James Renihan

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Toronto
Canada
T:+1 416 216 1944
Toronto
Canada
T:+1 416 216 1944
James Renihan

James Renihan

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Biography

James Renihan is a partner on our litigation and disputes team based in Toronto. He is a highly effective, creative, and skilled commercial litigator, with significant courtroom experience. James' practice encompasses a broad range of commercial and civil litigation matters.

He has experience representing corporate and individual clients in matters involving contracts, director and officer liability, fraud, shareholder rights, commercial real estate and franchise relationships, as well as employment-related litigation for both employers and employees. He also handles professional negligence matters for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Equally adept at matters involving abstract legal principles and those that are factually rich, his practice involves trials, appeals, arbitrations and urgent motions for relief from all levels of court in Ontario, as well as appearances in the Federal Courts and the British Columbia Supreme Court. Prior to joining us, James worked at a prominent litigation boutique in Toronto, a large international law firm in New York and clerked for the judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

James is currently the Toronto local chair of our litigation and disputes group.

Professional experience

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J.D., University of Toronto Faculty of Law, 2007
B.A. (Philosophy), McGill University, 2004

  • Ontario 2009
  • New York 2008

James has acted in the following matters:

  • A retail business group – Blocked attempt by commercial landlord to enact significant change to tenancy of shopping mall without tenant consent
  • An industry-leading homebuilder company – Defended application concerning responsibility to pay development costs of $3 million to regional municipality, upheld on appeal
  • Amicus Curiae – Appointed by Superior Court of Justice to assist court in interpretation of provincial legislation regarding tolling of limitation periods due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • A real estate firm – Obtained interlocutory injunction restraining defendant from terminating commercial relationship pending trial
  • A property management company – Successful appeal of restrictive covenant dispute between purchaser and vendor of fitness business
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Franchise Law, 2021-2025; Labour and Employment Law, 2025
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2021-2024: recommended in Litigation - Corporate Commercial; 2024: recommended in Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada: Litigation Star 2023-2024
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada: Future Star 2022
  • Lexpert Rising Star, 2020: Leading Lawyers Under 40 Award
  • Norman Levy Prize in Jurisprudence and the MacDonald Prize in International Law, University of Toronto Faculty of Law
  • Canadian National Champion Jessup International Law Moot team member, 2006
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • New York Bar Association
  • The Advocates' Society
  • English

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