
Matthew Gottlieb
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(Chambers Canada)
“He is a fearless advocate and has a zealousness in the pursuit of his clients’ interests. He can do it all and take hard positions to service his clients’ needs.”
Bio
Lauded by peers as ‘the foremost litigator’, Matt has a distinguished track record of success in complex, high-stakes disputes across multiple disciplines, including corporate and commercial litigation, insolvency litigation, fraud, and securities litigation. He has extensive experience in some of the most significant insolvency disputes in North America. Matt combines subject-matter expertise with creativity and ensures his litigation strategy aligns seamlessly with his clients’ long-term goals.
A tremendous advocate in court, Matt is highly regarded by clients, judges, and opposing counsel for his experience and advocacy skills in trials, court applications, and arbitrations before all levels of Ontario Courts, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada, and other courts and tribunals throughout the country.
Matt is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and The International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a frequent instructor at The Law Society of Ontario, The Advocates' Society, and other organizations
Select Representative Mandates
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Hudson’s Bay Company, Re, 2025
Acted for KingSett Capital Inc., a landlord to multiple Hudson’s Bay Company stores, in a complex CCAA proceeding involving Canada’s oldest retailer.
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Condoman Developments v. Cannect International Mortgage, 2025 CanLII 21032 (ON SC)
Acting for a mortgage lender on a claim for a borrower’s failure to repay several mortgage loans totaling more than $46 million.
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Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, 2025 ONSC 1358
Acted for the Court appointed mediator in the $32 billion settlement of CCAA proceedings for several tobacco companies.
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Unity Health Toronto v. 2442931 Ontario Inc., 2025 ONCA 93
Acted for a syndicate of lenders in a multi-party litigation claim relating to a DBF P3 hospital redevelopment.
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Ottawa (City) v. ClubLink Corporation ULC, 2025 ONCA 34
Successful in striking down a contract between a landowner and the City of Ottawa that restrict urban development on Kanata lands, and require the continued operation of a golf course on those lands.
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Joseph Lebovic Charitable Foundation v. Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto, 2024 ONCA 933
Successfully quashing a motion brought by donor seeking leave to appeal from the Superior Court of Justice’s dismissal of the donor’s challenge of an arbitrator’s jurisdiction motion decision.
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Stronach v. Stronach et al., 2024 ONSC 4524
Secured a settlement in the action brought by Selena Stronach against Belinda Stronach and other members of the Stronach family over control of and rights to the family wealth.
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Infor Financial Inc. v. CentriLogic, Inc., 2024 ONCA 849
Counsel at trial and on appeal for the successful plaintiff/respondent, an investment bank, in a dispute related to a financing fee under an agreement.
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MBL Administrative Agent II LLC et al. v. Trade X Group of Companies Inc. et al., 2024 ONSC 3734
Successfully defended an a court-appointed receiver in resisting a stay application for the inadvertent access of purportedly privileged communications.
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One of the Largest Cross-Border Commercial Litigation and Insolvency Mandates in Recent History
Counsel to the Sackler Families in the Purdue Pharma CCAA proceeding, a proposed national class action, and two proposed class actions brought by the First Nations and Municipalities across Canada.
Recognitions
ACTL
- The American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
IATL
- The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
Chambers
- Chambers Canada 2022-2025: Band 2 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario); Band 5 - Insolvency / Restructuring (Nationwide - Canada)
- Chambers Canada 2020-2021: Band 2 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario); Recognised Practitioner - Restructuring/Insolvency (Nationwide – Canada)
- Chambers Canada 2017-2018, Band 2: Dispute Resolution
- Chambers Global 2024-2025: Band 5 - Restructuring/Insolvency; Band 2 - Dispute Resolution: Litigation
- Chambers Global 2022-2023: Restructuring/Insolvency
Legal 500
- The Legal 500 Canada, 2023-2025: Hall of Fame - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
- The Legal 500 Canada, 2020-2022: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario; Restructuring and Insolvency, Ontario
Benchmark Litigation
- Benchmark Litigation, 2019-2025: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
- Benchmark Litigation Star, 2018-2025: Commercial Litigation; Insolvency
- Benchmark Litigation Star, 2015: Insolvency
Lexpert
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2024-2025: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law; Litigation - Securities
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2023: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Securities
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2022: Class Actions; Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Securities
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2020-2021: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Securities
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2020: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Securities
- Lexpert Directory, 2018: Corporate Commercial Litigation, Insolvency Litigation, Directors & Officers Liability and Securities Litigation
ALM 500
- Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2019-2023, 2025: Insolvency & Restructuring; Litigation - Corporate Commercial
- Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2024: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; 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, 2016
- Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, 2015
Best Lawyers
- The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2025: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Defamation and Media Law; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law; Real Estate Law
- The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2024: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law; Real Estate Law
- The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2022-2023: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Defamation and Media Law; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law; Real Estate Law
- The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2022: “Lawyer of the Year” in Bet-the-Company Litigation
- The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2021: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
- The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2020: Administrative and Public Law; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
- Best Lawyers® in Canada 2016: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
- Best Lawyers® in Canada 2015: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law; Defamation and Media Law; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Legal Malpractice Law; Securities Law
Credentials
- Called to the Ontario Bar, 1991
- LL.B., University of Western Ontario, 1989
Memberships
- The Law Society of Ontario, Instructor
- The Advocates’ Society, Instructor
- Insolvency Institute of Canada, Member
- Friends of Simon Wisenthal Centre, Board of Governors
- Canadian General Counsel Awards, Advisory Board Member