Corporate Disputes Lawyers in Toronto
Nature of the Corporate Disputes We Handle
Shareholder, Control, and Financing Disputes
Corporate litigation frequently involves disputes over control, security enforcement, and the consequences of default under sophisticated commercial arrangements. In Atlas (Brampton) Limited Partnership v. Canada Grace Park Ltd., 2021 ONCA 221, the Ontario Court of Appeal addressed a complex dispute arising from a secured financing transaction, including the enforcement of security over pledged shares and the statutory requirements governing foreclosure under the Personal Property Security Act .
This decision illustrates the type of high-stakes corporate disputes we regularly handle—where contractual rights, statutory compliance, and corporate control issues converge, and where matters may proceed through trial-level litigation and appellate review.
Commercial Litigation Arising from Development and Business Transactions
Disputes also commonly arise from failed or contested commercial transactions, including development projects and real estate-related business arrangements. In Luo v. Fulton Development Inc., 2023 ONSC 6262, the Superior Court of Justice considered a motion to strike in a commercial dispute arising from a development relationship, highlighting the court’s role in assessing pleadings in complex commercial litigation at an early procedural stage .
Cases of this nature reflect the reality of modern corporate litigation: multi-layered agreements, competing factual narratives, and the need for careful pleading strategy and motion practice to define and narrow the issues in dispute.
Our Approach to Corporate Litigation
With decades of courtroom experience, our approach to corporate and commercial litigation is strategic, disciplined, and matter-focused. We assist clients by:
- Assessing litigation risk and leverage at an early stage
- Developing clear theories of the case grounded in contract, statute, and equity
- Pursuing or resisting urgent relief, including injunctions and preservation orders
- Preparing matters for trial while remaining focused on commercially sensible outcomes
We understand that corporate litigation is not conducted in a vacuum—it affects ownership, financing, reputation, and ongoing business operations.
When to Contact Us
If you are involved in a shareholder dispute, secured lending conflict, development dispute, or other complex commercial matter, we can assist in evaluating your position and developing a litigation strategy informed by experience and precedent.
Why Clients Retain Us for Corporate Disputes
Clients retain Starkman & Zhang for corporate disputes where the legal issues are complex, the financial stakes are significant, and the outcome may have lasting consequences for ownership, control, or the viability of a business.
We are frequently engaged in disputes involving shareholders, directors, secured lenders, developers, and business principals where contractual rights intersect with statutory obligations and equitable considerations. These matters often require careful analysis of corporate governance, financing structures, and enforcement mechanisms under Ontario law.
Our litigation experience includes matters involving contested control transactions, secured lending enforcement, development-related disputes, and high-conflict commercial litigation that demands disciplined pleading, effective motion practice, and strategic trial preparation.
Clients value our ability to assess risk early, identify leverage points, and advance clear litigation strategies grounded in precedent and procedural rigor. We approach corporate disputes with a focus on positioning clients for the strongest possible outcome—whether through early resolution, interim relief, or trial-level advocacy.