 Bennett Jones Education University of Toronto, BComm, 2003, with distinction McGill University, LLB, 2007, with great distinction and dean's honour list McGill University, BCL, 2007, with great distinction and dean's honour list Bar Admissions Ontario, 2008 Clients benefit from Jon Bell's extensive litigation experience, especially when faced with complex commercial litigation. Overview Jon is one of Canada's leading litigators specializing in complex, high stakes disputes in virtually every area of corporate and commercial litigation, including international fraud, securities regulatory and enforcement matters, internal investigations, shareholder and partnership disputes, directors' and officers' liability, professional negligence, product liability, defamation, domestic and international arbitration, oppression proceedings and class proceedings, among others. Jon has been lead counsel in numerous trials, appeals, arbitrations and judicial review hearings, including several multi-month trials. Jon has extensive experience co-ordinating with colleagues in different jurisdictions in multi-jurisdictional litigation and enforcement proceedings. Jon regularly advises on and leads investigations on behalf of boards and special committees on issues of accounting fraud, securities compliance, conflicts of interest and other sensitive matters. These investigations frequently involve domestic regulators and law enforcement from across Canada and in other jurisdictions. Jon is a fierce advocate who takes pride in bringing a practical business-minded approach to commercial disputes while championing his clients' interests to the fullest extent permitted at law. Recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star for being one of Canada’s leading lawyers under 40 and as Benchmark's Emerging Talent of the Year in 2019, Jon has also been named a Rising Star in litigation in Expert Guides' LMG Rising Stars (2016, 2017 and 2018). He has subsequently been recognized as one of Canada's leading litigators in numerous reporting agencies, including: Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as repeatedly recommended for both Corporate / Commercial and Securities Litigation; Benchmark Litigation: Canada as a Litigation Star; and Who's Who Legal as highly recommended for work on directors' and officers' liability and internal investigations. ,,Jon [Bell] and Cheryl [Woodin], their qualifications speak for themselves. I had high expectations, their responses were great. They were responsible, able to be solutions-oriented. Fair to say they made us feel like their only client and a priority.,, Select Experience • Sakab Saudi Holding Company. - Leading proceedings, including obtaining various extraordinary orders (Mareva injunctions and Norwich relief) on behalf of a group of Saudi entities against a former Saudi government minister alleged to have misappropriated, in conspiracy with members of his family and others, $5.36 Billion USD from the plaintiff companies through various offshore structures. • Defending a global investment firm specializing in the metals and materials industry in an action claiming specific performance and damages of $300 million USD relating to an alleged breach of an agreement to sell a mining royalty. Lithium Royalty Corporation v. Orion Resource Partners et. al. 2023 ONCA 697 • A U.S. investment fund in a confidential arbitration relating to allegations of fraud and accounting regularities arising from a share acquisition where claims now exceed $150 million. • The Joint Liquidators of China Medical Technologies, Inc. in successfully obtaining a Mareva injunction against a former officer as a result of his role in the alleged theft of US$520 million from the company. • The Trustee in Bankruptcy of James Henry Ting in enforcement proceedings in Canada against the bankrupt, the former Chairman and CEO of Akai Holdings Limited, who was found to have defrauded the Hong Kong-based company and misappropriated over a billion dollars. • SFC Litigation Trust in a successful 15 week trial against the former CEO of Sino-Forest Corporation, Allen Chan, resulting in a judgment in fraud and breach of fiduciary duty of US$2.6 billion. • Volkswagen AG in a securities class action commenced on behalf of Ontario purchasers of Volkswagen securities, in which the plaintiffs are seeking damages as a result of alleged misrepresentations in Volkswagen’s public disclosures pertaining to NO2 emissions. • Litigation Trustee of Sino-Forest Corporation in the prosecution of multiple litigation claims arising from the insolvency of Sino-Forest. • Sino-Forest Corporation in its application under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, in which a plan of arrangement was approved by creditors and by the court within nine months after filing. • Sino-Forest Corporation in defence of class actions, including claims asserted under Part XXIII.1 of the Ontario Securities Act, and in connection with investigations by securities regulatory authorities. • Volkswagen AG in defence of Ontario securities class action. • Office of the Prime Minister of Canada in an investigation into the conduct of Senator Duffy. • Prime Minister of Canada in the successful defence of an action commenced by a former member of the federal cabinet. • The Special Committee of Central GoldTrust in Sprott Asset Management's $1-billion hostile takeover bid for all the outstanding Units of Central GoldTrust. • The Special Committee of Silver Bullion Trust in Sprott Asset Management's $62-million hostile takeover bid for all the outstanding Units of Silver Bullion Trust. • Nortel Networks, representing bondholders with claims in excess of U.S. $4 billion in ongoing proceedings pursuant to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. • Audit Committee of Penn West Petroleum Ltd. in a management-initiated, voluntary review of certain accounting practices, and in connection with the restatement of the company's previously filed financial statements arising from the review. • VenGrowth Funds in the transaction by which Covington Fund II Inc. acquired the assets of New Generation Biotech (Equity) Fund Inc. and The VenGrowth Investment Fund Inc., The VenGrowth II Investment Fund Inc., The VenGrowth III Investment Fund Inc., The VenGrowth Advanced Life Sciences Fund Inc., and The VenGrowth Traditional Industries Fund Inc. for $360 million. • Research In Motion Limited in its $150-million acquisition of Certicom Corp. • Persona Communications Corp. in the sale of all of Cable Acquisition Holdings Company Limited shares to Eastlink Persona Holdings Inc, for a substantial sum. • Benefit Plan Administrators Limited in defence of a pension related class action. |