Sutts, Strosberg Targets Commercial Litigation

TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Class action powerhouse Sutts, Strosberg LLP is expanding its Toronto office and will target commercial and competition law litigation. The firm has added litigators David Wingfield and Nicholas Cartel, in the Toronto office.

Wingfield, a prominent commercial litigator on Bay Street, is a former Senior General Counsel with the Canadian Department of Justice where he headed the antitrust/competition law division of the Department as Executive Director. Cartel was a former counsel with the antitrust/competition law division of the Department of Justice and has practised as a competition law lawyer with two major Bay Street firms.

Harvey Strosberg, one of the senior partners, said "there is an increasing need for sophisticated litigation boutiques to support corporations, in-house legal departments and big law firms to deal with conflicts that arise in business disputes."

Strosberg said that the firm is well positioned to service commercial clients. "Class actions are essentially complex, commercial pieces of litigation. We have the horses, resources, and the know-how to tackle highly sophisticated lawsuits," Strosberg said.

"This is a firm that likes to litigate complicated disputes," added Wingfield, who joined Sutts, Strosberg because it was looking to grow its Toronto office and expand its commercial litigation footprint.

Wingfield noted that the move parallels that of some of the major U.S. class actions firms, which have become commercial litigation leaders south of the border.

"Expanding more into commercial litigation is a natural evolution for class action firms," said Wingfield, noting that while Sutts, Strosberg has become known as a top class action law firm, it has been involved in commercial litigation since its inception.  What's changing he said is the environment. "With competition enforcement and private actions on the rise, and with general counsel seeking conflict-free law firms with specialized expertise to help them with their most challenging cases, it's a good time for this initiative."

William Sasso, who has been the primary partner responsible for overseeing commercial litigation at the firm, said the new lawyers are a welcome addition. "Their experience and expertise adds to our growing commercial litigation bench strength and allows us to better service clients."

Strosberg said it's a chance for corporate Canada to hire the law firm that built its reputation by taking companies to task. "We're a good partner to have on your litigation team."

Sutts, Strosberg is a growing southern Ontario litigation boutique with more than 18 professionals. It has recovered more than $2 billion on behalf of clients. The firm has expertise in a range of areas, from cross-border litigation, to competition cases, shareholder disputes, director and officer representation, arbitrations, contractual disputes and restructurings.

SOURCE Sutts, Strosberg LLP

David R Wingfield: 416.432.1443, [email protected]; Harvey Strosberg: 519.561.6296, [email protected]; www.strosbergco.com