Jim is a founding partner of TGF and is internationally-recognized for his expertise in the fields of insolvency, restructuring and related litigation. Jim has extensive experience in the automotive, insurance, mining, securities firms and hedge fund sectors. He was listed as one of the leading 500 lawyers in Canada in the 2012 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide. Jim is recognized as a leading restructuring and insolvency practitioner in Canada in Chambers Global 2012 and is endorsed by the PLC Cross-border Handbook 2012/13 in the areas of restructuring and insolvency. Jim is listed as Repeatedly Recommended in the area of insolvency and financial restructuring and as Most Frequently Recommended in corporate commercial litigation in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2012.

REPRESENTATIVE WORK

  • Appeared as counsel in proceedings under the CCAA, involving A.G. Simpson, Alloy Wheels Industrial, Algoma Steel, Anvil Range Mining, Bramalea, the Canadian Red Cross, Central Capital, Elks, Royal Oak Mines, Stelco Inc. and United Keno Hill Mines
  • Counsel for the receiver of the Portus Group. As a result of Portus' collapse, over 26,000 investors were owed in excess of $790 million. The Receiver recovered over 95 cents on every dollar of their claims
  • Has represented the vast majority of the receivers of securities firms in Ontario
  • Counsel to the receiver and bankruptcy trustee of an insolvent pulp and paper mill, in a case involving the divestiture provisions of the BIA
  • Counsel to the Receiver of Blockbuster Canada - an orderly liquidation of approximately 440 stores with significant cross border issues
  • Counsel for the Ontario Securities Commission in the insolvency proceedings of Sino-Forest Corporation
  • Regularly advises the Ontario Securities Commission on insolvency matters and has represented the Securities and Exchange Commission in cross-border proceedings

Jim was the founding chairman and is currently one of the three co-chairs of the Gold Medal Plates fundraiser for Canada's Olympic athletes. The event raises funds for the Own the Podium program, which was instrumental in Team Canada's success at the Vancouver and London Olympic Games. Jim and the TGF relay team featuring Deborah Palter and Rachelle Moncur are proud first place winners of the 2006 Around the Bay Corporate Mixed Relay 30km race.

Jim is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, Insolvency Section, INSOL International and the Insolvency Institute of Canada.