Stikeman Elliott’s lawyers are passionate about — and dedicated to — what they do. Stikeman Elliott delivers high-quality advice and bespoke solutions and is committed to continually reaching new heights in excellence. The results of this commitment are reflected in its top-tier rankings across Lexpert’s annual shell charts.
Stikeman Elliott once again led the pack with a Grade AAA rating in Commercial Litigation and general Litigation in Montreal, with its Toronto office coming in as a solid AA in both categories. The firm maintained its Grade AAA ratings for Toronto, Montreal in the Corporate Lawyers charts, as well as its Grade AA in Calgary. Once again highlighting its strong representation across the Corporate Transactions charts, the firm achieved Grade AAA rankings in Toronto and Montreal, and AA in Calgary. Adjusting for firm size, Stikeman Elliott landed a Grade AAA ranking in Montreal and AA in Toronto and Calgary.
Rounding out its shell chart rankings, Stikeman Elliott boasts a Grade AA rating in Toronto for Natural Resources and in Montreal for Tax.
Stikeman Elliott’s laser focus on client goals and willingness to innovate in solving complex legal challenges sets it apart from the competition.
Performance summary
Commercial Litigation
Commercial litigation is the backbone of our Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. Across a diverse range of industries and subject matter expertise, we draw upon unparalleled experience to devise creative and effective litigation strategies that yield success for our clients, whether in court or through settlement. In each case, our knowledge of our clients’ businesses and priorities enables us to manage multiple issues and sensitivities effectively. We are counsel on complex matters and are known for top-tier work defending class actions.
Learn more about our ranking system
1952
YEAR FOUNDED
7
Number of offices
562
Number of lawyers
15
Consecutive years as Best Employer in Canada
Commercial Litigation
Corporate
Corporate Transactions
Labor Relations, Employment & Pensions
Litigation
Tax
Natural Resources
Technology
Summary
Toronto
Montreal
Our Corporate Group is perennially among the most active in Canada. Whether advising on Canada’s largest contested public company transactions or friendly acquisitions of privately owned family businesses, we use our expertise and creativity to achieve client goals pragmatically. We have well-earned, long-standing relationships with all Canadian regulators, and our strategic management of regulatory interactions has helped clients close some of the most highly scrutinized deals in Canada. We also understand that successful transactions must be designed with regard for their real and perceived implications for our clients’ key stakeholders. As such, we work with clients to help them present transactions that best preserve and leverage these often-critical relationships.
Corporate
Vancouver
We are a go-to Canadian law firm for advising on high-profile deals for sophisticated securities, M&A, and corporate finance matters. We advise on both inbound and outbound transactions, with a high profile for our representation of foreign investors. Our industry expertise encompasses mining, oil and gas, telecoms, tech, and real estate, with further experience in retail and hospitality sector transactions. Our firm stands out for our experience in debt and equity capital markets, and securities. We offer a strong bench in private equity, with extensive experience advising on domestic and cross-border buyouts, recapitalizations, and financings across industries. One of the hallmarks of our corporate practice is our understanding of risk. As a key role in any transaction, we focus on managing and minimizing risk by identifying and mitigating third-party issues before they become problematic.
Corporate Transactions
Calgary
Calgary — Corporate Transactions Relative to Firm Size
Montreal — Corporate Transactions Relative to Firm Size
Montreal
Toronto — Corporate Transactions Relative to Firm Size
Toronto
Montreal
We bring a business-focused approach to the advice we provide employers on all facets of the individual and collective employment relationship at both the provincial and federal levels. With a team that includes lawyers in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, we provide integrated advisory, litigation, and transactional capability nationwide. Our pension and benefits team delivers strategic, innovative legal solutions to employers, administrators, and other stakeholders in navigating the complex landscape of Canadian pensions and benefits law.
Labour Relations, Employment & Pensions
Toronto
We’ve received high praise across Canada for our formidable litigation offering, earning us a prominent reputation in class actions and antitrust litigation. We support clients throughout Canada’s key business centers, with litigators well established in local markets teaming up on cross-provincial court proceedings. Our team has significant experience resolving disputes that involve commercial agreements, corporate actions, securities, and professional negligence. We are unique in our practical approach and ability to bring a clear understanding of our clients’ business objectives to each file. Drawing upon the subject matter expertise of the team, as well as other experts across the firm, we tailor our approach to minimize risk and overcome legal challenges through creative solutions.
Litigation
Montreal
Toronto
Montreal
We leverage our local expertise and international relationships to help clients accomplish their goals in an ever-changing economic and regulatory climate. Clients benefit from our extensive experience in identifying and addressing all risks that may arise. As regulations multiply and public scrutiny intensifies, environmental issues are emerging as a significant consideration in almost every corporate and real estate transaction, as well as ongoing business operations in Canada. Our team develops effective and innovative strategies for dealing with potential liabilities in a transactional context as well as risk management solutions for the day-to-day operations of our clients.
