Jonathan Lisus

T 416 598 7873 F 416 598 3730
E jlisus@lolg.ca

Clients trust Jonathan to handle their most difficult and complex problems. "Jonathan Lisus is in a class of his own. He is one of the best litigators in Canada”, “He really is brilliant: he is incredibly hard working, diligent and able to deal with legal issues in a creative way” (Chambers Canada 2022), “an extremely creative and brilliant lawyer”, a “hard hitting litigator” (Chambers Global, Chambers Canada), and "a real dynamo, who can pretty much try anything." (Benchmark Litigation). In 2020, Jonathan was named Canada’s Trial Lawyer of the Year by Benchmark Litigation.

Jonathan’s litigation practice includes infrastructure-related litigation, contractual disputes, product liability, oppression remedies, franchise litigation, aboriginal land claims, class actions and securities litigation in courts across the country including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has tried over 80 cases and argued over 55 appeals to judgment, and is frequently engaged as trial and appellate co-counsel by peer law firms.  He has been lead counsel in many landmark decisions in the area of class actions, professional liability, public and constitutional law and commercial litigation.  He regularly acts as counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association on constitutional challenges to government actions.

Known to be fearless, Jonathan is always approachable and respectful towards everyone he encounters.

Education

  • Called to the Ontario Bar, 1992
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School
  • Chief Justice of Ontario Advisory Committee on Professionalism, Member
  • Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, Member
  • Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Board of Directors and Executive Committee 
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors and Admissions Committee
  • North York General Hospital Foundation, Board of Governors
  • Lawyers International Food Enterprise, Co-founder and Director
  • Chambers Canada 2023: Band 1 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2023: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2023: Commercial Litigation
  • Canadian Lexpert® Directory, 2023: Class Actions; Franchise Law; Litigation - Corporate Commercial;   Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law; Litigation - Securities
  • Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2023: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability 
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2023: 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 Legal 500 Canada, 2023: Hall of Fame - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Chambers Global 2022: Dispute Resolution: Litigation
  • Chambers Canada 2022: Band 1 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2022: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2022: Commercial Litigation
  • Canadian Lexpert® Directory, 2022: Class Actions; Franchise Law; Litigation - Corporate Commercial;   Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law; Litigation - Securities
  • Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2022: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability 
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 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 Legal 500 Canada, 2022: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Chambers Canada 2021: Band 1 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2021: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2021: Commercial Litigation
  • Canadian Lexpert® Directory, 2021: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Class Actions; Franchise Law; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law; Litigation - Securities
  • Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2021: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability 
  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2021: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario; Restructuring and Insolvency, Ontario
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2021: 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
  • Chambers Canada 2020: Band 1 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2020: Canada's Trial Lawyer of the Year  
  • Canadian Lexpert® Directory, 2020: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Class Actions; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Franchise Law 
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2020: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2020: Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2020: Administrative and Public Law; Class Action Litigation
  • The Legal 500, 2020 Edition: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Chambers Canada, 2019: Band 1 - Dispute Resolution
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2019: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star: Commercial Litigation, 2019
  • Canadian Lexpert® Directory 2019: Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Class Actions, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Franchise Law
  • Who's Who Legal, 2019: Global Litigation; Litigation - Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2018: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2018: Ontario Litigator of the Year
  • Who's Who Legal, 2018: Global Litigation; Litigation - Canada
  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring
  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada
  • Lexpert, Guide to the 100 Most Creative Lawyers in Canada