Best Law Firms in Ontario for Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law

CHAITONS LLP | www.chaitons.com | T: +1 416 222 8888 | F: +1 416 222 8402 

Number of partners: 11

Number of lawyers: 22

Languages: English 

Firm Overview: 

Based in Toronto, Canada, Chaitons LLP has a substantial lending and recovery practice that has been involved in a significant number of the largest restructuring and receivership proceedings in Canada including cross-border proceedings.  Chaitons is also well-known for its litigation, finance/M&A and commercial real estate practices.  Its clients range across a broad spectrum and include Canadian and foreign banks, capital corporations, private equity firms, asset-based lenders and distressed lenders.  The firm was formed in 1983, and has become a leader in providing quality service and effective solutions for its clients in workout, restructuring and enforcement proceedings, commercial litigation, and a broad range of financing transactions, including traditional corporate lending, asset-based financing, equity, structured finance, term lending, mezzanine financing and debtor-in-possession financing. 

Main Areas of Practice: 

Insolvency/ Restructuring: 

Recent engagements include representing:        

• Indenture trustee in the Lightstream CCAA proceedings
• Senior secured lender and DIP lender in the Comstock CCAP proceedings
• Receiver in the cross-border Syncapse receivership proceedings including sale of business to a public company
• Purchaser of cross-border business and assets of iMarketing Solutions Group
• Monitor of New Solutions Financial Corporation, a distressed lender with over $220 million of secured debt
• Purchaser of assets in the Talon Systems group of companies insolvency proceedings
• Indenture trustee in the Hollinger CCAA proceeding
• Indenture trustee in the Catalyst Paper CCAA proceeding
• Indenture trustee in the NewPage CCAA proceeding
• Indenture trustee in the Sino Forest CCAA proceeding
• US Chapter 7 trustee in pension priority dispute in the Indalex CCAA proceeding, which was argued before the Supreme Court of Canada
• Purchaser of the Gorham Paper Mill from Fraser Papers in its CCAA and Ch. 11 proceedings
• Purchaser of assets in the NewPage CCAA proceeding
• CCAA Monitor of Gandi Innovation and related entities in their CCAA and Ch 15 proceedings and the sale of the business to Agfa
• Nexient, a leading Canadian provider of corporate and public training services, in its CCAA proceeding and the sale of the business to Global Knowledge
• Clothing for Modern Times, a national clothing retailer, in its restructuring under the CCAA
• Several different stakeholders in the Nortel restructuring proceedings
• Court-appointed monitors, receivers and trustees in bankruptcy in numerous Canadian insolvency proceedings 

Contact:   Harvey Chaiton | 416 218 1129  | harvey@chaitons.com 

Litigation: 

Chaitons’ broad commercial litigation practice includes expertise in matters related to insolvency, creditor enforcement of security, shareholder and partnership disputes, commercial disputes, contractual issues, real estate litigation and construction litigation.

Contact:   Stephen Schwartz | 416 218 1132 | stephen@chaitons.com    

Finance/M&A: 

Chaitons’ Corporate Law Group provides a wide range of transaction-based corporate services to its clients, with an emphasis on financings, mergers and acquisitions and business arrangements.  We represent lenders and investors across a full spectrum of financings including in respect of senior, subordinated and mezzanine financings, as well as asset-based, distress and debtor-in-possession lending.

Recent engagements include representing clients in respect of:

• Acquisition of asset management group having assets under management in excess of $500 million
• Acquisition by a TSX-listed corporation of one of Canada’s pre-eminent mid-market lenders
• Acquisition and financing by a Canadian merchant bank of a leading Canadian manufacturer of machined products 

Contact:   Philip Taylor | 416 218 1125  |  philip@chaitons.com

Commercial Real Estate:  

Chaitons has a general commercial real estate practice with specialty in condominium development (including resort and fractional ownership), seniors housing development, leasing and acquisitions and divestures of income producing properties.

Contact:   Robert A Miller | 416 218 1134 | robert@chaitons.com

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success. With more than 1,500 legal professionals around the world, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Brief History

With roots tracing back to 1887, Gowling WLG grew to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in Canada, with a reputation for innovation in client-focused service delivery.

Building on its early strength in intellectual property, Gowling WLG diversified to offer a full suite of business law, litigation and intellectual property services in all of Canada’s key industries, including energy, mining, financial services, government, infrastructure, manufacturing, life sciences and technology.

Loopstra Nixon LLP is a client-focused law firm helping businesses, institutions, and individuals navigate legal and business matters across Canada. Our lawyers work collaboratively to provide practical legal advice and responsive service tailored to each client’s needs.

Our team brings together a broad range of experience across multiple areas of law, allowing clients to access support for both day-to-day matters and complex legal issues. We take a practical and forward-thinking approach, helping clients address challenges, manage risk, and pursue opportunities with confidence.

Our key practice areas include banking and financial services, business law, litigation & dispute resolution, municipal, land use planning & development, real estate, labour & employment, technology & intellectual property, and bankruptcy, insolvency & restructuring.

Loopstra Nixon is the Canadian affiliate of LawExchange International, a network of independent law firms supporting middle-market and entrepreneurial businesses across Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia. Through this affiliation, our clients benefit from access to legal connections in 23 countries.

Founded in Toronto by Charles Loopstra and Sandy Nixon, the firm began in a small storefront office and has grown alongside the clients and communities it serves. In 2022, Loopstra Nixon marked its 50th year in practice. The firm continues to build on the values established by its founders, including hard work, entrepreneurial thinking, and a strong commitment to client relationships.

Today, Loopstra Nixon continues to support clients with practical legal guidance and a collaborative approach focused on long-term success.