Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team Players’ Association
Advising the Canadian Women's National Team in their high-profile dispute against the national federation, Canada Soccer, for fair treatment and wages.
Partner
Partner
“Maureen has legal as well as business savvy. She presents practical solutions and really understands her client’s needs to handle the tough files.”
Client – Chambers Canada
Maureen’s civil litigation practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Her experience spans a wide range of matters, including commercial disputes, insolvency proceedings, professional regulation, employment disputes and class actions, with a particular emphasis on contractual and infrastructure disputes. She has been involved in a variety of public proceedings before trial and appellate courts across the country (including Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador), as well as numerous private arbitrations.
Maureen has worked with Canadian and international clients across a broad range of industries, including construction and infrastructure, mining, telecommunications, renewable energy, information technology and professional services. One client describes Maureen as “a tremendous advocate and absolutely committed to her clients’ success.” (Chambers Canada) She has a deep expertise in the law of privilege and frequently writes, presents and advises in this area.
Partner
“Maureen has legal as well as business savvy. She presents practical solutions and really understands her client’s needs to handle the tough files.”
Client – Chambers Canada
Maureen’s civil litigation practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Her experience spans a wide range of matters, including commercial disputes, insolvency proceedings, professional regulation, employment disputes and class actions, with a particular emphasis on contractual and infrastructure disputes. She has been involved in a variety of public proceedings before trial and appellate courts across the country (including Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador), as well as numerous private arbitrations.
Maureen has worked with Canadian and international clients across a broad range of industries, including construction and infrastructure, mining, telecommunications, renewable energy, information technology and professional services. One client describes Maureen as “a tremendous advocate and absolutely committed to her clients’ success.” (Chambers Canada) She has a deep expertise in the law of privilege and frequently writes, presents and advises in this area.
Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team Players’ Association
Advising the Canadian Women's National Team in their high-profile dispute against the national federation, Canada Soccer, for fair treatment and wages.
Confidential Client
Acted for a leading global services provider and its Canadian subsidiary in a high-stakes arbitration relating to the termination of a series of long-term services agreements.
Centerra Gold Inc.
Acted for the special committee of independent directors of Centerra Gold Inc. in successfully obtaining approval of a contested plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act in relation to the global arrangement agreement between Centerra, Kyrgyzaltyn JSC and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Confidential client
Acting for a public company in defence of a proposed securities class action alleging misrepresentations contrary to the Securities Act (Ontario) in connection with government contracting and the importation of goods.
Baffinland Iron Mines LP and Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation
Acted as counsel for Baffinland Iron Mines LP and Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation (together, “BIM”) in a high-stakes application to set aside or overturn an arbitral award of more than $114 million in damages. The resulting appeal in this case resulted in an important decision rendered by the Ontario Court of Appeal in April 2023 that addresses the circumstances in which an arbitration agreement will be interpreted as excluding rights of appeal, the application of the presumption of consistent expression in the interpretation of Canadian contracts, and the narrow circumstances in which a refusal to grant leave to appeal by a Superior Court may be appealed directly to the Court of Appeal.
A long-term shareholder of BlackBerry Limited
Acted for a long-term shareholder in BlackBerry Limited, in engaging with staff of the TSX and OSC regarding requiring shareholder approval of BlackBerry's September 2020 recapitalization. Successful in having BlackBerry provide additional public disclosure and compelling BlackBerry to amend the transaction terms.
Denso Corporation
Acting for Denso Corporation (and related entities) in its defence of dozens of class actions commenced across Canada alleging anti-competitive conduct in respect of the sale of various automotive parts, including contested certification proceedings and with respect to cross-border issues arising out of parallel U.S. class actions.
Vale Canada Limited
Acted for Vale Canada Limited and its affiliates in defending contractual claims before the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in an amount of almost C$500 million that were asserted by the Plaintiff under an Option Agreement pertaining to the Voisey's Bay Nickel Project. This case was settled in September, 2018, at the end of the first week of a four month trial that would have involved dozens of lay and expert witnesses. This was the first "hybrid trial" and first electronic trial ever conducted in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canadian Women's National Soccer Team
Advised the Canadian Women's National Team on the formation of a Players' Association and compensation negotiations on behalf of the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team Players' Association.
