John Pirie leads the Firm’s Litigation and Government Enforcement Group in Canada. He acts for clients in complex business disputes and white‑collar matters.
John is widely recognized as a leading trial, arbitration and appellate lawyer. He is featured in Benchmark’s annual “Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada” listing and has long been certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Civil Litigation. Clients say: “John Pirie has a sterling reputation in the legal community and is regarded as a powerful litigator” and “He is a recognized expert when it comes to handling cases involving corporate fraud or corruption.”
John’s focus includes a significant fraud and financial recovery component. He has pursued and defended a number of Canada’s leading corporate and civil fraud cases. He has deep experience with emergency relief measures including global asset freeze and preservation orders as well as remedies available in bankruptcy and receivership regimes.
John has acted on an array of high‑profile disputes including a case in the Supreme Court of Canada ranked by Lexpert Magazine as Canada’s #1 annual business decision. A Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, John has been a moot court judge in Osgoode Hall Law School’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program and an instructor carrying out the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s training programs. John also regularly appears as a lecturer in Osgoode’s Graduate Civil Litigation Program.
- Appellate
- Arbitration
- Commercial disputes
- International arbitration
- White collar crime