We are pleased to announce Danielle Robitaille is Henein Hutchison Robitaille’s new Managing Partner.
As a managing partner, Danielle will oversee day-to-day operations, guide the strategic direction and overall practice of the firm. Danielle’s practice focuses on litigation and investigations with extensive experience in high-profile, complex, and sensitive matters. Danielle has appeared at all levels of Court in Ontario and at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Danielle will leverage her considerable skill and energy towards continuing the firm’s legacy of best-in-class advocacy across litigation disciplines. A dedicated mentor, Danielle sees one of the primary objectives of HHR continuing the decades long tradition of fostering and growing talented litigators from within the firm.
New year, new name, new managing partner. We are pleased to announce Danielle Robitaille is Henein Hutchison Robitaille’s new Managing Partner.
As a managing partner, Danielle will oversee day-to-day operations, guide the strategic direction and overall practice of the firm. Danielle’s practice focuses on litigation and investigations with extensive experience in high-profile, complex, and sensitive matters. Danielle has appeared at all levels of Court in Ontario and at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Danielle will leverage her considerable skill and energy towards continuing the firm’s legacy of best-in-class advocacy across litigation disciplines. A dedicated mentor, Danielle sees one of the primary objectives of HHR continuing the decades long tradition of fostering and growing talented litigators from within the firm.
Our strength is advocacy. With nine partners and a dedicated corps of outstanding associate lawyers, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP has been repeatedly recognized as one of Canada’s top litigation boutiques. Our partner leadership is composed of a gender-balanced team of outstanding litigators.
We focus on criminal and civil litigation, corporate investigations, regulatory matters and appeals. Our firm is frequently consulted by in-house counsel to provide advice on internal corporate matters and we regularly work with other firms on complex and cross-border litigation.
Our strength is advocacy. With six partners and a dedicated corps of outstanding associate lawyers, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP has been repeatedly recognized as one of Canada’s top litigation boutiques. Our partner leadership is composed of a gender-balanced team of outstanding litigators.
We focus on criminal and civil litigation, corporate investigations, regulatory matters and appeals. Our firm is frequently consulted by in-house counsel to provide advice on internal corporate matters and we regularly work with other firms on complex and cross-border litigation.
ADVOCACY
CRIMINAL LITIGATION
“More experience. More defence. The best result.”
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP defends individuals and corporate entities charged with criminal offences before all levels of court around the province and elsewhere in Canada. Our firm has been built on decades of collective experience in criminal litigation, both as defence counsel and Crown prosecutors.
Our firm has been involved in some of the most difficult and well known criminal cases in the country. We approach every case with the same uncompromising dedication to our client’s best interests. We pride ourselves on achieving the best possible result at the earliest stage of the proceedings.
CIVIL LITIGATION
“Cases don’t win themselves. Who you choose as your advocate matters. Litigate with confidence.”
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP acts for and advises publicly-traded and closely-held companies and individuals on a wide range of civil litigation matters. Areas of focus include general commercial litigation, the oppression remedy, executive termination, pension entitlement disputes, defamation, estates, sexual battery claims, First Nations matters, and class actions for both plaintiffs and defendants. In appropriate cases we partner with leading subject-matter experts from other firms to build legal teams tailored to our clients’ needs.
We also team up with document review service providers to keep costs down on document-intensive files. Our focus is squarely on strategy and advocacy. We have the trial experience and expertise to deal with any advocacy challenges. Business and reputational interests are front and centre as we mount a tireless and effective case at trial or push to a quick and cost-effective resolution.
CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS
“You need to get to the truth and respond effectively to a crisis. We get you there.”
We provide what institutional leaders facing a crisis need most: timely strategic advice focused on the long-term best interests of the organization. We regularly conduct complex internal investigations and provide due diligence services for leading businesses and institutions, many of which are household names. We deliver thorough and targeted investigations in response to a range of circumstances that affect vital business interests.
The quality of our strategic advice, and our rigour, are matched only by our discretion. Our firm has been involved in some of the most difficult and well known criminal cases in the country. We approach every case with the same uncompromising dedication to our client’s best interests. We pride ourselves on achieving the best possible result at the earliest stage of the proceedings.
REGULATORY
“When the stakes are high, you need experienced advocates fighting for you.”
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP regularly defends and prosecutes cases before various professional bodies in diverse professional disciplines, including many of the regulated health professional bodies (doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses) as well as disciplinary bodies in the legal profession, including the Law Society of Ontario, the Justices of the Peace Review Council, and the Ontario Judicial Council. Our firm advises a number of companies and individuals operating in a range of regulated industries.
We offer compliance advice and representation regarding federal and provincial environmental, wildlife, health and safety, privacy, money laundering, FINTRAC and industry-specific regulatory compliance regimes. We assist our clients in understanding the relevant legal framework, creating compliant policy and avoiding costly penalties or litigation. We also act in any reviews and litigation before the courts.
APPEALS
“Unparalleled appellate experience.”
