Ryann Atkins

Ryann maintains a broad litigation practice with a focus on complex commercial disputes, health law, and public 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, insurance law, employment matters and cross-border litigation.

Ryann was part of the legal team representing the Government of Canada in the historic Public Order Emergency Commission of Inquiry related to the convoy events of February 2022.

In her health law practice, and Ryann defendants hospitals, nurses and clinics in high-stakes medical malpractice claims and 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.

Ryann was called to the bar in 2014. Before joining Stockwoods Ryann built her career at a leading national firm and another top litigation boutique in Toronto. She earned a J.D. from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and a B.A. (Hons.), with distinction, from Queen’s University.

Representing a pharmaceutical company in an ongoing competition law class action over allegations of market allocation and price fixing in the market for generic prescription drugs in Canada.

Representing a software company in an ongoing dispute arising from the breakdown in its relationship with a former sales contractor.

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 about quality issues.

Represented a real estate developer in three inter-related appeals before the Ontario Court of Appeal over the enforcement of promissory notes and the interpretation of a contract (decision pending).

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, paving the way for the company’s growth and success.

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

Beijing Hehe Fengye Investment Co. Limited v. Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP, 2020 ONSC 934: successfully brought a jurisdiction motion on behalf of two Chinese defendants in response to a claim of knowing assistance of breach of fiduciary duty

Successfully represented a commercial real estate developer in a arbitration over the distribution of profits amongst parties to a joint venture for the development of a luxury condominium.

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

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.

Successfully represented a major Canadian energy company in an insurance coverage dispute.

Sleep Country Canada Inc. v. Sears Canada Inc., 2017 FC 148: successfully obtained an interlocutory injunction in a Federal trademark infringement case which significantly impacted the availability of intellectual property injunctions under Canadian law.