Adam practices complex, high-stakes commercial and corporate litigation for both Canadian and global companies. His expertise is broad ranging, covering commercial disputes and private arbitration, class action defence (with a focus on competition, consumer protection and product liability claims), tax disputes and insolvency matters.
Adam is a highly versatile litigator and a quick study. He masters the finer details of his clients’ businesses and uses that knowledge to win their cases on their terms, be it at trial or by way of carefully crafted settlement. Companies value Adam’s candor, financial acuity, real-time responsiveness, strategic counsel and tireless drive to accomplish their litigation goals.
Adam is recognized as a leading commercial litigation and class action defence lawyer in Chambers, Lexpert, Benchmark Litigation and Best Lawyers (Canada). He is the co-author of the chapter on business and commercial litigation in Canada in the highly regarded treatise Business and Commercial Litigation in the Federal Courts, 5th Ed. (Thomson Reuters).
Areas of Expertise
Representative Work
- Nieuport Aviation as lead trial counsel in obtaining a judgment of over $130 million against Porter Airlines in the case of Porter Airlines Inc. v. Nieuport Aviation Infrastructure Partners GP, 2022 ONSC 5922.
- Expedia in successfully defending against certification of a proposed competition and consumer protection class action relating to online advertising practices: Hoy v. Expedia Group Inc., 2022 ONSC 6650.
- Maple Leaf Foods in successfully defending against certification of a class proceeding relating to alleged price fixing in the bread industry: David v. Loblaw Companies Limited, 2021 ONSC 7331.
- A real estate development company in a dispute arising from a co-tenancy agreement: 1107051 Ontario Ltd. v. GG Kingspa Enterprises Limited Partnership, 2022 ONSC 1847.
- A large cannabis manufacturer in a confidential arbitration relating to a long-term supply agreement.
- An estate in a dispute related to a limited partnership: Canadian Home Publishers Inc. v. Parker, 2018 ONSC 4427 and 2019 ONCA 314.
- Taxpayers in an appeal of reassessments relating to their participation in a limited partnership and charitable donation program: Cassan v. The Queen, 2017 TCC 174.
- A taxpayer in the first case to address Ontario’s provincial GAAR and its application to interprovincial tax planning: Inter-Leasing Inc. v. Ontario (Ministry of Revenue), 2014 ONCA 575, rev’g 2013 ONSC 2927.
- Jazz Aviation in a complex cost benchmarking arbitration against Air Canada.
- Nortel Networks’ Board of Directors in Nortel’s global restructuring under CCAA and Chapter 11 proceedings.
- An estate in a dispute related to a limited partnership: Canadian Home Publishers Inc. v. Parker, 2018 ONSC 4427 and 2019 ONCA 314.
- Taxpayers in an appeal of reassessments relating to their participation in a limited partnership and charitable donation program: Cassan v. The Queen, 2017 TCC 174.
- A taxpayer in the first case to address Ontario’s provincial GAAR and its application to interprovincial tax planning: Inter-Leasing Inc. v. Ontario (Ministry of Revenue), 2014 ONCA 575, rev’g 2013 ONSC 2927.
- Jazz Aviation in a complex cost benchmarking arbitration against Air Canada.
- Nortel Networks’ Board of Directors in Nortel’s global restructuring under CCAA and Chapter 11 proceedings.
Latest Insights
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Report June 28, 2024
The amended Canadian Competition Act: what businesses need to know
Following a series of high-profile amendments aimed at strengthening Canada’s competition law regime culminating in royal assent for Bill C-59 on...
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Osler Update January 22, 2026
Competition Tribunal denies leave in first decision under new public-interest test for private applicants
The decision marks a crucial moment for private competition law enforcement in Canada.
Read more -
Osler Update June 24, 2025
Private right of access for relief from anti-competitive harm now in force in Canada
The new right of access represents the broadest expansion of private enforcement of Canada’s competition laws in a generation.
Read more -
Video September 15, 2023
Enforcing Foreign Judgments in Canada
As transactions have become increasingly globalized, commercial disputes frequently cross international borders, resulting in non-Canadian...
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Awards and Recognition
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Recognized in Dispute Resolution – Class Action Defence; Litigation – General Commercial (Ontario)
—Chambers Canada -
Recognized as “Litigation Star”
—Benchmark Litigation Canada -
Recognized in Corporate and Commercial Litigation
—Best Lawyers in Canada -
Recognized in Class Actions
—Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Media Mentions
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Osler News May 2, 2025
Osler recognized for outstanding bench strength in the 2025 Benchmark Litigation Canada Guide
Osler is proud to announce that 31 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2025 edition of the Benchmark Litigation Canada Guide, Benchmark’s...
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Osler News August 2, 2023
Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s ‘40 & Under List’ 2023
Osler congratulates four partners for being recognized in the 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List.”
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Osler News August 5, 2022
Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s ‘40 & Under List’ 2022
Osler is proud to congratulate three of our litigators for their recognition in the 2022 edition of Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under...
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Osler News July 22, 2021
Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s ‘40 & Under Hot List’ 2021
Osler lawyers Alexandre Fallon, Adam Hirsh and Lauren Tomasich recognized by Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under Hot List 2021.
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Community Involvement
- Pro Bono Law Ontario, Volunteer
- Advocates’ Society, Instructor
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
The past, present and future of green claims: key insights for practitioners and businesses
Read morePublished Work
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Chapter 14 – Business and Commercial Litigation in Canada (co-author), in Business and Commercial Litigation in the Federal Courts, 5th Ed. Robert L. Haig, Editor-in-Chief, Thomson Reuters, 2021.
Credentials
Education
- University of Toronto, J.D.
- McGill University, B.A. (great distinction)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Advocates’ Society
- Toronto Lawyers Association
- International Association of Defence Counsel
