Biography
Mary’s commercial litigation practice focuses on contract disputes in court or in arbitrations, franchise disputes (including injunctions), and assisting financial institutions in disputes or in the insolvency context. Mary also has expertise in insolvency and restructuring litigation, including receiverships, bankruptcies, and proceedings pursuant to the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
Mary has worked to establish several pro bono programs within the firm and has appeared in the Court of Appeal on a pro bono basis numerous times. She also works with the United Nations Office of Staff Legal Assistance to represent United Nations employees in their employment disputes. She recently assisted a UN employee obtain a widower’s benefit after his same-sex partner died while working for the UN.
Before joining Osler, Mary clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2004-2005 and worked for a law firm in New York as a student in 2003.
Notable Matters
General and Franchise Litigation
- Several Canadian banks in shareholder disputes.
- A Canadian company in litigation to enforce a contract.
- An accounting firm in an alleged wrongful dismissal case.
- The Greater Toronto Airports Authority in litigation related to termination of a contract.
- A Canadian company in litigation defending an alleged breach of contract.
- Several Canadian franchisors in franchise disputes.
- An international company in a damages reference (Federal Court).
- A Canadian company seeking payment from its insurer (Federal Court).
- A number of public and private corporations responding to or seeking injunctions.
- A Canadian company in litigation against its pension consultant.
- A Canadian company successfully resisting an application for leave to bring a derivative action and related oppression actions.
- A number of Ontario hospitals in disputes with doctors about their privileges and particularly responding to injunctions.
Insolvency Litigation
- Several Canadian Trustees in bankruptcy.
- Several Canadian court-appointed receivers.
- An international corporation preparing for proceedings in the United States as well as in Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
- A Canadian secured creditor seeking to appoint a receiver.
Investigations
- A Canadian bank in an internal investigation related to anticipated litigation.
- An engineering company investigating anonymous electronic harassment.