Chris J. Matthews
- Bio
- Professional Involvement
- Representative Matters
- Selected Speaking Engagements
- Selected Publications
- Education
A well-respected commercial litigator, Chris brings success to his clients through clear-sighted analysis, sound judgment, and a calm and unflappable demeanour. Chris has been involved in numerous precedent-setting cases, most recently in the natural resources and education fields. Clients can trust that Chris will be responsive and that he will deliver the best possible outcome.
Chris is a partner with the firm's litigation group and is also a qualified arbitrator. He handles a broad range of disputes, including securities, product liability, forestry regulation, auditing and accounting, information technology, and matters involving issues of confidentiality and fiduciary duty.
He has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending injunction proceedings and judicial review applications, constitutional and aboriginal matters, and has defended clients involved in class action proceedings, including claims in the travel, accounting, mining, forestry and securities industries.
Chris has expertise in mediation and arbitration, both as counsel and acting as a mediator or arbitrator. In addition he advises several non-profit organizations and educational institutions with respect to governance and risk management.
Chris is a Past President of the Toronto Lawyers Association.
Professional Involvement
Professional Activities
Memberships
- Toronto Lawyers' Association
- The Advocates' Society
- Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society
Community Involvement
- Director and Chair of Governance, Conference of Independent Schools (Ontario)
- Director and Chair of Governance, Trinity College School Foundation
Representative Matters
Quercus Algoma Corp. v. Algoma Central Corp. (2021), 155 O.R. (3d) 292, 2021 ONSC 2457
Represented a confidential client in an international arbitration, recovering damages for contractual misrepresentation equal to 40% of the price of the business (2020).
Tycoon Gold Resources Inc. v. Kenora Prospectors and Miners, Limited (2019 – arbitration)
City of Thunder Bay v. Canadian National Railway Company, 2018 ONCA 919
Cougar Metals NL v. DNI Metals Inc. (2018 - international arbitration)
City of Thunder Bay v. Canadian National Railway Company, 2018 ONCA 517
City of Vaughan v. Di Poce Management Limited, 2018 ONSC 2139
City of Thunder Bay v. CN Rail, 2017 ONSC 3560
City of Thunder Bay v. CN Rail, 2016 ONSC 469
Grassy Narrows First Nation v. Ontario (Natural Resources), 2014 SCC 48
Keewatin v. Ontario (Minister of Natural Resources) and Resolute FP Canada Inc. (2013), 114 O.R. (3d) 401 (C.A.)
Setia v. Appleby College, 2013 ONCA 753
W.W., et al. v. Lakefield College School, et al., 2012 ONSC 577
Law Society of Upper Canada v. Watson, 2012 ONLSHP 0053
Essar Algoma Steel Inc. v. Liebherr Canada, 2011 ONSC 1688 and 2010 ONSC 4623
Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources and Abitibi Consolidated, 2011 ONSC 4801 and [2006] O.J. No. 3418
Counsel to Strongco Income Trust (Plan of Arrangement) (2010)
Counsel to Armtec Infrastructure Fund (Plan of Arrangement) (2010)
IDEXX Laboratories Canada v. Abdelmalik (2010) (Grace, J. Ont. S.C.)
Global Transactions Inc. v. Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd., 2008 O.J. 2063 (S.C.)
Automotive Professionals Inc. v. PentaMark/Worldwide Canada Inc., 2006 O.J. 4363 (Ont. S.C.)
Koch v. Upper Canada College (2006) (Spence, J.) (Ont. S.C.)
Counsel to Skyservice Airlines Inc. in its acquisition by Gibralt Capital Corporation (2007)
Walford v. Jacuzzi Canada Ltd., 2005 CanLII 11188 (ON S.C.)
Guindon v. Ontario (Minister of Natural Resources) and Tembec Inc. [2005] O.J. No. 5830 (Div. Ct.); [2006] O.J. No. 303 (Div. Ct.); [2006] O.J. No. 2082 (Div. Ct.)
General Electric Capital Canada Inc. v. Deloitte & Touche LLP 2004 CanLII 33096 (ON S.C.); 2004 CanLII 39018 (ON S.C.)
Golden Star Resources Ltd. v. IAMGold Corp. (2004), 49 B.L.R. (3d) 36 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Keewatin v. Ontario (Minister of Natural Resources) and Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (2003), 66 O.R. (3d) 370 (Div. Ct.)
Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers’ Council v. Minister of National Revenue, [2000] F.C.J. No. 1584; [2003] F.C.J. No. 1308
IWA/IBA Canada Local 2995 v. Ontario and Tembec Inc. [2002] O.J. 5202; (Div. Ct.)
Marlowe v. Regent Holidays Limited, class proceedings decision of Cullity, J., 2002
Karabogdan v. Regent Holidays Limited, class proceedings decision of Sharpe, J. 2000
Walford v. Jacuzzi Canada Ltd., [2000] O.J. No. 3334 (Sup. Ct.)
