Firm overview
WOODS LLP is the foremost litigation, arbitration and insolvency firm in Canada, recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise and success.
We act in all manner of disputes where the stakes are high and the outcome is of vital importance to our clients and their businesses. Our team of formidable attorneys – fluent in English, French and other languages, trained in the civil law and common law, dedicated to understanding our clients’ interests and devoted to successful advocacy – is known for developing winning strategies and delivering concrete results. We are proud of our reputation for having the talent and drive to handle even the largest and most complex disputes, while remaining at all times highly flexible, responsive and efficient.
A dispute resolution practice as diverse as the business world.
Our practice reflects the breadth and diversity of disputes that arise in the business world. We act for governments, public and private companies and individuals in all manner of corporate and commercial litigation, before all levels of courts and tribunals in Canada, including in disputes relating to corporate liability and governance, directors’ and officers’ liability, shareholders’ or other stakeholders’ disputes, securities litigation and generally in matters concerning the interpretation and performance of complex commercial agreements. We are also frequently retained in matters relating to professional liability – of accountants, investment dealers, engineers, architects and other professionals – as well as in product and manufacturers’ liability cases, defamation suits, and disputes in the construction, energy, agri-business, IT and financial services industries, to name a few.
Our firm also boasts an important insolvency practice, which has grown significantly in recent years and includes some of the country’s finest bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers.
We are also one of the few firms in Canada with a dedicated international arbitration practice, representing clients and serving as arbitrators in international commercial and investment arbitrations under the rules of the world’s most important arbitral institutions.
James A. Woods has practiced in litigation and arbitration since 1976 and has pleaded at all levels of the federal and provincial courts in Ontario and Québec including the Supreme Court of Canada. Member of the Faculty of Law, McGill University, lecturer in civil litigation. Author of numerous articles and papers, he is fellow of the ACTL, LCA, FDCC and CIA(London). AAA panel member. Called in Québec (1976), Ontario (1979), Alberta and British Columbia (2006), England and Wales (2007), and Paris (2013).
Sylvain Vauclair has practiced for 30 years in insolvency and restructuring, acting the various stakeholders, including debtors, creditors’ committees, bankruptcy trustees, court-appointed monitors, bondholders and lenders. Widely recognized as a leader in his field. Member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada and of the American Bankruptcy Institute and its sub-committee on international insolvencies.
Stephen L. Drymer acts as counsel, arbitrator and mediator in domestic and international commercial arbitration and investment treaty disputes, advising clients on dispute resolution agreements and strategies in a broad range of industries, as well as in boundary cases and other state-to-state disputes, and in the area of sport law. Holds degrees in both Common Law and Civil Law.
Caroline Biron acts in commercial, corporate and shareholder disputes, class actions and professional liability matters before Federal and Provincial courts in Québec, arbitration, disciplinary and regulatory proceedings. She also holds a Certificate in Corporate Governance.
The Honourable Clément Gascon, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, joined Woods as Senior Counsel in the Spring of 2020. After a career of more than seventeen years in the Canadian judiciary, he returned to the private practice of law, which he had left in 2002. He uses his in-depth expertise and experience to guide and assist parties and their counsel in resolving disputes through arbitration at the national and international levels and acts as strategic advisor in the insolvency, restructuring and litigation matters of the firm.
Patrick Ouellet has practiced in the field of commercial, corporate and civil litigation since 1999. He has a particular expertise in the fields of securities and financial litigation, telecommunications, class actions, construction and shareholder disputes. He is recognized for his talents in handling complex evidence and is an astute cross-examiner.
Richard Vachon has practiced in the area of civil and commercial litigation since 2003, following some years in corporate and securities law. Richard has developed an expertise in the fields of shareholder rights, securities litigation, public-private partnerships, employment law and defamation.
Bogdan Catanu has practiced general commercial litigation since 2002. Acts in contractual disputes, international arbitration, injunctions, corporate litigation, class actions, professional liability and insolvency disputes. Is a course lecturer at the University of Montreal.
Marie-Louise Delisle has practiced in the areas of civil and commercial litigation since 2002 before all levels of courts in Québec. She has managed various high-profile cases in securities law, professional liability, class actions and arbitration. LL.M. in intellectual property law. Is a course lecturer at the University of Montreal.
Sarah Woods practices commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes, securities litigation, class actions, product liability, professional liability, employment law and defamation. Course lecturer at McGill Faculty of Law. Called to the bar in both Ontario and Québec.
Louis Sévéno has practiced since 2004 in arbitration, civil and commercial litigation, with a focus on injunctive proceedings, contractual disputes, employment law, construction disputes, public-private partnerships, shareholder disputes and bankruptcy and insolvency. Member of the Quebec, Ontario, and New York Bars.
Bogdan Alexandru Dobrota’s practice focuses on international commercial arbitration, cross-border commercial litigation and international insolvency cases. He represents local and international clients before judicial courts, mediation and arbitration.
The Honorable Joseph R. Nuss is senior counsel to the firm. Formerly a judge of the Québec Court of Appeal, he acts as an independent arbitrator and mediator in matters of Canadian and International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation. Fellow of the ACTL. Member of the CBA, IBA, LCIA, ICDR panel of arbitrators and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Committee.
Last updated March 2020
