Jonathan Lisus

Jonathan Lisus

T416 598 7873

jlisus@lolg.ca

  • “He really is brilliant: incredibly hard working, diligent and able to deal with legal issues in a creative way.”

    (Chambers Canada)

Bio

Described by his peers as ‘the gold standard in this space, a phenomenal litigator’, for more than 30 years Jonathan has won landmark decisions across a broad variety of subject matter including competition law, constitutional law, liability of public authorities, professional liability, criminal law, financial services, franchise law and contract disputes. He has tried over 90 cases to judgment and argued over 55 appeals in provincial appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Canada.  

Jonathan regularly appears as Special Counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in challenges to government action. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a member of the Chief Justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism, and a member of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, a select group of appointed advocates who provide pro bono peer review to counsel appearing in the Supreme Court of Canada. He maintains an active trial and appellate practice across Canada.

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Recognitions

ACTL

  • The American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow

IATL

  • The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors and Admissions Committee

Chambers

  • Chambers Global 2022-2025: Band 1 -Dispute Resolution: Litigation
  • Chambers Canada 2020-2025: Band 1 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Chambers Canada, 2019: Band 1 - Dispute Resolution

Legal 500

  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2023-2025: Hall of Fame - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2022: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2021: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario; Restructuring and Insolvency, Ontario
  • The Legal 500, 2020 Edition: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario

Benchmark Litigation

  • Benchmark Litigation, 2020, 2024-2025: Canada's Trial Lawyer of the Year 
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2018-2025: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2019-2025: Commercial Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2018: Ontario Litigator of the Year

Lexpert

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2021-2025: Class Actions; Franchise Law; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law; Litigation - Securities
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2019-2020: Class Actions; Franchise Law; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Lexpert, Guide to the 100 Most Creative Lawyers in Canada

ALM 500

  • Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2021-2025: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring

Best Lawyers

  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2025: “Lawyer of the Year” in Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2025: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Commercial Leasing Law; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Franchise Law; Professional Malpractice Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2023-2024: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Professional Malpractice Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2021-2022: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Professional Malpractice Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2020: Administrative and Public Law; Class Action Litigation

Credentials

  • Called to the Ontario Bar, 1992
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School

Memberships

  • Chief Justice of Ontario Advisory Committee on Professionalism, Member
  • Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, Member
  • Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Board of Directors and Executive Committee 
  • North York General Hospital Foundation, Board of Governors
  • Lawyers International Food Enterprise, Co-founder and Director