Executive Summary
Stephen Thiele is the firm’s Director of Legal Research. He primarily closely works with the Dispute Resolution lawyers, providing advice, value-added analysis and opinions on a wide-range of litigation matters.
Stephen also develops strategies and legal arguments for use on motions, at trials and on appeals. He is frequently required to prepare the written arguments used by the firm’s Dispute Resolution lawyers.
However, Stephen’s work is not confined to supporting only the firm’s lawyers. He is also engaged by a few private practicing lawyers on an outsource basis to review and analyze legal issues affecting the clients of those lawyers.
Stephen is the author and co-author of many legal articles that either discuss topics related to legal research or related to current high-profile legal issues.
Expertise
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Election Law
Representative Work
- Currently co-counsel in municipal conflict of interest case against former Mayor and councillor of the City of Toronto
- Co-counsel in successful defence of defamation against now former Mayor of the City of Toronto
- Co-counsel in contested election case that was eventually determined by the Supreme Court of Canada)
Articles and Presentations
Articles
- Solicitor-Client Privilege: Claim for breach denied and argument to preserve upheld - December 9, 2019
- It's Game Day!: The Summary Dismissal of a Misfeasance Claim - October 16, 2019
- Star Chamber v. Equity: Politicians Beware - August 22, 2019
- Reduction of Right-of-Way Denied - May 1, 2019
- Premier Ford Vindicated - April 17, 2019
- Dismissal of abusive proceeding upheld; Home buyer who got more land than he bargained for not entitled to damages for lost secondary transactions - April 2, 2019
- Time period expired: Claim for contribution and indemnity dismissed - January 30, 2019
- Is Partial Summary Judgment Dead - December 7, 2018
- The End of the Charter? - November 19, 2018
- The Unforgiving Forgivable Loan - September 21, 2018
- Lawyers Owe Duty to Their Own Clients, Not the Opposite Side - June 15, 2018
- In the Cold Light of an Unfavourable Result, Blaming Your Lawyer Will Not Brighten Your Prospects - March 29, 2018
- An Online Date to Forget - October 31, 2017
- Failure to Respond to Foreign Litigation Can Be Risky - October 19, 2017
- Provisions of whole contract make seller responsible for severance costs - August 4, 2017
- Plaintiff’s “Kicks at the Can” are limited - May 23, 2017
- Bank not responsible for fraudulent instructions delivered via customer’s email account - May 12, 2017
- Mortgage proceeds paid to fraudster’s lawyer, in trust, covered under title insurance policy - February 23, 2017
- Court Holds Canada A Free Trade Nation Within Its Own Borders: Provincial Tariff Ruled Unconstitutional - August 18, 2016
- Purchase of Title Insurance a Buyer’s Issue: Sellers’ Claim Against Lawyer for Failing to Advise of Insurance Purchase Dismissed - July 14, 2016
- GR Lawyers Obtain Dismissal of Municipal Conflict of Interest Case Against Ford Brothers - April 21, 2016
- Real Estate Agent Liability: Highlighting the Potential Causes of Action Against Them - February 24, 2016
- Nervous shock claim dismissed: Divisional Court agrees that juror in criminal trial fails to meet test - February 4, 2016
- Court Refuses to Give Buyer 13 Month Extension to Exercise Assignment Option: Time Period Held Unreasonable and Right Surrendered - December 24, 2015
- Unpermitted Removal of Support Walls Covered by Title Insurance Policy: Title Insurer Obligated to Pay Future Repair Costs to Remedy Dangerous Condition - December 7, 2015
- $1.4 Million in Damages Awarded Under "Spills Bill" Action: Court States That "Polluter Pays" Principle Codified - December 4, 2015
- Insider Trading: What Does it Mean for In-house Counsel? - November 12, 2015
- Conflict of Interest in the Era of Multi-national Law Firms - November 12, 2015
- The Throwback Heard Around the (Baseball) World A Legal Perspective - October 21, 2015
- Court Refuses to Enjoin Use of Controversial Ride Service Uber Drives On in Toronto - August 21, 2015
- Family Law Act Remedy Trumps Professional Liability Claim - August 18, 2015
- Need for Administrative Tribunal to Apply Gladue Principles Rejected - August 7, 2015
- Major reforms proposed to Condominium Law - June 12, 2015
- Municipal Election Victories - May 28, 2015
- Controversial Practice of Carding Hits Court - May 13, 2015
- Collection of Unpaid Legal Fees - May 13, 2015
- Record Retention eDiscovery Spoliation - April 1, 2015
- Amended Rules of Professional Conduct - October 28, 2014
- Canada's proposed Fair Elections Act bill: More can be done to restore integrity in election process - February 10, 2014
- Keeping Current - Anti-SLAPP Legislation Proposed - June 10, 2013
- The Employer - Taking With You Only What You Can Take - June 7, 2013
- Not a Technicality: Magder v. Ford - January 30, 2013
My Blog
- The other side of MeToo - February 20, 2018
- Where will marijuana laws end up? - August 15, 2017
- Is Canada Day celebration controversy worth breach of contract claim? - July 5, 2017
- Missing Comma May Prove Costly - March 15, 2017
- Collecting legal fees: The Small Claims Court is back in business - January 18, 2017
- Check Before You Rent - December 14, 2016
- What’s in a name? Everything if it is a registered Trade-mark! - December 7, 2016
- Lessons from the Dreamworld Crisis - November 2, 2016
- Civil Liability for STDs and Jurisdiction - October 5, 2016
- Pokemon “No!” - August 17, 2016
- Toronto Police Arrest Nearly 100 In Marijuana Raids - June 1, 2016
Board Memberships
- Member of The Canadian Abridgement Editorial Advisory Board (Canadian Association of Law Libraries)
Recognition
- 2017 Honsberger Award from the Toronto Lawyers Association
Professional Involvement
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Ontario Bar Association
- Member, Legal Research Network
Community Involvement
- Elected Representative, Ward 6, Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (Toronto District School Board)
- Member, Rotary Club of Toronto West
- President, The Toronto Party for a Better City
- Director, Etobicoke Centre Federal Liberal Association
- Coach, Royal York Baseball League
- Coach and co-convenor, Humber Valley Hockey Association
Beyond the Office
Outside the office, Stephen enjoys playing ice hockey with some long-time friends from high school and golfing with his family. Stephen also enjoys collecting sports memorabilia and learning about Canadian history and ancient Roman coins.