Adair Goldblatt Bieber is composed of partners from several other Toronto-based firms, and has, almost immediately upon arrival, taken the market by storm. Although a relatively new arrival to the Bay Street boutique scene, the firm has since developed into a litigation powerhouse. “The Adair team has grown up quite a bit,” stresses a peer, “and they’re all good!” Despite the observations alluding to the firm’s market maturity, the individual partners themselves each illustrate an enviable level of relative youth. “I think the oldest people at that firm are still in their forties,” offers a peer. “And I know they’ve got some great partners over there who are well below that who are working hard and getting great cases.”
The three name partners, John Adair, Simon Bieber and Jordan Goldblatt, all generate acclaim. “John Adair in particular is on my radar, whether I like it or not,” quips one peer. “Every time I’m against him I have an absolute dogfight with him.” Adair is proving his stripes in a lightning rod of a case, representing a high-ranking former Minister of Cabinet in the Saudi government who is alleged, along with a number of close family and friends and the former Crown Prince, of embezzling a massive amount of money and moving it into various offshore havens and who, once stripped of his titles and position, fled to Canada. “This is major, a case that everyone is talking about,” confirms one peer, summing up the general consensus. Adair is also litigation counsel to the main parties in a protracted and hard-fought dispute concerning ownership of condominium properties throughout Toronto, including the landmark mixed-use development “The One” at Bloor Yonge Streets in Downtown Toronto. Bieber is universally championed among Bay Street peers. “Simon is almost unparalleled at his vintage,” raves one, who addresses Bieber as “a phenomenal lawyer who is really good at bringing in the work and also doing it, as opposed to a lot of rainmakers that are great at bringing in work but can’t really do it themselves.” Bieber is also noted as “just a good guy and a great mentor.” Bieber represents Chubb in an action commenced against the insurer by PwC, the court-appointed receiver for embattled and since-collapsed Bridging Finance, for indemnity coverage of $90 million under Chubb’s fidelity bonds that were issued to Bridging from 2020 to 2022. Goldblatt is lead counsel to the representative plaintiff in a class action, certified in March 2022 following 10 years of litigation, alleging misfeasance against the Government of Canada in its sale of Canadian Wheat Board and seeking $150 million in damages. Beyond the name partners, several of the alluded-to “next-generation” stars are making their mark.
Nathaniel Read-Ellis represents Avtal Investments
in a dispute over post-closing earn-out payments arising from a share-purchase agreement and concerning the scope of authority of an expert under a contractually agreed expert-resolution process. A peer insists, ““I’ve known Nate since law school,” confirms one peer. “He is a solid litigator and very insightful. We refer each other cases. He is not one of these people who is blinded by ego, he is just all about, ‘How do we move this forward?’ He’s very professional and has maturity and civility beyond his years. He’s going to wind up with one of those ‘civility’ awards.” Robert Stellick, who made his debut as a future star last year, continues to attract acclaim from peers. “He is emblematic of where more young litigators need to be going,” opines one. Stellick acted for an applicant in an urgent oppression-remedy case.
Julia Wilkes recently made the leap from future star to litigation star. “Julia is a real star,” asserts a peer. “She brings brains and just the right demeanor for the cases she handles. She’s tough but still pleasant and fair, and she’s as responsible as anyone for carrying the excellence of that firm’s brand.”