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP is recognized as one of Canada’s pre-eminent appellate litigation firms. We maintain a large and varied appellate practice encompassing criminal, civil, and administrative appeals. Our team comprises experienced appellate lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada for Appellate Law and Criminal Defence. Collectively, the members of the firm have litigated hundreds of cases in the Court of Appeal for Ontario and dozens in the Supreme Court of Canada.
Our lawyers have successfully argued some of the most significant, precedent-setting cases in the country’s highest Court. We bring both intellectual depth and unparalleled practical know-how to our appellate work, and have earned the trust and respect of the courts at all levels.
PRIVATE WEALTH DISPUTES
“Put your trust in us to protect what you’ve earned.”
Private wealth disputes come in many forms and can involve a complex range of legal issues—from oppression and contract claims, to estate litigation, to trust and partnership disputes—and we’ve served our clients in more than a fair number of them. We’ve done so in cases on the Commercial List and the Estates List and in cases involving high-net worth-families, prominent business people, and well-known closely held companies. We have also acted in disputes for clients who wish to have their wealth disputes resolved privately.
Whatever the type of case or client, our multidisciplinary team can be trusted to handle the complex, high-stakes, and diverse set of issues that arise in private wealth matters. In complex cases, HHR lawyers lead teams of outside experts in key areas.
We know private wealth matters can often be sensitive and emotionally charged. But we also know how to approach them with the discretion and personal touch they require. Whether we’re in court, at arbitration, or in mediation, we work tirelessly to see that our clients enjoy the fruits of their labour, receive what is properly theirs, and are treated fairly as they deserve.
TEAM
NEWS
Glen Jennings and Érik Arsenault just published: White-Collar Crime 2024 – Canada – Ontario | Global Practice Guides | Chambers and Partners
Congratulations to our partner Matthew Gourlay who is one of the authors of the Modern Criminal Evidence for winning the 2023 Walter Owen Book Prize, awarded by The Canadian Foundation For Legal Research.
Marie Henein will be speaking at The Canadian Bar Association Program: What Every Civil Litigator Needs to Know About Cross-Examination.
November 12, 2024
Ewa Krajewska will be moderating a panel discussion at the Canadian Institute’s 24th Annual Conference on: Advanced Administrative Law and Practice called Deciphering How Delegated Decision-Makers Can Provide Vavilov-Robust Reasons Amidst Cabinet Privilege, Deliberative Secrecy, and Other Barriers. Topics of the discussion include understanding the limits of deliberative secrecy, navigating cabinet privilege, and exploring other barriers that influence what gets included in reasons.
October 30, 2024
Ewa Krajewska will be a panelist at The Advocates’ Society program The Special Case of Interventions at the SCC: How to Get Leave and How to Make the Best Use of Your Time – Supreme Court of Canada Advocacy. Ewa will be speaking on the topic of advocacy on behalf of an intervener
June 13, 2024
Danielle Robitaille addressing: Best practices for addressing ethical and other concerns with Gen AI and Deepfakes
June 12, 2024
LegalTech Summit Canada | Canadian Lawyer (canadianlawyerevents.com)
#MeToo In Legal Profession
April 2, 2024
Court Orders New Trial For Twins in Toronto Pizza Pizza Murder
February 21, 2024
Federal Court Finds Emergencies Act For ‘Freedom Convoy’ Violated Charter
January 23, 2024
Watch Global News — ‘Federal Court finds Emergencies Act for ‘Freedom Convoy’ violated Charter’…
Read The New York Times — ‘Court Finds Trudeau Overreached by Using Emergency Law to End Blockade’…
Listen to CBC’s The Current — ‘Judge rules invoking Emergencies Act was unreasonable’…
Emergency Is Not In The Eye Of The Beholder: Federal Court Grants Victory to CCLA In Emergencies Act Challenge (Courtesy of CCLA)
January 23, 2024
TORONTO — The Federal Court of Canada has just issued its decision allowing the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)’s challenge to the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act. The CCLA’s challenge was joined with that of a few other parties.
Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, Executive Director and General Counsel of the CCLA, made the following statement:
The Court concluded that:
• The federal government’s decision to declare a public order emergency under the Emergencies Act in early 2022, as well as the associated regulations that it enacted, were unreasonable and were not justified on the facts or the law.
• The regulations violated the Charter right to freedom of expression and the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.
From the moment the Emergencies Act was invoked, the CCLA raised our concerns.
Emergency is not in the eye of the beholder. Emergency powers are necessary in extreme circumstances, but they are also dangerous to democracy. They should be used sparingly and carefully. They cannot be used even to address a massive and disruptive demonstration if that could have been dealt with through regular policing and laws. The threshold for invoking the Emergencies Act is extremely high. The government must demonstrate that there is an emergency arising from threats to the security of Canada and that that emergency truly has a national scope. The Federal Court agreed that this threshold was not met.
The CCLA stood up to the government’s use of the Emergencies Actand challenged the government in court. The Federal Court’s decision sets a clear and critical precedent for every future government.
We are deeply grateful to our excellent legal team of Ewa Krajewska and Brandon Chung at Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP for their superb legal work and dedication to this challenge.
We will have more to say in the coming days as we fully digest the contents of the decision.