Natural Resources
Montreal
Calgary
Our firm was founded on tax expertise and the desire to provide pragmatic advice to our clients that is insightful, creative, and tailored to protect their business interests. This legacy continues to influence how we approach legal advice, helping our clients accomplish their goals in the most tax-efficient manner possible. Our clients benefit from a full suite of services for domestic and international tax-advice, tax-planning, and tax-controversy matters on both stand-alone tax mandates and those integrated with corporate, investment, real estate, and commercial matters.
Tax
Toronto
Ottawa
We understand the business and technology drivers of technology-focused transactions and advise on technology-related issues arising in the context of corporate-commercial matters and support some of the largest companies and technology end-users in Canada and around the world. We have vast experience supporting innovative and ambitious startups in M&A, capital markets, outsourcing, commercial relationships, litigation, intellectual property, and technology infrastructure development transactions, and negotiating with essentially all major global technology providers, software companies, and hardware manufacturers.
Technology
230
Number of female lawyers
196
Lawyers ranked in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
(+ 1 Lawyers to Watch)
Stikeman Elliott LLP’s Intellectual Property Group takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the practice of this area of law. This dynamic and highly creative team of professionals brings a vast range of training and experience to this and related practice areas. We provide our clients with innovative solutions to help them maximize the value of their intellectual property across multiple markets while mitigating the associated risks. Stikeman Elliott counsels Canadian and foreign clients on the acquisition, protection, and exploitation of intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and copyright – in Canada and abroad.
Intellectual property
IMK s.e.n.c.r.l./LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
Chaitons LLP
Tyr LLP
Ross Nasseri LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Grade
AA
BCF Business Law
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
Grade
A
Montreal
Calgary
Ottawa
Toronto
Grade
AAA
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Grade
AA
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Grade
AA
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AA
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summary
IMK s.e.n.c.r.l./LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Babin Bessner Spry LLP
Ross Nasseri LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Grade
AA
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Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
Grade
A
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
DuMoulin Black LLP
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
Grade
A
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Grade
AA
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Grade
AA
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
BCF Business Law
KRB Lawyers
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
Cozen O'Connor
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
Le Corre & Associés
BCF Business Law
Melançon Marceau Grenier Cohen
Loranger Marcoux s.e.n.c.
Gravel2
Grade
A
Trudel Johnston & Lespérance
Casavant Bédard
IMK s.e.n.c.r.l./LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AAA
Ross Nasseri LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
Ross Nasseri LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
Ross Nasseri LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
nNovation LLP
LaBarge Weinstein LLP
Grade
A
DuMoulin Black LLP
Grade
A
Vancouver
Sheahan LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
A
Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
EY Law LLP
KPMG Law LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
AA
Millar Kreklewetz LLP
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Grade
A
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196
(+ 1 Lawyers to Watch)
Lawyers ranked in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
230
Number of female lawyers
562
Number of lawyers
15
Consecutive years as Best Employer in Canada
7
Number of offices
1952
YEAR FOUNDED
Learn more about our ranking system
Whether handling corporate matters, cross-border transactions, or litigation cases, Stikeman Elliott’s lawyers are passionate about — and dedicated to — what they do. Delivering high-quality advice and bespoke solutions, the firm’s steadfast excellence is evident in its evergreen top-tier rankings across Lexpert’s annual shell charts.
For 2025, Stikeman Elliott once again led the pack with a Grade AAA rating in Commercial Litigation and general Litigation in Montreal, with its Toronto office coming in as a solid AA in both categories. The firm maintained its Grade AAA ratings for Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa in the Corporate Lawyers charts, as well as its Grade AA in Calgary. Once again highlighting its strong representation across the Corporate Transactions charts, the firm achieved Grade AAA rankings in Toronto and Montreal, and AA in Calgary. Adjusting for firm size, Stikeman Elliott landed a Grade AAA ranking in Montreal and AA in Toronto and Calgary.
Rounding out its shell chart rankings, Stikeman Elliott boasts a Grade AA rating in Toronto for Natural Resources and in Montreal for Tax.
Stikeman Elliott’s laser focus on client goals and willingness to innovate in solving complex legal challenges unite the firm – and consistently sets it apart from the competition in several areas across the board.
Performance summary
Ottawa
Stikeman Elliott’s Technology Group understands the business and technology drivers of technology-focused transactions. Our lawyers are pragmatic and offer expertise in technology-related issues arising in the context of corporate-commercial matters. The Group supports some of the largest companies and technology end-users in Canada and around the world, as well as the sector’s most innovative and ambitious startups – in M&A, capital markets, outsourcing, commercial relationships, litigation, intellectual property, and technology infrastructure development transactions. We have negotiated with virtually all major global technology providers, software companies, and hardware manufacturers.
