A partner in Dickinson Wright’s Toronto office, Jeff advises clients dealing with complex commercial disputes, contentious negotiations, and other high-risk situations. Throughout his years of practice, Jeff has counselled clients in complex commercial cases, privacy matters, commercial fraud files, restructurings and insolvencies, professional negligence matters, and all manner of contract cases. Jeff has advised small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups, as well as institutional lenders, and publicly traded and multinational companies. This comprehensive experience has given Jeff a keen ability to recognise and assess business risk early and advise clients on slight course corrections that can be made to avoid the higher risk and cost of commercial litigation.
Prior to attending law school, Jeff held communications positions at both the Provincial and Federal governments, a stint as a copy editor, and then as a technical writer. Jeff then fulfilled his childhood plans and went to Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.
Jeff is passionate about giving back to the community he lives and practices in. He was on the board of directors of Justice for Children and Youth for eight years and served as Chair of the Board for five of those years.
Education & Credentials
Education
Osgoode Hall Law School
LL.BUniversity of Waterloo
B.A., English LiteratureBar Admission
Prominent Assignments
- Represented a large Canadian company in a commercial arbitration dealing with performance issues under a software development agreement.
- Canadian counsel to a German insolvent company in Canadian foreign recognition proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
- Provided advice on risk recognition, management, and resolution to a large and sophisticated family-owned business running a chain of retail mobile telephone stores at malls across Canada.
- Represented a regional real estate board in several proceedings relating to allegations of misuse by various members of Multiple Listing Service data.
- Represented the liquidator of a credit union in a complex commercial fraud dispute relating to the purchase of shares in the credit union by an investor and the activities of the pre-liquidation management of the credit union.
- Acted as independent counsel to the Court-Appointed Sales Officer in a shareholder dispute in which a portfolio of high-rise residential rental apartment buildings was the key asset. Maintained a firmly neutral position in highly contentious proceedings while assisting the Sales Officer in maximizing the value of the portfolio, ultimately recovering significantly higher value than the initial offer.
Professional Involvement
- Law Society of Ontario
- The Advocates’ Society
Community Involvement
- Law Society of Ontario’s Coach and Advisor Network, Volunteer
- Chair of the School Council at Mackenzie Glen Public School