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Overview

A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Richard Swan is Co-Head of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group and carries on a focused litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution practice. He has comprehensive and extensive trial and appellate experience, regularly appearing before a range of tribunals, arbitral bodies and courts, including all levels of court in Ontario and the Federal Court.

Richard was named by Benchmark Canada as its 2015 Ontario Litigator of the Year.

Richard was a successful counsel in the Waxman litigation, one of the best known, most extensive and factually complex commercial proceedings in Ontario.

Richard's practice focuses on corporate, commercial and public law disputes. He has experience in matters pertaining to corporate, shareholder, oppression, securities, partnership, commercial contract, real property, injunction, domestic and international arbitration, technology, intellectual property, licensing, restructuring, project development, fiduciary duty, and professional negligence disputes, among others.

Richard is recognized for his expertise and standing in the areas of corporate and commercial litigation and dispute resolution by Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in Canada, Benchmark Canada, Euromoney Litigation Expert Guide and Lexpert (Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers). Chambers Global observes that his courtroom presentation "leaves judges and even opposing counsel wide-eyed with admiration". In 2002, Richard was named by Lexpert as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers in Canada.

As well, he regularly speaks on corporate, civil, administration and regulatory law at professional conferences.

Richard joined Bennett Jones from another leading national law firm. Previously, he clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal in Ottawa.

,,Sources note that Richard Swan is "well known as one of the very smartest litigation lawyers on Bay Street," adding that "his approach to practising law is stellar" and he "is respected by opposing counsel," which helps with "deflecting the nonsense in a case and getting to a preferred resolution earlier and more efficiently." He co-heads the firm's dispute resolution practice and maintains a broad caseload.,,

Chambers Canada

Client Work

Former directors of Sears Canada Inc., in defence of multiple actions arising from the Board's approval of a $509-million dividend in 2013 and Sears' ultimate insolvency filing in 2017.
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., in the sale of Movie Distribution Income Fund's 49 percent indirect interest in Motion Picture Distribution LP.

Recognitions & Awards

Chambers Canada

Ranked, Litigation: General Commercial – Ontario

Chambers Global

Band 2, Dispute Resolution: Litigation

Benchmark Litigation: Canada

Recognized as a Litigation Star
Recognized as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers


The Legal 500 Canada

Recognized as a Leading Lawyer, Dispute Resolution

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Consistently Recommended, Litigation - Corporate Commercial
Repeatedly Recommended, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability

Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada

Ranked, Litigation - Corporate Commercial

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

  • University of Manitoba, BA, 1985, with distinction
  • McGill University, LLB/BCL, 1989, with honours

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 1991

News, Events & Speaking Engagements

PlaceholderIn The News

Richard Swan on Tom Fortin v. The City of Greater Sudbury

June 30, 2020
Richard B. Swan
Richard B. Swan
PlaceholderIn The News

Christine Viney and Richard Swan on Insurance Issues and the Pandemic

June 2, 2020
Christine A. VineyRichard B. Swan
Christine A. Viney & Richard B. Swan