Technology
Toronto
Montreal
Calgary
Stikeman Elliott is a firm that was founded on tax expertise and the desire to provide pragmatic advice to our clients that is insightful, creative, and tailored to protect each client’s business interests. This legacy continues to influence how our lawyers approach legal advice, helping clients accomplish their goals in the most tax-efficient manner possible. Clients benefit from a full suite of services for domestic and international tax-advice, tax-planning, and tax-controversy matters on both stand-alone tax mandates and those integrated with corporate, investment, real estate, and commercial matters.
Tax
Toronto
Montreal
Calgary
Stikeman Elliott’s team of lawyers servicing the natural resources sector leverage their local expertise and international relationships to help clients accomplish their goals in an ever-changing economic and regulatory climate. Clients benefit from our extensive experience and expertise in identifying and addressing any and all risks that may arise. As regulations multiply and public scrutiny intensifies, environmental issues are emerging as a significant consideration in almost every corporate and real estate transaction, as well as ongoing business operations in Canada. Our team of lawyers develops effective and innovative strategies for dealing with potential liabilities in a transactional context as well as risk management solutions for the day-to-day operations of our clients.
Natural Resources
Stikeman Elliott wins high praise across Canada for its formidable litigation offering, enjoying a particularly prominent reputation in class actions and antitrust litigation. The firm supports clients throughout Canada’s key business centres, with litigators well established in local markets teaming up on cross-provincial court proceedings. The team has significant experience resolving disputes that involve commercial agreements, corporate actions, securities, and professional negligence. Stikeman Elliott’s litigators are unique in their practical approach and ability to bring a clear understanding of our clients’ business objectives to each file. Drawing upon the subject matter expertise of the team, as well as other experts across the firm, we tailor our approach to minimize risk and overcome legal challenges through creative solutions.
Toronto
Montreal
Litigation
The Labour Relations, Employment & Pensions Group at Stikeman Elliott brings a business-focused approach to the advice we provide employers on all facets of the individual and collective employment relationship at both the provincial and federal levels. With a team that includes lawyers in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, Stikeman Elliott provides integrated advisory, litigation, and transactional capability across the country. The pension and benefits team delivers strategic, innovative legal solutions to employers, administrators, and other stakeholders in navigating the complex landscape of Canadian pensions and benefits law.
Montreal
Labour Relations, Employment & Pensions
Toronto — Corporate Transactions Relative to Firm Size
Toronto
Montreal — Corporate Transactions Relative to Firm Size
Montreal
Calgary — Corporate Transactions Relative to Firm Size
Calgary
Stikeman Elliott is a go-to Canadian law firm for sophisticated securities, M&A, and corporate finance matters, advising on high-profile deals from a nationwide base. It advises on both inbound and outbound transactions, with a particularly high profile for its representation of foreign investors. Its industry expertise encompasses mining, oil and gas, telecoms, tech, and real estate, with further experience in retail and hospitality sector transactions. The firm stands out for its experience in both debt and equity capital markets and its securities expertise. It offers a strong bench in private equity, advising on domestic and cross-border buyouts, recapitalizations, and financings across industries. One of the hallmarks of our corporate practice is our understanding of risk. We see managing and minimizing risk as one of our key roles in any transaction – identifying and mitigating third-party issues before they become a problem.
Corporate Transactions
Vancouver
Toronto
Ottawa
Montreal
Calgary
Stikeman Elliott’s Corporate Group is perennially among the most active in Canada. Whether advising on Canada’s largest contested public company transactions or friendly acquisitions of privately owned family businesses, we use our expertise and creativity to achieve client goals pragmatically. Stikeman Elliott lawyers have well-earned, long-standing relationships with all Canadian regulators. Our strategic management of regulatory interactions has helped clients close some of the most highly scrutinized deals in Canada. We also understand that successful transactions must be designed with regard for their real and perceived implications for our clients’ key stakeholders. As such, we work with clients to help them present transactions that best preserve and leverage these often-critical relationships.
Corporate
Grade
AAA
Montreal
Toronto
Commercial litigation is the backbone of Stikeman Elliott’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. Across a diverse range of industries and subject matter expertise, our litigators draw upon unparalleled experience to devise creative and effective litigation strategies that yield success for our clients, whether in court or through settlement. In each case, our knowledge of our clients’ businesses and priorities enables us to manage multiple issues and sensitivities effectively. Stikeman Elliott litigators are frequent counsel on complex matters that attract significant public scrutiny. Our litigators are known for their top-tier work defending class actions.
Commercial Litigation