As national managing partner and CEO of BLG, David Di Paolo is building the law firm of the future: agile, innovative and delivering exceptional work with unmatched efficiency. He combines the discipline of a highly ranked litigator with the vision of a transformational leader, testing new ideas, investing in talent and setting new standards for performance.
Over more than two decades, David has acted for leading financial institutions, public companies, regulators and professionals in some of the country’s most complex commercial, securities and class action matters, including before the Supreme Court of Canada. Clients trust him to manage risk, protect reputation and deliver clarity when it counts. Before becoming national managing partner, he co-led BLG’s 400-member disputes group and served on the firm’s partnership board.
A lifelong resident of Hamilton — a city known for its industrial grit and creative resurgence — David is a decisive, pragmatic and open-minded leader who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He built his nationally respected career at BLG because of the meaningful work, distinguished mentors and a culture that rewards initiative and collaboration. As national managing partner, he’s focused on what matters most to organizations facing complex challenges and pursuing transformative opportunities: strengthening systems, setting expectations and fostering a culture that inspires BLG’s teams to deliver consistent value across practices, industries and offices.
David is ranked among Canada’s top litigators by Chambers Canada, Legal 500, Lexpert, Benchmark Canada and Best Lawyers. In 2025, he was named Securities Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Litigation.
He invites conversations with clients, peers and other innovators who are rethinking how legal work gets done and what high performance looks like. Contact him by email or on LinkedIn to exchange ideas and collaborate on initiatives.
Experience
Many of the securities regulatory matters handle by David are confidential in nature and cannot be summarized here. A summary of some of the public cases handled by David are as follows:
Fischer v. AIC et al. – represents one of the fund companies in a securities class action regarding alleged market timing activities.Pozgaj v. Mackenzie Financial Corporation et al: acting for Mackenzie Financial in a class action alleging prospectus misrepresentation and breach of trust related to trailing fees paid by mutual funds.
Clarus Securities Inc. et al v. Aphria Inc.: acting for a syndicate of underwriters in a class action alleging prospectus misrepresentation and secondary market misrepresentation.
Pardhan v. Bank of Montreal and Kherani v. Bank of Montreal: acting for BMO in a class action concerning a fraud committed by a BMO customer.
