Lars is a commercial litigator with a focus on contract disputes, shareholder fights and oppression remedy claims, professional liability investigations, fraud proceedings, and class actions. Lars has successfully represented clients before all levels of court in British Columbia, Ontario, the Federal Court of Canada, and has served as lead counsel in commercial arbitrations and before various administrative tribunals. He has been recognized by his peers as "One to Watch" in Commerical Litigation, and a "Rising Star" in Dispute Resolution.
Prior to joining Fasken, Lars practiced at a prominent Toronto litigation boutique, handling a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters. He was previously crown counsel at the Department of Justice. His unique experience in the public and private sector makes him well-suited to navigate high-profile, contentious litigation and to provide clients with strategic advice in sensitive matters.
Lars earned a joint JD/MA (International Affairs) from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. During law school, Lars completed studies at Tel Aviv University and earned various advocacy awards as a member of championship moot court, negotiation, and mediation competition teams. In his free time, Lars enjoys racing his bicycle, dining on pickled herring, and chasing his two daughters around playgrounds in the city.
Commercial Litigation
Lars has achieved successful results for his clients in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation disputes, including:
- Successfully obtained an urgent injunction order on behalf of a healthcare technology company against a former company executive who stole trade secrets and intellectual property in an effort to set up a competing business.
- Represented the State of Israel in a successful motion to stay a claim for lack of jurisdiction: Jacubovich v. Israel (State), 2021 ONSC 3558.
- Obtained a $2.5 million award for his client in an unjust enrichment claim advanced in a dispute arising from the sale of land, in which the vendors and purchasers disagreed about which portions of the subject land were developable under an agreement of purchase and sale: Intermarket Cam Limited v. Weiss, 2021 ONSC 4445
- Represented an individual shareholder in successfully resisting an oppression application by a partner and co-shareholder in a fight for control over a start-up technology security business: Leis v. Lee, 2021 ONSC 3683
- Lars has also acted for clients as lead counsel in successful confidential commercial arbitrations dealing with insurance coverage, contract claims, and governance disputes.
Appeals
Lars has extensive appellate experience, including recent cases before the British Columbia Court of Appeal and Court of Appeal for Ontario:
- Counsel for an aviation engineering company in a successful application to the British Columbia Court of Appeal seeking leave to appeal an interlocutory order directing the return an aircraft and associated records. The case deals with the important question of the appropriate test for the return of property under rule 10-1(4) of the Supreme Court Rules: Cascade Aerospace Inc. v. Viking Air Limited, 2024 BCCA 256
- Successfully represented a condominium corporation in resisting an appeal by the condo developer relating to the appointment of an arbitrator in connection with disputes between the parties arising from a shared facilities agreement: Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 2299 v. Distillery SE Development Corp., 2024 ONCA 712
Administrative Tribunals
Lars has represented legal and health care professionals in regulatory investigations:
- Represented a legal professional in a misconduct investigation by the Law Society of Ontario, obtaining a favourable outcome advanced on joint-submission basis: Law Society of Ontario v. Scollie, 2022 ONLSTH 93
- Successfully represented physicians at the Ontario Health Professions Appeal and Review Board in appeals of disciplinary decisions by the professional regulator: J.R. v M.P.R., 2016 CanLII 89893, H.K. v G.D., 2017 CanLII 6523, D.R. v C.L., 2016 CanLII 85908, J.W. v G.G., 2017 CanLII 59220.