Rogers Communications Inc.
Acting for Rogers Communications Inc. in connection with numerous multi-billion dollar class action proceedings across Canada to recover "system access fees" charged to consumers by wireless service providers in Canada in the period since 1987. These are some of the largest class actions in Canadian history and have given rise to numerous trial level and appellate decisions in favour of Rogers in various provinces in Canada, including Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Québec, Nova Scotia, Alberta and British Columbia.
Apotex Inc.
Acted for Apotex Inc. in defending successfully at trial in the Superior Court of Ontario claims made by Alcon Canada Inc. concerning an alleged settlement of claims between the parties arising from patent disputes in the United States and Canada. Alcon's claims were dismissed by a Justice of the Commercial List in Toronto following the conclusion of an expedited trial.
Barrick Gold Corporation
Acted for Barrick Gold Corporation in international tort litigation concerning the mining operations of an affiliate of Barrick in Africa, brought in the courts of Canada, the United Kingdom and Tanzania.
Shaw Communications Inc.
Acted for Shaw Communications Inc. in a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada from a decision of the Federal Court of Appeal that would have permitted the CRTC to implement a so-called "value for signal" regime in Canada. The implementation of that regime would have had a transformative impact on television broadcasting in Canada. This case involved the intersection of Canadian copyright and broadcasting laws. The reference question at issue was whether the CRTC had jurisdiction to implement the proposed regime. A majority of the Supreme Court of Canada (with four judges dissenting) held that the CRTC did not have jurisdiction, noting limits on the powers of a subordinate legislative body such as the CRTC.
Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC
Acted for Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC in hearings before the Environmental Review Tribunal in the successful defence of appeals of the renewable energy approvals for the South Kent 270 MW and Grand Renewable 148 MW wind energy projects.
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (now known as Nutrien Ltd.)
Acted for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (now known as Nutrien Ltd.) in proceedings before the Courts of Saskatchewan. This was a multi-billion dollar dispute over the ownership of potash reserves in the world's largest potash mine in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, and gave rise to more than 100 days of discovery, numerous interlocutory motions as well as an appeal to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The case was settled shortly before the commencement of a lengthy trial in Saskatoon, on terms satisfactory to Potash Corporation.
Pershing Square Capital Management LP
Acted for Pershing Square Capital Management LP and other institutional investors in Sears Canada Inc. in connection with their successful efforts to oppose Sears Holdings Corporation's efforts to squeeze out the minority shareholders of Sears Canada, including proceedings before the Ontario Securities Commission and the Ontario courts.
International Association of Defense Counsel, IADC Annual Meeting, "Third Party Litigation Funding: The Dark Money Driving High-Stakes Litigation"; Vancouver, BC
July 09, 2024
CanArbWeek 2024, “ArbitralWomen – Experts in Action: A Cross-Exam Demo”; Toronto, ON
June 03, 2024
Interview, Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure, “Pricing and complexity driving disputes in infrastructure construction projects”; Web Publication
May 13, 2024 - Read the article.
Ontario Bar Association, “Avoiding Pitfalls in Waiver of Privilege”; Webcast
Mar. 28, 2024
Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, The 18th Annual Civil Litigator’s Survival Guide to Evidence, “The Latest on Privilege”; Webcast
Jan. 18, 2024
Law Society of Ontario, Financial Accounting for Litigators 2023, “Current Topics in Professional Ethics Best Practices for Managing Valuation and Litigation Support Mandates”; Toronto, ON
Apr. 04, 2023
Canadian Bar Association, OBA Civil Litigation Lawyers Program, “Avoiding Pitfalls in Common Interest Privilege”; Webcast
Jan. 30, 2023
Ontario Bar Association, OBA Civil Litigation Lawyers Program, “Avoiding Pitfalls in Litigation Privilege”; Webcast
Feb. 15, 2022
Co-chair, Ontario Bar Association, Today’s Advocacy Challenge: Mastering Remote Interactions with the Courts; Toronto, ON
Apr. 21, 2020
In Defence of Transactional Common Interest Privilege
Nov. 22, 2019 - This article was originally published by The Lawyer’s Daily (www. thelawyersdaily.ca), part of LexisNexis Canada Inc. On Oct. 31, 2019, The Lawyer’s Daily published “Transactional common interest privilege: Not over till it’s over,” by Alexander Gay. Commenting on the Federal...
