Kathryn J. Manning is a Founding Partner of DMG Advocates LLP. Kathryn has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice that includes large, complex commercial disputes. A seasoned advocate for over 26 years, Kathryn has particular expertise in shareholder disputes, product liability matters, complex contract disputes, class actions, employment litigation, professional negligence, construction-related litigation, and civil fraud proceedings. Her clients include individuals and local, national, and multi-national businesses in a wide variety of sectors, including manufacturing, communications, marketing, transportation, automotive, telecommunications, technology, and financial services.
Representing clients both in the Ontario courts and in commercial arbitration proceedings, Kathryn provides practical, strategic advice at every stage of a dispute, with a view to maximizing her clients’ business goals and achieving cost efficiencies, including through the use of technology at all stages of a matter. She is a trusted advisor for her clients and frequently recommended by other lawyers.
Kathryn successfully completed the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society’s Gold Standard Course in Commercial Arbitration. She holds the Q. Arb. designation from the ADR Institute of Canada. In addition to acting as counsel, Kathryn now acts as an arbitrator in commercial disputes. She is a member of TCAS, ADRIC, ADRIO, and the international network, Arbitral Women.
In addition to her trial, appellate and arbitration experience, Kathryn has expertise in complex motion advocacy, including in obtaining, executing, and enforcing Anton Piller and Mareva injunctions to preserve evidence and assets in civil fraud matters. Kathryn has appeared as counsel in an Ontario Coroner’s Inquest, and in actions in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She has expertise in complex discovery planning and at managing electronic records. Kathryn has provided expert evidence on discovery planning and eDiscovery principles in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Prior to co-founding DMG Advocates LLP, Kathryn ran her own boutique litigation firm after practising for more than 15 years in the litigation departments of two of Canada’s leading national law firms where is focused on commercial litigation.
Kathryn is active on bench and bar committees. She sits on the Ontario Civil Rules Committee and is a member of its Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee. She was Co-Chair of the Ontario E-Hearings Task Force, which developed best practices for remote hearings in 2020-2021. Kathryn also sits on the Superior Court of Justice Civil Working Group.
Updated March 2024
