“A pre-eminent litigator” is how colleagues describe Peter Griffin, Law’77, managing partner of the Toronto firm Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP and recent recipient of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Award of Excellence in Civil Litigation.
Griffin, who sits on the Queen’s Law Dean’s Council and chairs its Moot Advisory Council, was lauded by his peers in the nominations leading to the award.
“Peter has an impressive list of successful decisions for a multitude of top clients in precedent-setting, complex matters involving corporate commercial litigation, class actions, securities, insolvency and professional and officer/director liability – and he is also a sought-after arbitrator,” says Ed Upenieks, a certified specialist in civil litigation with Lawrence, Lawrence, Stevenson LLP who has worked on files with Griffin over the years.
“Even early in his career, Peter was civil, efficient, and he cut to the chase spearheading a settlement during examinations for discovery,” Upenieks adds. “He maintains that practice and continues to be a firm but fair litigator.”
Throughout his 38-year career, Griffin has earned numerous honours. Among the most notable are being recognized by Canadian Lawyer magazine as one of Canada’s 25 Most Influential Lawyers (2014) and named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for his leadership in Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2017, Toronto).
“Excellence and civility require constant encouragement, nourishment and example,” says Thomas Heintzman, OC, QC, a past president of both the OBA and the Canadian Bar Association. “Peter Griffin deserves the recognition due to his long-time commitment to these ideals.”
That commitment is also evident in the ways Griffin has given back to his profession. He is a past president of The Advocates’ Society and an active Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers for which he has served as Ontario Provincial Chair. Both premier organizations seek to raise the practising standards and ethical conduct of trial lawyers, explains Heintzman. “Peter’s leadership in these two organizations has been time-consuming, and demonstrates his commitment to promoting excellence in the legal profession.”
Griffin’s many talents as a lawyer and litigator are also deeply appreciated at Queen’s Law, where he is an advisor to the Dean and Chair of the Moot Advisory Council, an alumni group that assists in strategic planning and promotion of the school’s Moot Court Program. His work and that of the Council allows students to develop essential legal research and advocacy skills and provides them with opportunities to gain valuable courtroom experience. The council encourages program participation by fellow graduates who have relevant interests, skills, knowledge, resources and contacts.
“I believe that one of the obligations of those of us who have received such a terrific education and opportunity to practice amongst the best in the law is to give back to the profession in the way that we best can,” Griffin says. “For me it is to foster the skills in those joining the profession that others showed to me when I was starting out.”
By Lisa Graham