Jesse Harper maintains a broad dispute resolution practice spanning all aspects of civil litigation and arbitration, with a focus on complex corporate and commercial litigation matters. Jesse is routinely called on to provide strategic advice to clients at all stages of commercial disputes, and understands the importance of blending the dispute resolution strategy with the overall business strategy. He adeptly employs a variety of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques to secure favourable, efficient results. When matters call for a hearing, Jesse leverages extensive experience acting as trial counsel before the Superior Court of Justice and in numerous private arbitrations.
Jesse’s clients include organizations across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, insurance, transportation (including railway, trucking and marine), technology, energy, automotive, and real estate.
He regularly advises on disputes arising in the context of share purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, and share valuations. Jesse has successfully represented both minority and majority shareholders in a wide range of disputes, including with respect to allegations of shareholder oppression, taking of corporate opportunities, and breach of directors' and officers' duties. He has also successfully assisted clients in completing contested plans of arrangement.
In the insurance context, Jesse has experience acting for both insurers and policyholders in complex coverage disputes, as well as for brokers in defence of errors and omissions (E&O) claims. Most recently, Jesse has acted for insurers in claims relating to business interruption insurance arising out of COVID-19 pandemic closures. He also acts as defence counsel for manufacturing, distribution, or retail companies in product liability actions.
Jesse is actively involved in the advancement of continuing legal education, lecturing on trial advocacy, evidence issues, and legal professionalism topics. He frequently participates in numerous pro bono initiatives, including through Pro Bono Ontario’s Legal Advice Hotline.
