Litigation & Dispute Resolution

In any dispute, it is important to get to the heart of the real issue, by taking a practical, results-oriented approach.  We recognize and present our client’s perspective and interests in a comprehensive and compelling manner.  Our strategy in litigation is to secure the best resolution in a timely and cost efficient manner.

Our litigators have extensive trial and appellate experience at all levels of court, including the Ontario Superior Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Tax Court of Canada, and the Supreme Court of Canada.  Our litigators also appear as counsel before administrative boards and tribunals, as well as in private forums involving arbitrations, mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

As a full service business and tax law firm, we have developed our litigation practice to complement each of our other practice areas.

From litigation to arbitration, we act as litigators in a wide variety of areas, including:

• Bankruptcy litigation
• Collection litigation
• Commercial real estate litigation
• Construction litigation
• Corporate commercial disputes
• Defamation
• Employment litigation
• Estate litigation
• Financial services litigation
• IP litigation
• Labour arbitration
• Mortgage remedies
• Security realization and enforcement
• Shareholder disputes
• Tax litigation
• Tenancy disputes

Corporate/Commercial

In today’s complex business environment, disputes come with the territory.  WV LLP provides businesses and business owners with efficient and cost effective representation to resolve these disputes.

Our litigation practice group members have significant experience in and out of court assisting clients with commercial contract/transaction disputes, shareholder disputes, director/officer liability issues, allegations of negligence, broker/dealer litigation, restructuring and insolvency litigation, and litigation against insurance companies.

Shareholder Disputes

Shareholder disputes are an unfortunate fact of life and, when they arise, a careful and reasoned strategy is needed to navigate through the minefield of emotions and misunderstandings which threaten to cripple a company.  Our litigation and corporate lawyers can help resolve these disputes with timely and effective advice in regard to rights under shareholders agreements, directors’ obligations, fiduciary duties, the enforceability of non-competition agreements, the use of buy-sell agreements, and the protection of seniority interests.  If litigation becomes unavoidable, our litigators have extensive experience seeking judgments, declarations, and injunctions from the Commercial Court to protect and enforce personal and corporate legal rights.

Labour and Employment

Employees are amongst a business’s most important assets.  They also, however, can create its largest contingent liability.  It is for this reason that the strategic management of a business’s workforce is critical in today’s competitive economy.  With the proliferation of labour and employment legislation and the ever changing common law, businesses need expert legal advice to avoid costly mistakes and to minimize their workforce costs.

Our labour and employment law lawyers assist employers in addressing employment issues before they become a problem and ensure that efficient human resource strategies are created and implemented.  When disputes do arise, our lawyers provide experienced strategic and practical representation in all areas of labour and employment law, at both the provincial and federal level.  Our lawyers regularly deal with labour and employment law matters before all levels of court and at tribunals, boards, and arbitrations, including matters concerning wrongful dismissals and injunctive matters, grievances, human rights complaints, regulatory compliance issues, occupational health and safety matters, and workplace safety and insurance matters. 

Construction Litigation

Our litigators have considerable experience representing our clients pursuing and defending all types of construction claims and defences, including breach of contract, claims for lien, delay claims, breach of trust claims, performance and labour and material payment bond claims, negotiating and settling disputes through arbitration, and appearing at trial and appellant levels of court.

Those involved in the construction industry face financial risks not encountered in other commercial contexts.  As such, there are unique protections granted through the Construction Lien Act.  In order to best enforce various rights as a contractor, subcontractor, supplier, owner/developer, or design professional, expert legal advice is needed.

Tax Litigation

With a team of both tax litigators and tax practitioners, WV LLP is well positioned to assist accountants, businesses, directors, entrepreneurs, and individuals in resolving tax issues.

Our tax litigators have extensive experience in tax litigation before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal and provincial courts in tax disputes.  Indeed, several of the cases that have defined key tax principles or brought about amendments to the Income Tax Act were argued by our lawyers.

We assist taxpayers at every stage of the dispute, including the objection stage, the appeal stage, on applications for judicial review, on rectification applications, for remissions orders, and in regard to requests for taxpayer relief.