Civil Litigation Lawyer Brampton

Why Choose Our Brampton Civil Litigation Lawyer

When you find yourself in civil litigation in Brampton, your choice of legal representation can make a difference in the outcome of your case. At GLG LLP, our litigation partner, Ryan Kerr, honed his knowledge and skills at one of Canada’s leading litigation firms. He understands the stress, lost time, and expense that litigation can cause clients, so he prioritizes handling legal disputes as efficiently as possible through practical negotiation skills and innovative courtroom strategy. Our law firm also represents clients who handle legal disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration or mediation.

Our Expertise in Civil Litigation Law

The founders of GLG LLP began their legal careers at some of Canada’s most prestigious law firms, where they developed the skills to handle complex legal matters. Having seen the pros and cons of the “big firm” model of law, they chose to form GLG LLP alongside the largest law firms in downtown Toronto to allow clients to access the services and skills traditionally found in big firms with the personal attention and reasonable rates of a boutique firm.

Comprehensive Civil Litigation Services

At GLG LLP, our Brampton civil litigation lawyers can help you stand up for your interests and seek a fair, favourable outcome to litigation matters involving:

• Employment litigation – we represent both employees and employers in workplace disputes, including wrongful dismissal, harassment, and discrimination.
• Breach of contract claims – Whether you’re pursuing or defending a claim, we help enforce contractual obligations and seek appropriate remedies for broken agreements.
• Debt collection litigation – We assist businesses and individuals in recovering outstanding debts through strategic legal action and enforcement solutions.
• Shareholder/partner litigation – Our team handles disputes between shareholders or business partners involving mismanagement, oppression, or disagreements over business direction.
• Commercial lease dispute – We resolve conflicts between landlords and tenants involving lease breaches, rent issues, and property disputes in commercial settings.
• Commercial litigation – From business disputes to complex transactions gone wrong, we offer clear, strategic representation to protect your commercial interests.
• Corporate litigation – We advocate for corporations involved in legal conflicts ranging from internal governance issues to external claims.
• Alternative dispute resolution – negotiation, mediation, or arbitration – Our lawyers guide clients through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to resolve disputes efficiently without going to court.

The Role of a Brampton Civil Litigation Lawyer

A civil litigation lawyer from GLG LLP can help you resolve your case in Brampton by:

• Thoroughly investigating your case to secure the evidence needed to build compelling arguments in your favour
• Evaluating your legal rights and options to help you make informed decisions about how to move forward with your dispute
• Identifying opposing parties and determining what legal relief you might recover in a litigation matter
• Aggressively negotiating for a favourable settlement to help you avoid the time and expense of litigation
• Filing statements in court when taking your case to litigation becomes necessary to advocate for your interests

Key Steps in a Civil Case

The civil litigation process in Brampton involves multiple steps. Knowing what to expect when pursuing a civil case can help give you peace of mind. Furthermore, a knowledgeable civil litigation lawyer can prepare you for each stage of a civil case and ensure you have the most robust arguments to pursue a favourable resolution. The main steps in a civil litigation case include:

• Filing a statement of claim: A civil case begins when a party called a plaintiff files a statement of claim with the court. The statement of claim describes the facts of the case as alleged by the plaintiff and the legal basis under which the plaintiff believes they should receive compensation or other relief from the opposing party, called the defendant. A plaintiff must file their statement of claim with the court within the applicable limitations period for the plaintiff’s specific claim(s). After filing the statement of claim, the plaintiff must serve a copy on the defendant.
• Filing the statement of defence (and counterclaim): After receiving a statement of claim, the defendant must file a statement of defence, in which the defendant can state the reason(s) why they do not bear liability for the relief sought by the plaintiff. If the defendant has claims they wish to bring against the plaintiff arising from the same facts alleged in the statement of claim, they may include a counterclaim in their statement of defence. A defendant who fails to file a timely statement of claim may have a default judgment entered against them, which means the plaintiff automatically wins the case.
• Replying (and defence to counterclaim): A plaintiff may file a reply to the defendant’s statement of defence. If the defendant has asserted counterclaims, the plaintiff must serve a reply, or the defendant may obtain a default judgment against the plaintiff on their counterclaims.
• Going through discovery: After the parties file their statements, they must develop a written discovery plan within 60 days. The plan will describe the scope of discovery the parties intend to conduct, including what kinds of documentation the parties plan to seek, the names of witnesses the parties may produce for examination for discovery, and the timeline for completing discovery. Documentary discovery involves affidavits of documents, under which a party requests copies of specific categories of documents in the opposing party’s possession relevant to the case. Parties must ensure they make reasonable, proportional requests for documents that do not require undue work to comply with, given the case’s complexity. Parties may also serve requests for examinations of discovery, under which parties must sit for questioning from the opposing party. If a party does not know an answer during an examination, they can provide an undertaking to supply the answer or relevant documents afterward.
• Filing motions: Parties can file various motions with the court to obtain rulings on various procedural matters or preliminary disputes, such as moving to exclude a party from using specific evidence at trial.
• Attending a pretrial conference: After completing discovery, the parties can schedule the case for trial and attend a pretrial conference. At this conference, the judge presiding over the case can help the parties negotiate a settlement based on the judge’s opinions on how they might decide the case.
• Heading to Trial: If parties cannot settle their dispute, the matter eventually reaches trial, which begins with each party offering opening statements summarizing the evidence and witness testimony they intend to present. The plaintiff gets the first opportunity to present their case by calling witnesses to testify and presenting documentary evidence. The opposing party can also cross-examine witnesses. After the plaintiff presents their case, the defendant may present opposing evidence and witnesses or simply argue that the plaintiff has failed to prove their case. At the end of the case, the parties may present closing arguments, after which the judge will decide the matter based on what the parties proved on the balance of probabilities.