Crawford Smith

T 416 598 8648 F 416 598 3730
E csmith@lolg.ca

Crawford is a smart and courageous courtroom advocate. In 2023, Crawford was named Ontario Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Litigation. He is also recognized as a "litigation star" and a "leading litigation lawyer" by Chambers, Benchmark and Lexpert. He has built effective relationships with clients, judges and opposing counsel in order to achieve results in a wide range of corporate and commercial disputes. Clients appreciate his ability to take strong positions and market commentators say, "He stands out as an excellent litigator of extremely good reputation."

Crawford’s litigation practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters, insurance coverage, construction, securities, professional liability, energy regulatory proceedings and competition litigation, as well as public and administrative law. Crawford has substantial class action expertise. He has appeared as counsel in all levels of court in Ontario, in the Supreme Court of Canada, in the Federal Court of Appeal, in commercial arbitrations, and before a variety of administrative tribunals including the Ontario Energy Board, the Ontario Securities Commission, the Competition Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal and the Environmental Review Tribunal.

Crawford’s securities practice includes acting as counsel for investment dealers, mutual fund dealers, registered representatives and other securities industry participants. He also handles regulatory proceedings and investigations by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Ontario Securities Commission. In professional liability cases, Crawford has experience acting for accounting professionals in Court and before their regulator. His energy practice involves economic issues in multi-party litigation and frequent appearances as counsel before the Energy Board at hearings regarding rate regulation and infrastructure development.

Credentials

  • Called to the Ontario Bar, 1999
  • LL.B., University of British Columbia, 1997
  • B.Comm. (with Honours), Queen’s University, 1994
  • The American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • Trial Law Institute, Member
  • Diversity Law Institute, Member
  • The Advocates' Society, Past Director Standing Committee on Advocacy and Practice (The Advocates' Society), Past Chair
  • St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation, Fall Classic Committee
  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2025: Leading Partners - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Chambers Canada 2025: Band 2 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2025: “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Regulation Law
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2025: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Energy Regulatory Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law
  • Canadian Law Awards, 2024: Litigator of the Year
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2024: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2024: Commercial Litigation; Class Actions; Securities
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2024: Class Actions; Energy (Electricity); Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Litigation - Securities
  • Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2024: Litigation - Corporate Commercial 
  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2024: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Chambers Canada 2024: Band 3 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2024: Administrative and Public Law; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Energy Regulatory Law; Real Estate Law; Securities Law
  • Chambers Canada 2023: Band 3 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2023: Ontario Litigator of the Year
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2023: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2023: Commercial Litigation, Class Actions, Securities
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2023: Class Actions; Energy (Electricity); Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability;  Litigation - Securities
  • Lexpert®/ American Lawyer Guide - Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2023: Litigation - Corporate Commercial 
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2023: Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Energy Regulatory Law; Securities Law
  • The Legal 500 Canada, 2023: Leading Lawyer - Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Chambers Canada 2022: Band 3 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2022: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2022: Commercial Litigation, Class Actions, Securities
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2022: Class Actions; Energy (Electricity); Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability;  Litigation - Securities
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2022: Administrative and Public Law; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Energy Regulatory Law
  • Chambers Canada 2021: Band 3 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2021: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2021: Commercial Litigation, Class Actions, Securities
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2021: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; Energy (Electricity); Energy (Oil & Gas); Litigation - Securities
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2021: Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Lexpert® Directory, 2020: Electricity; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Securities; Energy (Oil & Gas)
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2020: Dispute Resolution, Securities Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Class Actions
  • Chambers Canada 2020: Band 2, Energy: Provincial Regulatory (Ontario); Band 3 - Litigation: General Commercial (Ontario)
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Canada, 2020:  Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Energy Regulatory Law
  • Chambers Canada, 2019: Energy - Power (Regulatory); Litigation, Ontario; Energy - Provincial Regulatory, Ontario
  • Benchmark Litigation, 2019: Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2019: Class Action, Commercial Litigation, Securities
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2019: Corporate and Commercial Litigation; and Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, 2019: Energy (Electricity), Energy (Oil & Gas), Litigation - Corporate Commercial
  • Benchmark Litigation Star, 2019: Class Actions, Commercial Litigation, Securities
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2019: Corporate and Commercial Litigation; and Energy Regulatory Law
  • Chambers Canada, 2018: Energy - Power (Regulatory); Litigation, Ontario; Energy - Provincial Regulatory, Ontario
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2018: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2018: Energy (Electricity); Litigation-Securities; Energy (Oil & Gas; and Litigation- Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2017: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2017 - Energy (Electricity), Litigation-Securities, Energy -Oil & Gas; and Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Chambers Canada, 2017: Energy - Power (Regulatory); Litigation, Ontario
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2016: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Chambers Canada, 2016: Energy - Power (Regulatory); Litigation, Ontario
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2016: Energy - Electricity; Litigation-Securities; Energy -Oil & Gas; and Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2015: Energy - Electricity; Litigation - Securities; Energy - Oil & Gas; and Litigation -Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Chambers Global, 2015: Dispute Resolution, Ontario
  • Benchmark Canada, 2014: Future Star
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2014: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2014: Energy - Electricity; Litigation-Securities; Energy - Oil & Gas; and Litigation -Directors' & Officers' Liability
  • Benchmark Canada, 2013: Litigation Star - Arbitration, Intellectual Property, Class Actions
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2013: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2013: Energy - Electricity; Litigation-Securities; Energy - Oil & Gas
  • Benchmark Canada, 2012: Litigation Star - Class Actions, Professional Liability and Securities
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2012: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2012 - Energy (Electricity), Litigation-Securities
  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, 2012: Canadian Litigator to Watch
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, 2006 - 2011: Energy Regulatory Law
  • Summary Judgment Motions

    May 2020

    Crawford co-chaired a program on summary judgment motions, which gave practical tips and strategies on how to prepare for, argue and oppose a summary judgment motion.

    The Advocates' Society