
Jonathan Lisus
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(Chambers Canada)
“He really is brilliant: incredibly hard working, diligent and able to deal with legal issues in a creative way.”
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.
Select Representative Mandates
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Chemtrade Electrochem Inc v. Superior Plus Corporation, 2025 ABCA 31
Successfully represented Superior Plus in Alberta Court of Appeal reversing trial judgment awarding $25 million Reverse Termination Fee after United States anti-trust merger review.
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Del Grande v. Toronto Catholic District School Board, 2024 ONCA 769
Successfully represented TDSCB in Ontario Court of Appeal, jurisdiction to enforce code of conduct and discipline trustees, application of constitutional protection to trustees speech.
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R. v. City of Greater Sudbury (City), 2023 SCC 28
Applicability of vicarious liability provisions of Occupational Health and Safety Act to project owners.
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Canada (Commissioner of Competition) v. Rogers Communications Inc., 2023 FCA 16
Successfully represented Rogers at trial and in Federal Court of Appeal in defence of Commissioner of Competition application to block $26 billion dollar merger between Rogers and Shaw.
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Aylmer Meat Packers Inc. v. Ontario, 2022 ONCA 579; leave to SCC denied
Successfully represented plaintiff in Ontario Court of Appeal reversing trial judgment, first imposition of private law duty of care on regulator exercising statutory authority.
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Francis v. Ontario, 2021 ONCA 197
Successfully represented Canadian Civil Liberties Association in Ontario Court of Appeal, Crown Liability and Proceedings Act does not extinguish common law policy/operational distinction in tort law.
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Royal Bank of Canada v. 1643937 Ontario Inc., 2021 ONCA 98
Successfully represented borrower in Ontario Court of Appeal reversing trial judgment, liability of bank for misrepresentation in personal guarantee and enforceability of entire agreement clauses.
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Sokoloff v. Tru-Path Occupational Therapy Services Ltd., 2020 ONCA 730
Successfully represented plaintiff in Ontario Court of Appeal, test for dismissal of defamation action as Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.
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Way v. Schembri, 2020 ONCA 691
Successfully represented developer in Ontario Court of Appeal reversing judgment granting partial summary judgement, enforceability of joint venture non-competition covenant.
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Rukavina v. Ottawa (Police Services Board), 2020 ONCA 533; leave to SCC denied
Successfully represented police officer in Ontario Court of Appeal, jurisdictional boundary between Superior Court and Labour Relations Board over claims of malicious prosecution and misfeasance.
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