Chow, et al. v. Bre-X Minerals Ltd., et al.; (2000) Action No. 9701-14434 (Alberta C.A)
Avenza Global Technologies Corp. v. Cue Network Ltd. [1999] O.J. No. 3083 (Sup. Ct.)
Wahgoshig First Nation v. Abitibi Consolidated Inc., [1999] O.J. No. 4037 (Sup. Ct.)
Toronto Truck Centre Ltd. v. Volvo Trucks Canada Inc., [1998] O.J. No. 2965 (Gen. Div.)
Avenza Global Technologies Corp. v. Cue Network Ltd., [1998] O.J. No. 4543 (Gen. Div.); [2000] O.J. No. 1524 (Gen. Div.)
Patterson v. Sindall, [1998] O.J. No. 5253 (Gen. Div.); [1999] O.J. No. 3992 (C.A.); [1999] O.J. No. 4491 (C.A.)
Chiang v. Sunjet Holidays Inc. [1997] O.J. No. 2099 (Gen. Div.)
3M Canada Co. v. Li, [1997] O.J. No. 1663 (Gen. Div.)
Canada Colors & Chemicals Ltd. v. Tenneco Canada Inc. [1993] O.J. No. 1486 (Gen. Div.); (1995), 121 D.L.R. (4th) 556; (1995), 21 O.R. (3d) 438 (Div. Ct.)
Bank of Montreal v. Unified Homes Ltd. (1994), 10 B.F.L.R. 247 (Ont. Ct. (Gen. Div.))
Sheridan Platinum Group Inc. v. Madeleine Mines Ltd., [1994] O.J. No. 1417 (Gen. Div.)
Hooey v. Bomze, [1993] O.J. No. 276 (Gen. Div.)
Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services Inc. v. Belrose [1993] O.J. No. 263 (Gen. Div.)
Green v. Constellation Assurance Co., [1993] O.J. No. 1445 (Gen. Div.)
Elfe Juvenile Products Inc. v. Bern (1993), 19 C.P.C. (3d) 355 (Ont. Ct. (Gen. Div.))
Marathon Realty Co. v. Prodevco Immobiliere Inc., [1993] O.J. No. 2191 (Gen. Div.)
Srdarev v. McLeod Young Weir Ltd., [1992] O.J. No. 70 (Gen. Div.)
Bank of Montreal v. Bonotto, [1992] O.J. No, 214 (Gen. Div.)
Jonas v. R. Reininger & Son Ltd. (1992), 55 O.A.C. 178 (Div. Ct.)
Ashworth v. Great Lakes Biochemical (Canada) (1992), 42 C.P.R. (3d) 428 (Ont. Ct. (Gen. Div.))
National Gypsum Co. v. Dorrell [1988] O.J. No. 2191; (1989), 68 O.R. (2d) 689 (H.C.J.)
Chandler v. Ball Packaging Products Canada Ltd., [1992] O.J. No. 3114 (H.C.J.); [1993] O.J. No. 4362 (Div. Ct.)
Universal Handling Equipment Co. v. Redipac Recycling Inc. (1992), 4 P.P.S.A.L. (2d) 15 (Ont. Ct. (Gen. Div.))
Lutheran Life Insurance Society of Canada v. Canada, [1991] 2 C.T.C 284, 91 D.T.C. 5553 (Fed. T.D.)
Central Burner Service Inc. v. Texaco Canada Inc. (1989), 36 O.A.C. 239 (Div. Ct.)
Re Multi Fittings and International Moulders and Allied Workers Union (1989), 70 O.R. (2d) 328 (Div. Ct.)
423322 Ontario Ltd. v. Bank of Montreal (1988), 65 O.R. (2d) 136 (S.C.)
Selected Speaking Engagements
"Legal Issues in Schools, Including Immunizations, Consent for Medical Procedures and Access to Health Records," Annual General Meeting of The Conference of Independent Schools Health Services, May 10, 2019.
"Prosecuting Insider Trading," Aird & Berlis LLP Webinar, January 2016.
"Municipalities Obligations to Consult First Nations," AMO Conference, August 2014.
"Federal and Provincial Co-ordination," Forum on Aboriginal Law Consultation and Accommodation, February 2013.
"Avoiding Infringement," Gaining Regulatory and Social License to Operate Mineral Resource Projects, September 2012.
"Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources: Analyzing the Potential Far Reaching Impacts” at the Forum on Aboriginal Law, Consultation and Accommodation, February 2012
“Administrative Law and Intellectual Property Law” at the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, October 2008
“Using Experts in Mediation and Arbitration” at the ADR Institute of Canada Conference, September 2007
Has presented lectures and written materials on litigation issues for the Toronto Lawyers Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Institute, and Insight, as well as governance and risk management seminars and lectures to non-profit boards.
Selected Publications
"Are Board Minutes Confidential" National Post (Financial Post), November 2010
Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, 2010 Digital Guide - Executive View Media Limited
"Confidentiality of Board Minutes," Corporate Governance, Vol. VII, No. 3, 2009
Education
- Fox Scholar, Middle Temple, London, U.K., 1986-87
- LLB, University of Victoria, 1984
- BA, University of Toronto, Trinity College, 1981