Luis Sarabia and Maureen Littlejohn Speak to Lexpert on Key Business Decisions of 2018
Feb. 21, 2019 - Davies partners Luis Sarabia and Maureen Littlejohn recently shared their insights on notable rulings from the past year in Lexpert’s summary of the top business decisions of 2018. Luis noted that the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling in Reference re: Pan-Canadian Securities Regulation...
Law Society of Ontario, Twelve Minute Civil Litigator 2018, “Privilege Update”; Toronto, ON
Sept. 18, 2018
Maureen Littlejohn Interviewed in Law Times About Federal Court of Appeal Ruling
Apr. 03, 2018 - In an article published recently in Law Times (available to subscribers), Davies partner Maureen Littlejohn discusses the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in IGGillis Holdings Inc. v. Minister of National Revenue, which confirmed the legitimacy of transactional “common interest...
Maureen Littlejohn Speaks to the National Post About FCA Ruling Affirming Common Interest Privilege
Mar. 14, 2018 - In an article published on Tuesday in the National Post, Davies partner Maureen Littlejohn spoke about the Federal Court of Appeal’s (FCA’s) ruling last week in IGGillis Holdings Inc. v. The Minister of National Revenue, 2018 FCA 51. The decision confirmed the existence of...
Mar. 13, 2018 - Every day, across Canada, business and tax lawyers rely on the judge-made doctrine of “transactional common interest privilege” to facilitate the due diligence process and to ensure the efficient structuring and negotiation of commercial transactions. This beneficial common law doctrine allows a...
Feb. 08, 2018 - In Lexpert Magazine’s recent article about the top business decisions of 2017, Davies partner Maureen Littlejohn spoke about the cases of Alberta v. University of Calgary, 2016 SCC 52 (Alberta) and Lizotte v. Aviva Insurance, 2016 SCC 53 (Lizotte),...
Canada’s Top Court Rules on Personal Liability of Directors for Oppression
July 18, 2017 - On July 13, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision in Wilson v. Alharayeri (Alharayeri). The decision sounds an important cautionary note to directors concerning the potential consequences of engaging in conduct that is improper or defeats the...
Federal Court Refuses to Recognize Common Interest Privilege in the Transactional Context
Dec. 23, 2016 - The doctrine of “common interest privilege” ensures that a document or communication that is already protected by solicitor-client or litigation privilege does not lose that protection when it is shared between two parties sharing a “common interest” in either litigation or a...
Nov. 29, 2016 - On November 25, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered two decisions confirming that express, clear legislative language is required to compel production of solicitor-client- or litigation-privileged documents, and reaffirming the wide protection afforded these privileges. Alberta...
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business—Litigation, General Commercial: Ontario
Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys—Top 100 Women in Litigation; Class Action (Litigation Star); Commercial (Litigation Star)
Benchmark Canada Impact Case of the Year Award (2019)—Recipient
Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation
Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Class Actions; Litigation: Corporate Commercial
The Best Lawyers in Canada—Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Ontario, 2009
University of Western Ontario, LLB/MBA (with Distinction, Stephen Watchorn Memorial Gold Medallist), 2008
Queen’s University, BSc (Hons) (Mechanical Engineering), 2004
155 Wellington Street West
Toronto, ON, M5V 3J7
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416.863.0900
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Montréal, QC, H3A 3N9
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514.841.6400
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New York, NY 10022
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212.588.5500
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