manner of corporate and commercial litigation matters including disputes arising out of mergers and acquisitions, beach of contract suits, director and officer liability claims, oppression remedy matters, business tort claims, fraud and cyber-fraud investigations and claims, wrongful dismissal actions, professional negligence suits, corporate governance and accounting issues, and corporate investigations. CMB also has significant expertise litigating professional negligence claims involving securities industry professionals and accountants.

Investigations & Public Inquiries:

Our firm advises corporate clients on all aspects of internal investigations, from determining whether an investigation is warranted or required, through the design and conduct of the investigation, to the completion of the investigation and the reporting of findings and results. Our experienced lawyers have conducted internal investigations related to matters including alleged appropriation of corporate opportunities, trading activities, options trading practices, alleged misuse of corporate assets, related party transactions, financial reporting and disclosure issues, and fraud. We also advise individuals whose role or conduct is subject to internal investigations and represent respondents subject to investigation by a court appointed Receiver or Inspector.

Our firm has significant expertise in public reviews and inquiries. Our lawyers have advised Commissioners on investigations concerning matters including municipal governance, ethics, public infrastructure procurement and construction, public asset divestiture, and public health emergency responses. We have been integral to the conduct of public inquiries at every step, from the creation of the Commission’s rules, policies and procedures, through the planning and conduct of the investigation including public hearings, to supporting the Commissioners in the release of their final report.

Insurance Litigation:

We safeguard the interests of insurance companies, insurance brokers, and policyholders in all types of litigation and arbitration related to insurance coverage and liability disputes in the financial markets context. We leverage our knowledge of insurance law and understanding of the unique commercial context of each dispute to craft solutions that achieve our client’s business objectives. We have expertise in litigating the interpretation of complex insurance policies and programs as they relate to business interruption, cyber risk, director and officer, professional liability, employment practices liability, fraud, and fidelity bond disputes. In addition to our active litigation practice, we provide innovative and pragmatic coverage advice that allows disputes to be avoided.

Complex Employment Litigation:

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP has extensive experience in contentious aspects of employment law. We draw on our extensive motion and trial expertise to leverage creative solutions outside and inside of the courtroom. We have particular expertise in employment disputes involving capital market participants such as investment banks and bankers, investment dealers and advisors, traders and other securities registrants, and directors and officers of public companies.