David is a partner in the firm's Restructuring and Insolvency Group and Commercial Litigation Group. David has a litigation emphasis to his insolvency practice, with a particular focus on creditors' rights and remedies in reorganizations and liquidations under Canada's major insolvency and corporate statutes. Building on his extensive commercial litigation background, David has over 12 years of experience advising a wide range of lenders and creditors on all aspects of commercial reorganizations in Canada.
David acted as counsel in the cross-border reorganization that involved the first application between Canada and the United States of the Committee J Cross-Border Insolvency Concordat, an initiative of the Insolvency and Creditors' Rights Committee of the International Bar Association. Over the years, he has been involved in numerous domestic and cross-border insolvencies where he has advised a wide range of stakeholders including secured creditors, debtors, and court-appointed insolvency representatives. David's creditors' remedies practice encompasses a broad range of specialties including real estate fraud, solicitor's and appraiser's negligence claims, shareholders disputes, investor fraud and injunctions.
David is a regular contributor to Restructuring & Insolvency, an annual publication of Law Business Research Ltd. He co-authored the Partnership Bankruptcy Chapter of Partnership Law in Canada. David has authored numerous shorter articles and conference papers for industry-specific groups on a range of creditors' rights and bankruptcy reform issues of current interest.
David was recently invited to testify to the Senate Banking Trade and Commerce Committee in Ottawa on the reform of Canada's insolvency legislation, being one of the few outside experts invited to do so.
David is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, teaching the International Insolvency segment of the University of Toronto's Global Professional Master of Laws Program.
Achievements
· Ranked as a leading lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell
Associations
· American Bar Association
· Canadian Bar Association
· International Bar Association
· Ontario Bar Association
· Toronto Lawyers Association
In The News
Bruce Leonard and David Ward to Teach International Insolvency Law for New Global Professional Master of Laws Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Bruce Leonard Chairs National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Program
Articles
Canwest Global Case Further Considers New CCAA, 11/10/2010
Newsletter Articles
Court of Appeal Defines Directors' Authority in a Receivership, 06/09/2011
Death and Bankruptcy: Escaping one but not the other, 04/01/2011
Non-Monetary Judgment of US Court Recognized and Enforced for First Time in Canada, 12/20/2010
The Proof of Claim Process: A Creditor's Day in Court, 10/14/2010
Professional Notes - October 2010, 10/14/2010
The Model Law Revisited - A Look Back, New Resources, 08/30/2010
Canwest: A Winning Case for Rep Counsel, 07/29/2010
Newsletters
Insolvency Watch: Arctic Glacier Obtains Court Protection to Conduct Search for New Investors, 02/28/2012
Insolvency Watch: Union of Canada Life to Be Wound Up Due to Inadequate Capital and Deteriorating Finances, 02/06/2012
Insolvency Watch: Catalyst Paper Secures CCAA Protection After Negotiations with Note-Holders and Unions Fail, 02/02/2012
Insolvency Watch: Catalyst Paper Seeks US Court Protection But Will Continue Normal Operations, 01/23/2012
Insolvency Watch: Timminco Granted Court Protection in Wake of Liquidity Crisis, 01/11/2012
Insolvency Watch: Cellfor Obtains Court Protection in Canada and US, 01/09/2012
Insolvency Watch: National Clothing Chain to Be Sold Under CCAA Protection, 01/05/2012
Insolvency Watch: Renin Group Granted CCAA Protection to Resolve Impasse, 12/19/2011
Insolvency Watch: Oilsands Quest Granted CCAA Protection by Alberta Court, 12/08/2011
The Top Ten United States Bankruptcies, 12/05/2011
Insolvency Watch: Norgate Metals is Granted CCAA Protection by Québec Superior Court, 12/01/2011
Restructuring and Insolvency Group e-COMMUNIQUÉ - June 2011, 06/09/2011
Restructuring and Insolvency Group e-COMMUNIQUÉ - December 2010, 12/22/2010
Restructuring and Insolvency Group e-COMMUNIQUÉ - October 2010, 10/21/2010
Restructuring and Insolvency Group e-COMMUNIQUÉ - September 2010, 08/30/2010
Restructuring and Insolvency Group e-COMMNIQUÉ - August 2010, 08/04/2010
Canadian Insolvency Law Amendments in force September 18, 2009, 09/17/2009