Toronto litigation boutique Tyr was forged by three partners, James Doris, James Bunting and Sean Campbell, after calving off their former firm, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, where all three cultivated their litigation pedigree and earned their individual reputations. Looking to sidestep the conflicts potentially encountered from the corporate capacity at Davies, these entrepreneurial partners went all in on this new-found freedom, naming their firm after the Norse war god who presides over matters of law and justice. Peers are watching and already impressed with the venture. “Tyr has really done impressive things in the short time they’ve been around,” declares one. “They have all kinds of different things on the go.” Another testifies, “I’m seeing them everywhere, and seemingly very suddenly, in all types of interesting cases, and it’s been a pleasure. They are punching way above their weight in terms of files. You see ‘Tyr’ on the letterhead and you know it’s going to be a tough but reasonable fight.” Clients have been equally effusive. “Tyr is an incredible group of lawyers, both personally and professionally,” raves one. “They have a wealth of knowledge, are extremely responsive to our questions and needs, and continuously provide practical legal advice that fits within our business goals. Their creative approach to litigation and dispute resolution has both resolved outstanding issues and proactively prevented others countless times.” Another cheers, “Tyr staffs our files exceptionally well, including a range of experience levels to efficiently carry out work. Tyr provides excellent strategic advice on disputes, and acts as a fierce advocate for our interests, while ensuring that all pathways to early resolution are explored.” Still another sums the firm up as “excellent conflicts counsel, with lawyers having big firm backgrounds but with boutique benefits.”
The firm continued its rather astonishing growth streak with the substantial April 2024 addition of
Melanie Baird, a litigation luminary formerly with a practice that straddles intellectual property and commercial litigation and a raft of peer and client support propelling her reputation. “Melanie is a rockstar, we all know that,” enthuses one peer, “but it’s not unfounded. She earned her chops at Lenczner [Slaght] and Blakes [Cassels & Graydon] and really gets into the nitty-gritty of trial work.” Baird’s recruit comes hot on the heels of the 2022 addition of insolvency-focused partner Jason Wadden, who left his former post at Goodmans to join. “I think what Jason is doing at Tyr now is going be huge,” speculates a peer. Wadden has hit the ground running, representing a group of US-based mass tort claimants in the bankrupt Texas-based electricity retailer Just Energy, who filed for CCAA and voted for a Plan of Arrangement before a valuation of mass tort claims. Wadden led the clients in convincing the court that the Plan could not be instated prior to the valuation of said claims. Bunting remains a peer and client favorite; one Toronto contemporary confirms, “Jim is on the other side of a multi-million-dollar estate litigation case from me, and I’m a fan of his approach.” Another peer testifies, “We are starting to see Tyr in the plaintiff class-action space a lot more. I was on a certification motion against Jim Bunting and was really impressed with his advocacy. He was getting a rough ride by the court and he handled himself very well throughout – class act.” Clients also appreciate Bunting’s “responsiveness, innovative solutions, technical and practical knowledge of the law and client relationship management. Jim is the total package as a lawyer – a finder, minder and grinder. He is highly creative, an excellent advocate and hard worker. He is also a great person.” Bunting represents Embee Properties, a commercial retail center landlord, in an application brought in the Superior Court of Justice by Metro Ontario Real Estate Limited, seeking a permanent injunction to restrain Embee Properties Limited from a development construction project. Bunting is also, along with quickly rising star Michael O’Brien, acting for Pattern Energy and the Henvey Inlet Wind partnership, the proponents of an Ontario renewable energy project partnership defending an action commenced on the Ontario Commercial List in respect of a claim by a financial advisor to a First Nations corporation seeking over $170 million relating to an alleged “success fee” under a service agreement. Doris is addressed by a client as “a very experienced, senior advocate with a very calm, self-assured manner that is pleasing during the crisis of trial.” Doris is assessed by a peer as “just terrific counsel. He might be more soft-spoken but he’s got a brain the size of the galaxy.” Doris and Campbell, along with future star Anisah Hassan, represented Baffinland Iron Mines in an arbitration relating to the client’s Mary River Mine on Baffin Island, Nunavut and in a subsequent ongoing appeal involving a claim of over $100 million for breach of contract commenced by a construction company, and involving a range of issues touching upon appeal rights in arbitration, the doctrine of impossibility, and contractual interpretation. A peer confides, “Anisah used to work with me! She’s excellent, and when Tyr made the offer, I was not at all surprised when she walked into my office and said, ‘It’s been nice.’”
Pinta Maguire attends to almost exclusively plaintiff-side class-action work in the medical-negligence area. A peer familiar with Maguire’s work confirms, “Those class-action cases actually go to trial!”
