WILLIAMS LIGITATION LAWYERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Employment
- Lawyer
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Clerk / Assistant for Jeremy Rubenstein & Alex Herle
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Lawyer
- Partner / Commercial
Ms. Ashlee Barber, acted for the Defendant Summary Judgment Motion brought by the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff claimed entitlement to an unpaid bonus which his employer, the Defendant, refused to pay on the grounds that the Plaintiff forfeited his entitlement to the bonus payment when he resigned his job. The Court found that the Plaintiff was aware of the active employment clause for the payment of the bonus, and that the clause was clear and unambiguous. The Court also found that the active employment clause complied with the Employment Standards Act. The Plaintiff's case was dismissed. Ms. Barber was successful in responding to the Plaintiff's appeal.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Counsel / Commercial
- Lawyer
Chris Reil served as co-counsel defending the insurer in this arson claim, satisfying the court that the fire in question was incendiary and had been arranged by the insured. The court found the insured's failure to deliver a proof of loss was fatal to his claim, rendering him not entitled to relief. The action was dismissed.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Counsel
- Solicitor
- Lawyer
Eric Williams and Jeremy Rubenstein successfully represented the Plaintiffs at trial in this matter. The Plaintiffs were the beneficiaries of a parcel of land that was being held in trust for them by one of the Defendants (who was also a beneficiary). The parcel of land was purchased and held for the purposes of being turned into a residential development in the future. However, the trustee Defendant sold the property to his son's friend under suspicious circumstances and without the knowledge or consent of the Plaintiffs. Eric and Jeremy successfully argued that the Defendant trustee was in violation of his obligations as trustee, that he was a "fraudulent person" under the Land Titles Act, and that the Defendant purchaser was not a bona fide purchaser for value without notice. Of note, the Court accepted the Plaintiff's interpretation of "fictitious person" under the Land Titles Act in finding that the vendor was a fraudulent person, which was the first time this term had been judicially considered in this context. Ultimately, the Court undid the fraudulent transaction, declared the Plaintiffs' interests in the property, and ordered the rectification of the title of the property.
Eric Williams is devoted to the law. He founded the firm in 1978 and has achieved recognition for his work by being selected and named by his peers as one of the best lawyers in Canada. He has represented clients in all areas of civil and corporate litigation-at every level of Court in Canada-acting as counsel in more than 185 civil court trials and appeals to date.
Eric captured national media attention in 2007 in his most publicly known decision, from the Supreme Court of Canada. Eric successfully defended two homeowners and their insurance company establishing that they were not liable as social hosts, having acted as counsel at trial, at the Court of Appeal and at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Drawn to the challenge of complex cases, Eric has a remarkable ability to articulate the connection between the facts and the law. His approach is characterized by diligence, hard work, and a sense of humour. His first priority is always to establish a meaningful connection with his clients, helping them understand the possible risks and gains associated with the civil litigation process. He is regularly referred litigation by other lawyers around the province, particularly in complex matters or on appeal.
Eric does not shy away from risk if he believes that a client has a good legal case. A recent example includes representing a plaintiff for many years against a large financial institution. Eric took the case knowing that he would only get paid if they won. They won at trial, and the client received a range of damages, including the second-highest punitive damages award in commercial cases in Canada. Eric went on to successfully defend the trial Judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Since 2006, Eric has been voted by his peers as one of "Canada's Best Lawyers" in the categories of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, and Insurance Law. Outside of Canada, his accomplishments as an advocate are also recognized, as he was invited into the American College of Trial lawyers in 2006, a status reserved for less than 1% of all practicing lawyers of any state or province.
In addition to the clients that he serves directly, Eric served the Ottawa community as Deputy Small Claims Court Judge for over 15 years. He has developed a comprehensive advocacy-training program within Williams Litigation Lawyers. He also informally acts as a mentor and teacher to lawyers outside the firm, giving generously to maintain excellence in advocacy. He is an active participant in the Advocates' Society and law association education and mentoring programs. Eric is known as a lawyers' lawyer.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Associate
- Associate / Employment
- Lawyer
Gabrielle moved to Ottawa from Toronto in 2019 to attend the University of Ottawa for her law degree, and decided she was here to stay.
Gabrielle has been with Williams Litigation Lawyers since August 2022. Upon her call to the bar, she was invited to join the firm as an Associate Lawyer. Gabrielle has advocated for clients in the Ontario Superior Court and the Small Claims Court.
Gabrielle understands that being involved in a legal matter can be a stressful and difficult time and is here to guide and support her clients through the process as smoothly as possible. She has a particular interest in estate litigation, insurance, and employment related matters.
Gabrielle is passionate about mental health initiatives within the legal profession, and advocates for wellness for all members of the legal community. During her three years at law school, she was an executive member of the U of O faculty's mental health organization, "Elephant in the Room."
Outside of her law practice, Gabrielle enjoys spending time outdoors, reading romance novels, and is a connoisseur of reality television.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Lawyer
- Partner / Commercial
Jeremy was co-counsel for the Defendant, David Hillary, on this environmental contamination case. Mr. Hillary was a homeowner that lived in a property beside a dry cleaning facility. Before Mr. Hillary purchased the property there were dry cleaning spills into the ground that sunk beneath the property Mr. Hillary later purchased. The Plaintiff sued the dry cleaning company and Mr. Hillary for the remediation costs of the contamination that flowed downgradient from these properties to the Plaintiff's property. Our firm successfully defended our client at trial on all 4 causes of action (Nuisance, Negligence, Trespass and liability under s99 of the Environmental Protections Act) that were raised in relation to the flow of dry cleaning contamination. The trial judge dismissed the claim in its entirety against our client on this case where damages were assessed at $1.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Clerk / Assistant to Ashlee Barber / Law Clerk
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Solicitor
- Lawyer
- Store Owner
Kelly Hart represented the Defendant succeeding both on a cross-motion and in dismissing the Plaintiff's motion. The Plaintiff sought to use the evidence of his former solicitor alone in support of his motion to proceed with the action under a pseudonym. This affidavit was struck and the court found that even if the affidavit has remained, on the evidence presented, he would not have been able to properly consider the required factors for allowing a case to proceed with a party assuming a pseudonym.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Clerk / Assistant for Chris Reil, Kelly Hart & Tara Lemke
Biography
A partner with more than 30 years of litigation and mediation experience, Christopher Reil joined Williams Litigation Lawyers in 2003. Devoting his practice to civil litigation, he has represented diverse institutional and individual clients-both as plaintiffs and defendants-always balancing risk management with a focus on results.
Other counsel often refer clients to Chris due to his expertise and his unique experience having worked as in-house legal counsel with a major insurance company. He is respected for his ability to isolate the key facts in a case and apply relevant law to resolve disputes. He also possesses the crucial ability to synthesize large amounts of information, a skill that helps him communicate effectively with clients, opposing counsel, and the Court.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Lawyer
- Partner / Insurance