Ryann Atkins

Ryann maintains a broad litigation practice with a focus on complex commercial disputes, public law, and health law. Ryann is a trusted advisor to clients from diverse industries, known for her business sense, strategic thinking, and client-focused advocacy.

Ryann has extensive commercial litigation experience, including shareholder oppression claims, contract disputes, breach of trust claims, construction and procurement disputes, class actions, urgent injunctions, and cross-border litigation.

In her public law practice, Ryann acted for the Prime Minister of Canada in the historic Public Order Emergency Commission of Inquiry related to the convoy events of February 2022, and for the Government of Canada in the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.

Ryann advises clients on a variety of risk management matters, including large-scale and sensitive investigations, privacy and cybersecurity breaches, and quality assurance reviews.

Ryann has conducted numerous trials, arbitrations and appeals, appearing before all levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

 

Representing a pharmaceutical company in an ongoing anti-trust class action

Representing a shared services organization in a data breach class action

Representing a land developer in a breach of trust case

Representing a capital pool company in a breach of trust case

Representing a general contractor in ongoing litigation around alleged deficiencies in the design and construction of a condominium tower.

Representing a large food import/export company in disputes with global food producers

Successfully obtained an injunction on behalf of a registered market dealer to protect sensitive client information (2023)

R v. Hills, 2023 SCC 2; R v. Hilbach, 2023 SCC 3: Represented the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in twin cases challenging mandatory minimum sentences.

Romana v. Canada (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission), 2022 FC 1455: Moved successfully to strike a claim for negligence and breach of the Television Broadcasting Regulations as an abuse of process

Successfully defended an oppression claim brought by a shareholder of a novel tech start-up against two co-founders (2022)

Hiess v. Zelnik, 2022 ONSC 484: successfully defended garnishee against $1.5 million claim

Successfully acted for a director enforcing his rights under a company stock option plan

Beijing Hehe Fengye Investment Co. Limited v. Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP, 2020 ONSC 934: brought successful motion challenging Ontario’s jurisdiction

Canadian Home Publishers Inc. v. Parker, 2019 ONCA 314: successfully represented appellant in first judicial consideration the default rights of the limited partner on dissolution

Successfully represented a major Canadian energy company in an insurance coverage dispute (2019)

Represented a manufacturer of cryogenic storage tanks in a product liability class action (2019)

Successfully represented a commercial real estate developer in an arbitration over the distribution of project profits (2018)

Reichmann v. Koplowitz et al., 2017 ONSC 4842: successfully defended a summary judgment motion over the limitation period applicable to a breach of fiduciary duty claim

Sleep Country Canada Inc. v. Sears Canada Inc., 2017 FC 148: successfully obtained an historic interlocutory injunction in a Federal trademark infringement case