George is an experienced advocate who represents clients in litigation and arbitration on a wide range of complex and high-stake business disputes, including class actions.
George is an experienced advocate who represents clients in litigation and arbitration on a wide range of complex and high-stake business disputes, including class actions.
Prior to joining Clyde & Co as a partner in 2014, George was the head of the Toronto litigation department of a leading national Canadian law firm. Since his call to the bar in 1986, he has represented various businesses, leading multinational companies, individuals and government bodies in the financial, energy, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing, infrastructure and construction sectors. George regularly works with foreign counsel on cross-border issues and has appeared before Federal and Provincial Courts, as well as arbitral (international and domestic) and administrative tribunals.
George has been recognized by Lexpert® as a leading lawyer in commercial arbitration, corporate commercial litigation, commercial insurance litigation and professional liability, and by Best Lawyers as a leading practitioner in corporate and commercial litigation, construction law and alternative dispute resolution. He has also been recognized by The Legal 500 in Canadian construction law and by Lexpert® as a leading US/Canada cross-border litigator and infrastructure lawyer.
George holds a Qualified Arbitrator designation from the ADR Institute of Canada and is a frequent speaker on emerging legal issues, as well as an advocacy skills instructor. He currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society, and was previously Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Ontario Maritime Law Section. He is Honourary General Counsel to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and an Honourary board member of the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association.
Admissions
Ontario Bar (permitted to practise across Canada)
Education
LLB, University of Windsor (1984)
BA with Honours, York University (1980)
Professional Associations
Law Society of Ontario
Canadian Bar Association
Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society
ADR Institute of Canada
Advocates’ Society
Canadian Maritime Law Association
Hellenic Canadian Lawyers’ Association
Experience
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
Representation of insurers in complex and high value coverage disputes before arbitral tribunals and courts
Counsel to a multinational design and engineering firm in an arbitration relating to the design of a new light rail infrastructure project
Counsel to a multinational conglomerate in an arbitration relating to the design and manufacture or components for the construction of a new oil refinery
Counsel to an insurer in litigation regarding the denial of coverage for a major business interruption claim by an international energy and chemical company arising from key equipment failures
Counsel to a multinational design and engineering firm in a dispute relating to the design and construction of various elements of a new light rail infrastructure project
Counsel to a group of infrastructure consulting firms in an arbitration and litigation relating to services rendered regarding the construction of a cross border infrastructure project
Counsel to an engineering firm in litigation relating to the construction of a condominium project and the design of systems related thereto
Counsel to an insurer in litigation regarding the denial of coverage for a major business interruption claim by an international energy and chemical company arising from key equipment failures
Counsel to an insurer in COVID-19 coverage arbitrations
Counsel to an international mining company in an arbitration relating to mining interests in South America
Counsel to a nuclear energy company in litigation relating to the construction of a nuclear reactor and related issues
Counsel to an institutional investor in litigation alleging breaches of representations and warranties relating to the sale of an industry-leading leasing company
Counsel to former shareholders and a director of a public company in an oppression action against officers and directors
Counsel to a global electronics manufacturer in litigation relating to the purchase of its Canadian subsidiary
Counsel to a global energy company regarding the termination of a long-term supply agreement
Counsel to a national bank in litigation relating to a multimillion-dollar fraud
Counsel to a glass manufacturer in litigation alleging the systemic failure of curtain walls
Counsel to a government and telecommunication company in pay equity human rights complaints by unions alleging systemic discrimination
Counsel to an engineering firm relating to litigation arising from the supervision of an electricity infrastructure project
Counsel to a municipality in litigation relating to the construction of a waste management project
Representation of insurers, carriers and consignees/consignors in litigation regarding the transportation of goods by sea, air and land, including damages to bulk and containerized cargo
Class Actions
Counsel to an automobile manufacturer in air-bag-related litigation
Counsel to an insurer in COVID-19 coverage litigation
Counsel to a supplier of fresh food products in litigation alleging health risks arising from contamination
Counsel to a provider of medical solutions in litigation alleging negligence
Counsel to a corporation established by three institutional investors for the purpose of purchasing a preeminent communications company, in an action brought by shareholders of the target company
Counsel to a manufacturer of consumer products in litigation alleging defects in major appliances
Counsel to an insurer in litigation relating to alleged vanishing premiums