In the news
May 25, 2026
Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP is recognized for its excellence in litigation at the 2026 Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards
The firm and its lawyers were recognized for their excellence in litigation and outstanding client service at the Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards ceremony in Toronto on May 7, 2026.
D.J. Miller was recognized as Insolvency Litigator of the Year.
TGF’s mandate on behalf of landlord Oxford Properties in In Re Hudson’s Bay Company, 2025 ONSC 5998 was recognized with an Impact Case Award.
Re Hudson’s Bay Company (“HBC”) now represents the leading authority on the forced assignment of contracts by insolvent persons over the objections of contractual counterparties under s.11.3 of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangment Act (the “CCAA”). In connection with the liquidation of HBC, Ruby Liu Commercial Investment Corp. (“Central Walk”) was selected by HBC as the successful bidder for its bid to acquire 25 of HBC’s leases, which it proposed to use in launching a new and unproven retail store concept. The leases subject to the Central Walk bid included several of Canada’s most high-profile and valuable department store locations, with certain leases carrying remaining terms in excess of 100 years. The Central Walk bid was vigorously opposed by landlords holding 24 of the 25 lease locations. In the face of that opposition, HBC sought to have the leases forcibly assigned by Court Order to Central Walk pursuant to section 11.3 of the CCAA, over the landlords’ objections. The Court decided in favour of the opposing landlords, including TGF client Oxford Properties, and refused to approve the forcible assignment of the leases to Central Walk.
In addition to D.J. Miller’s recognition as Insolvency Litigator of the Year and TGF’s recognition for its involvement in an Impact Case of the Year, TGF was shortlisted as Insolvency Firm of the Year and Daniel Schwartz was shortlisted as Construction Litigator of the Year.
TGF is known as a highly focused firm comprised of “go-to” counsel for some of the most complex and important commercial litigation and restructuring cases in Canada. Thank you to our peers and our clients for your continued recognition and confidence.