Lawsuit by Hassan Diab Over 2014 Extradition to France Discontinued With Prejudice
August 25, 2023
In early 2020, Hassan Diab began a lawsuit in Ontario alleging that he had been treated unfairly by Canada, including by Crown lawyers, in relation to France’s request to have Mr. Diab extradited to France. One of the crown lawyers whose conduct was impugned was Jeffery Johnston, General Counsel with the Department of Justice (Canada).
Earlier today, Mr. Diab (and other member of his family) discontinued unconditionally the action against Mr. Johnston. This brings Mr. Diab’s legal challenges to his extradition to a conclusive end.
Dr. Peterson’s Response to the Divisional Court Decision Dismissing His Judicial Review Application
August 23, 2023
Today, the Divisional Court dismissed Dr. Peterson’s challenge to the College of Psychologists’ decision to sanction him for controversial comments on Twitter.
Dr. Peterson is deeply concerned about the chilling effect that the College’s actions will have on professionals across Canada expressing controversial or unpopular views. Indeed, it is precisely with respect to such disfavoured views that the right to free expression must be most zealously guarded. Thus, Dr. Peterson respectfully disagrees with the Court’s decision.
Regulated professionals do not check their right to free expression at the door. Canadian society benefits from having members of all occupations free to speak their minds without undue regulatory scrutiny. Historically, professionals like lawyers, doctors, and psychologists have contributed much to public debate in this country, even while expressing unpopular views. They should be free to continue to do so, online or elsewhere.
Social media is the modern town square. Dr. Peterson believes that vigorous debate in these forums is essential to the healthy functioning of democracy. Overbearing regulatory scrutiny stifles this goal and wrongly discourages professionals from participating in the public sphere.
Dr. Peterson has instructed his counsel to seek leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Press Release: Marie Henein Awarded Martin Medal
July 19, 2023
The Criminal Lawyers Association announced today they will be awarding the Martin Medal to Marie Henein at their annual conference. We warmly congratulate our fearless leader on receiving the most prestigious award in Canadian criminal law. Marie has been the voice and face of the justice system in Canada for decades. Her intelligence, skill, and charisma have earned her a household name without parallel in the legal profession.
We will have much more to say when Marie is honoured at the CLA fall conference on November 18, 2023. In the meantime, we congratulate the selection committee on choosing an honoree who embodies the traits we, as litigators, aspire to every day: courage, resiliency, creativity, judgement and, above all, an unabated passion for the law.
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP looks forward to celebrating Marie with the CLA on the occasion of this well deserved honour.
Christine Mainville Appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice
February 24, 2023
It is with immense pride that we announce our partner Christine has been appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice. Canadians could not be better served!! While we are and always be sad to see her go, we now have the great joy of watching the next phase of her extraordinary career.
-Marie Henein, Scott Hutchison, Danielle Robitaille,
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Press Release: In Relation To Dawn Walker
August 29, 2022
Dawn Walker, an Indigenous woman, a lawyer, an activist, an author, and a loving mother, has long been a strong voice for Indigenous people, and in particular for the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls whom the Canadian authorities have failed at every turn. Despite her painful first-hand knowledge of the Indigenous experience in Canada – including what she knows of the Saskatchewan police and their shameful treatment of Indigenous communities – Dawn nonetheless sought help and refuge through official channels in Saskatchewan. But the system failed her, like it has so many others.
Dawn’s voice will not be silenced. While it is trite for defence counsel to say that the case will be vigorously defended, in Dawn’s case truer words could not be uttered.
-Marie Henein,
Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
PIAP Creates the Marie Henein Prize in Access to Justice
On June 11, 2019 Marie Henein retired as the chair of the Pro Bono Inmate Appeals Program (“PIAP”) after twenty years of service. The PIAP provides free, unpaid, experienced, duty counsel services to unrepresented and incarcerated appellants who have been denied Legal Aid funding on their criminal appeals to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Marie founded the program in 1999 along with Justice Marc Rosenberg and Justice Allison Wheeler, and remained its driving force since its inception. The program has frequently been lauded by the judiciary for its invaluable contribution to the administration of justice in Ontario by providing 36 days of pro bono assistance in both Toronto, Kingston and via Video-Conference to otherwise unrepresented appellants.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution, PIAP honoured Marie by creating the Marie Henein Prize in Access to Justice, which will be given to an outstanding student in the Community Legal Aid and Services Program (“CLASP”), the student-run legal aid clinic at Osgoode Hall Law School. Marie was a student at CLASP where she started her now storied career representing the criminally accused.
PIAP is proud to announce Ian Smith as the new chair of the program. You can read more about the ongoing work of the PIAP here. Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP will continue its longstanding support of the program through ongoing pro bono services provided by partners Matt Gourlay, Christine Mainville and Danielle Robitaille.
You can read more about the ongoing work of the PIAP here.
Marie Henein – 2016: The Top 25 Most Influential Criminal/Human Rights Law
Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Danielle Robitaille – Best Practices
Precedent Magazine
Henein Hutchsion – Top 10 Litigation Boutique Firm
Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Marie Henein – 2015: The Top 25 Most Influential Criminal/Human Rights Law
Canadian Lawyer MagazineCONTACT
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