Stikeman Elliott’s lawyers are passionate about — and dedicated to — what they do. The firm delivers high-quality advice and bespoke solutions, and is committed to continually reaching new heights in excellence. That commitment is reflected in its top-tier performance across Lexpert’s annual shell charts.
Stikeman Elliott leads the pack in Montreal, where the firm earns Grade AAA rankings in Commercial Litigation, Corporate, and Corporate Transactions, including Corporate Transactions (Relative to Firm Size). The firm also achieves Grade AAA rankings in Corporate and Corporate Transactions for its Toronto office, underscoring its strong national bench in deal work. In Calgary, Stikeman Elliott posts solid Grade AA results in both Corporate and Corporate Transactions, again including the relative-to-firm-size measure for the latter.
Toronto further records Grade AA standings in Commercial Litigation, Corporate Transactions (Relative to Firm Size), Litigation, Natural Resources and Tax, while the Montreal office rounds out the firm’s shell chart performance with Grade AA rankings in Litigation, Natural Resources and Tax.
Once again, Stikeman Elliott’s laser focus on client goals and its willingness to innovate in solving complex legal challenges continue to set the firm apart from the competition.
Performance summary
Commercial Litigation
Commercial litigation is the backbone of our Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. Drawing on deep experience across industries and complex subject matters, we develop focused, effective strategies designed to protect our clients’ interests and advance their business objectives, whether through litigation or negotiated resolution. Our understanding of each client’s business priorities allows us to manage risk, navigate sensitive issues, and deliver practical outcomes in high stakes matters. We are trusted counsel on complex disputes and are widely recognized for our top-tier work defending class actions.
Learn more about our ranking system
1952
YEAR FOUNDED
6
Number of offices
575
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 consistently among the most active in Canada. From Canada’s largest and most complex contested public company transactions to friendly acquisitions of privately owned family businesses, we apply deep expertise and practical judgment to help clients achieve their strategic objectives. Our longstanding relationships with Canadian regulators, and our thoughtful management of regulatory engagement, have enabled clients to successfully close some of the country’s most highly scrutinized transactions. We also recognize that successful deals must account for both the legal and reputational considerations facing key stakeholders. Working closely with clients, we help structure and present transactions in ways that protect and strengthen these critical relationships.
Corporate
Vancouver
We are a go-to Canadian law firm for advising on high profile securities, M&A, and corporate finance transactions. We act on both inbound and outbound deals and are widely recognized for our work representing foreign investors. Our industry experience spans mining, oil and gas, telecommunications, technology, and real estate, with additional depth in retail and hospitality transactions. The firm is distinguished by its strength in debt and equity capital markets and securities, as well as its deep private equity bench with extensive experience advising on domestic and cross border buyouts, recapitalizations, and financings across industries. A core value of our corporate practice is risk management. We focus on identifying and addressing third party issues early, which helps clients minimize risk and allows them to execute transactions with confidence.
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
Our Employment & Labour Group brings a business focused approach to advising employers on all aspects of the individual and collective employment relationship at both the provincial and federal levels. With lawyers in Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, we offer integrated advisory, litigation, and transactional support across Canada, regularly acting on large, complex business transactions, insolvencies, and restructurings. Our Pensions and Benefits team deliver strategic, practical solutions to employers, administrators, and other stakeholders, helping them navigate the complexities of Canadian pensions and benefits law with confidence.
Labour Relations, Employment & Pensions
Toronto
We are widely recognized across Canada for our formidable litigation practice, with a strong reputation in class actions, securities, and competition & antitrust matters. We support clients in Canada’s key business centres, bringing together litigators deeply rooted in local markets to handle complex cross provincial proceedings. Known for our practical approach, we bring a clear understanding of our clients’ business objectives to every mandate. Drawing on deep subject matter expertise and the strength of the broader firm, we tailor strategies that manage risk effectively and deliver creative, result-driven solutions.
Litigation
Montreal
Toronto
Montreal
Stikeman Elliott brings together leading capabilities in energy, mining, forestry and environmental law to support clients across the full lifecycle of complex resource projects and investments. Our firm advises project developers, producers, investors and lenders on strategic transactions, financings, mergers and acquisitions, and major project developments, as well as on environmental risk management, permitting, remediation and Indigenous and stakeholder engagement. Drawing on deep sector knowledge and a nationally integrated platform, Stikeman Elliott supports clients operating in highly regulated and cyclical industries—from oil and gas, power and energy transition initiatives to mining and forest products—delivering practical, commercially focused advice on both domestic and cross‑border mandates.
Natural Resources
Montreal
Calgary
Our firm was founded on tax expertise and a commitment to providing pragmatic, insightful advice tailored to protect our clients’ business interests. This legacy continues to shape our approach, enabling us to help clients achieve their objectives in the most tax efficient manner possible. Clients benefit from a full suite of domestic and international tax services, including tax advisory, planning, and controversy work, delivered on both standalone mandates and matters integrated with corporate, investment, real estate, and commercial transactions.
Tax
Toronto
Toronto
We understand the business and technology drivers behind technology focused transactions and advise on a wide range of technology related issues arising in corporate commercial matters. We support some of the largest companies and technology end users in Canada and around the world. Our team also has extensive experience advising innovative and high growth startups on M&A, capital markets, outsourcing, commercial relationships, litigation, intellectual property, and technology infrastructure development transactions. We regularly negotiate with leading global technology providers, software companies, and hardware manufacturers to help clients achieve practical, commercially sound outcomes.
Technology
237
Number of female lawyers
194
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
Grade
AAA
Montreal
Calgary
Toronto
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