
Zain Naqi
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(Chambers Canada)
“Zain is extremely responsive and remarkable. He is calm and collected on matters that involve considerable stress. He is very strategic and understands business.”
Bio
Recognized as ‘an incredible principal lawyer’, Zain routinely acts in complex, high-profile cases with extensive experience in corporate/commercial disputes, shareholder and employment litigation, regulatory prosecutions, negligence and environmental claims, and aboriginal law. He has developed expertise in highly regulated industries, including telecommunications, infrastructure, health care, financial services, food processing, and transportation. He also maintains a robust public law practice, helping municipalities, indigenous groups, and corporate clients successfully navigate challenging administrative and constitutional law issues.
A skilled courtroom advocate, Zain argues at all levels of court in Ontario including the Toronto Commercial List and regularly conducts multi-week arbitrations and regulatory hearings. He has represented clients in more than 20 appeals and judicial reviews before the Divisional Court, Court of Appeal for Ontario, and Supreme Court of Canada. He is also adept in matters before the Federal Courts and federal boards and agencies, including the Competition Tribunal and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
Zain is a member of the Civil Rules Review Working Group struck by the Attorney General of Ontario to overhaul Ontario’s civil justice system. He is a frequent speaker on panels for the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Ontario, and The Advocates’ Society. He enjoys an active pro-bono practice, acting for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and other public interest groups.
Select Representative Mandates
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Canada (Commissioner of Competition) v. Rogers Communications Inc., 2023 FCA 16
Successfully represented Rogers at trial and in Federal Court of Appeal in defence of Commissioner of Competition application to block $26 billion dollar merger between Rogers and Shaw.
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WSIB Investments (Infrastructure Pooled Investment Trust) v. Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd.
Representing a leading P3 infrastructure manager in an appeal from a $260 million judgment concerning breaches of contract and fiduciary duty.
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Corus Entertainment Inc. v. Rogers Communications Inc., 2024 ONSC 6126
Represented Rogers in a major contractual dispute with Corus Media concerning television rights and defeated claims of injunctive relief, sealing orders, and other extraordinary remedies.
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Walsh Construction Company Canada v. Toronto Transit Commission and Regional Municipality of York
Representing the Regional Municipality of York in a large construction dispute relating to the development of Steeles West Station and the defence of subcontractor claims valued at over $50 million.
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Rogers Communications Canada Inc v. Corus Entertainment Inc.
Representing Rogers in appeals from decisions of the CRTC concerning the proper scope of the Commission’s dispute resolution powers under the Broadcasting Act.
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Boliden Mineral AB v. FQM Kevitsa Sweden Holdings AB
Lead counsel for Boliden Minerals in its successful claim against FQM Kevitsa for damages in excess of Euro 38 million arising from a tax indemnity in a share purchase agreement.
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Nathan Reicheld v. His Majesty the King in Right of Ontario as Represented by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2024 ONSC 5016
Lead counsel to the successful applicant in an application for judicial review in a leading case on the meaning of “operator” in environmental legislation.
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Aylmer Meat Packers Inc. v. Ontario
Successfully represented business in Ontario Court of Appeal reversing trial judgment, first imposition of private law duty of care on regulator exercising statutory authority.
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R. v. Kloubakov
Lead counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in a case relating to the constitutionality of criminal prohibitions surrounding sex work.
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Ahmad v. Peel Regional Police Services Board, 2024 ONSC 2474
Lead counsel to a public interest group in successfully resisting publication bans in a high-profile claim involving allegations of police misconduct.
Recognitions
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Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2025
We have maintained our leading position in litigation among top Canadian law firms in the 2025 Lexpert Directory.
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Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2024
Twleve of our lawyers are recognized alongside leading Canadian litigators in the Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2024 guide.
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Best Lawyers in Canada 2025
16 of our lawyers are recognized in the 19th edition of the Best Lawyers in Canada and two of our lawyers have won “Lawyer of the Year” awards.
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Benchmark Litigation Canada 2024
We are once again recognized as a “Highly Recommended Firm in Ontario” in Benchmark Litigation Canada 2024, the highest ranking for Canadian litigation practices.
Credentials
- Credentials
- Memberships
- Called to the Ontario Bar, 2015
- Clerkship: Justice Michael J. Moldaver of the Supreme Court of Canada
- B.C.L. and LL.B. (Aimé Geoffrion Medal), McGill University, 2014
- B.A. (Honours with Distinction) in Economics, Queen’s University, 2009
- Ontario Civil Rules Review Working Group, Member
- Ontario Bar Association, Frequent Speaker
- EGALE Canada – National Litigation Steering Committee, Member
- Canadian Muslim Lawyers’ Association – National Litigation Steering Committee, Member
- Osgoode Hall Law School, Instructor