Cynthia Spry

Tel: 416.637.3295cspry@babinbessnerspry.comvCard
Experience

Cynthia Spry joined the partnership at Babin Bessner Spry LLP in 2010. Prior to joining Babin Bessner Spry LLP, Cynthia practiced in the litigation departments of two top-tier firms: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.

Cynthia practices commercial litigation, including in the areas of class actions, shareholder disputes, competition law, and contractual and securities litigation. She is often recommended as conflicts counsel by Seven Sister firms, and has been qualified as an expert on Canadian law (shareholder disputes) in foreign proceedings.

Cynthia appears before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal and the Commercial List of the Superior Court of Justice. She also appears before a number of administrative tribunals, including the Ontario Securities Commission and the Competition Tribunal.

Cynthia is a member of the Board of Directors of The Advocates’ Society, a former Chair of its Commercial Practice Group and 10+ Standing Committee of the Board of Directors, and is a regular panelist and skills trainer at its continuing legal education programs. She is also a member of Council at the Ontario Bar Association. Cynthia also volunteers as Duty Counsel at Law Society Discipline Committee Hearings, and is a former member of the Ontario Securities Commission Litigation Assistance Project.

Cynthia is ranked by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for both Commercial and Securities Litigation, as a leading commercial litigator in the publication Best Lawyers in Canada, and has been recognized as a litigation star by Benchmark Litigation.

   

                                 

 

Representative Work

Cynthia’s experience includes acting for:

  • A multibillion-dollar Canadian telecommunications company regarding several false advertising claims, including a number of injunction applications.
  • A major Canadian retailer in connection with international anti-trust class action proceedings dealing with credit card interchange fees charged by Visa, MasterCard, and others.
  • A major telecommunications company in connection with numerous arbitrations pursuant to a commercial arbitration agreement with another major telecommunications provider involving allegations of false advertising.
  • One of North America's largest investors, owners and managers of commercial real estate regarding alleged environmental violations.
  • A large accounting partnership regarding a claim by a departing partner for goodwill in the partnership.
  • An international solar company in an arbitration regarding alleged deficiencies in certain projects, and an application by the solar company to enforce the arbitral award granted in its favour.
  • A number of former public sector employees in claims against their financial and legal advisors arising out of the promotion of tax shelters and the mismanagement of pension funds.
  • A Canadian trust company regarding a claim for an oppression remedy and wrongful dismissal.
  • An individual involved in alleged cross-border auto parts price-fixing.
  • An app developer regarding claims against Canada's largest circulation newspaper for breach of contract, breaches of the Copyright Act, breaches of the Trade-Marks Act, false and misleading representations made in breach of the Competition Act and damages for injurious falsehood.
  • A director regarding allegations by a public company that he breached his duties to the company and for an oppression remedy.
  • Various individuals claiming negligence and breach of fiduciary duty by lawyers.
Publications & Events

PRESENTATIONS

  • Speaker, Shareholder Disputes and the Closely-Held Company 2021 (Osgoode Professional Development, March 31, 2021)
  • Instructor, Motions Advocacy - Skills Workshop (The Advocates’ Society, March 9, 2021)
  • Interviewer, Insight on the Reference re: the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act, Friends Who Argue Podcast (March 2021)
  • Moderator, Top Commercial Litigation Cases of 2020 (The Advocates’ Society, February 25, 2021)
  • Speaker, Evening with the Commercial Bench (The Advocates’ Society, January 21, 2021)
  • Facilitator, Modern Advocacy Town Hall (The Advocates’ Society, January 18, 2021)
  • Speaker, Leading Your Case: Opening Statements and Examination-in-chief (The Advocates’ Society, December 8, 2020)
  • Speaker, Credibility for Litigators program (The Advocates’ Society, November 10, 2020)
  • Instructor, Remote Skills Workshop: Motions Advocacy (The Advocates’ Society, August 27, 2020)
  • Speaker, Top Tips for Bringing and Opposing Summary Judgment Motions, (The Advocates’ Society May 28, 2020)
  • Speaker, Your First Civil Trial (Ontario Bar Association March 6, 2020)
  • Moderator, Top Commercial Litigation Cases of 2019 (The Advocates’ Society, February 15, 2020)
  • Facilitator, Business Development for Women and Allies (The Advocates' Society, November 28, 2019)
  • Speaker, Credibility for Litigators (The Advocates' Society, November 22, 2019)
  • Speaker, ADR Advocacy: Advanced Techniques (The Advocates' Society, November 1, 2019)
  • Instructor, 40th Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (Osgoode Professional Development, July 2019)
  • Instructor, 39th Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (Osgoode Professional Development, July 2018)
  • Speaker, Privilege: A Litigator's Guide (The Advocates' Society, June 12, 2018) 
  • Instructor, 38th Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (Osgoode Professional Development, July 2017)
  • Speaker, Vancouver Ethics Breakfast (Financial Planners Standards Council, November 25, 2016) 
  • Speaker, Toronto Ethics Breakfast (Financial Planners Standards Council, November 23, 2016) 
  • Speaker, Evidence for Litigators (The Advocates’ Society, November 21, 2016)
  • Speaker, 2016 Securities Symposium (The Advocates’ Society, September 12, 2016)
  • Speaker, Negotiation Strategies for Litigators (The Advocates’ Society, April 25, 2016)
  • Moderator, Commercial Women’s Breakfast (The Advocates’ Society, April 1, 2016)
  • Speaker, Top Commercial Cases of 2015 (The Advocates’ Society, March 1, 2016)
  • Speaker, Top Commercial Cases of 2014 (The Advocates’ Society, February 26, 2015)
  • Speaker, Leading Commercial Litigation Cases of 2012 (The Advocates’ Society, February 20, 2013)

PUBLICATIONS

Affiliations & Education

Professional Affiliations:

  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • The Advocates’ Society
  • Toronto Lawyers Association

Bar Admission:

  • Ontario, 2006

Education:

  • Queen’s University, LL.B., 2005
  • Guelph University, B.A. (Hons., English Literature), 2001

 

Litigator
SPEAKER
MENTOR