A Toronto boutique with a distinct focus on securities and regulatory actions, Crawley MacKewn Brush generated vocal appreciation from clients and contemporaries.
“Crawley MacKewn is a fantastic team of smart, strategic lawyers who handle securities litigation and regulatory matters at the highest level,” testifies one client. “They’re not just great at the law—they really understand the complexities of securities regulations and know how to navigate tough cases with confidence. What makes them stand out is their client-focused approach; they’re responsive, proactive, and always thinking a step ahead. Whether it’s dealing with regulatory investigations, disputes, or compliance challenges, they bring sharp legal skills and practical solutions.” Another client declares, “They are highly respected lawyers who have credibility with securities regulators. They are very cost-effective and efficient, and they do not overwork matters yet provide excellent results.” The firm is also said to be going from strength to strength at both the senior and “next-generation” levels; exemplifying the former category, the firm added seasoned securities luminary
Linda Fuerst to its bench last year, and illustrating the latter, younger partners such as
Dana Carson, Kate McGrann, Clarke Tedesco and
Michael Byers are all seeing swift ascents in profile. Fuerst is acknowledged by a client as “very experienced and thoughtful, with great client-relationship management skills and great credibility with the regulatory authorities.” A client calls Carson “a tireless and fearless advocate. She brings a sophisticated approach to commercial litigation and is a subject matter expert.”
Melissa MacKewn is championed by peers and clients alike as “a force to be reckoned with.” One client specifies, Melissa is sharp, strategic, and a pleasure to work with. She knows the law inside and out, handles complex issues with ease, and always stay one step ahead. On top of that, Melissa is responsive, thoughtful, and genuinely great with her clients.” In one of the most talked-about securities actions of the year, MacKewn and Carson successfully represented Cormark Securities’ Head of Equity Capital Markets Jeff Kennedy in an enforcement proceeding by the OSC alleging that Kennedy was part of an illegal short-selling scheme in connection with a $24.25 million private placement completed by cannabis entity Canopy in March 2017. In a stunning rebuke to the OSC, the Capital Markets Tribunal found that the transaction, including Kennedy’s role, was entirely lawful.
Alistair Crawley, along with Tedesco and Byers, is counsel for the plaintiff in a certified class action seeking damages relating to the collapse of a high-risk ETF that attempted to earn income from the purchase and sale of volatility futures. Robert Brush is another celebrated figure in the securities community. “If you ask anyone about him, I’d be shocked if it wasn’t unanimous praise,” asserts one such peer. Another testifies, “I had a piece of securities litigation at the OSC a few years ago. We trying to block a go-public transaction. Rob Brush was on the other side, along with about 15 partners from big firms, and Rob was easily the best person in the room.” Brush and Tedesco are defending one of Canada’s largest independent investment dealers in a $450 million action alleging an illegal conspiracy among various market participants and professionals to launch a short-selling attack on the plaintiff Callidus Capital by making false complaints to the OSC that would subsequently be published by newspapers, harming the plaintiff’s stock price.
