About Ghahhary Thomas LLP

Ghahhary Thomas LLP is a two lawyer litigation firm on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, founded by barristers Leila Ghahhary and Dan Thomas. Both trained at the independent Bar in England before building practices in Canada, and the firm carries that barrister background into its litigation work here. It handles corporate and commercial litigation, securities litigation, government and public law, international arbitration and public international law, public inquiries and inquests, and white collar defence and regulatory investigations, with lawyers appearing before courts, tribunals, and inquiries in both Canada and the UK.

Dan Thomas earned a law degree from the University of Nottingham in 2004, studied at the National University of Singapore, and completed an LLM in international business law at the University of Manchester. In 2005-06 Thomas was a Fox Scholar with McCarthy Tetrault LLP before completing pupillage at a commercial set of chambers in London, and was called to the England and Wales Bar in 2005. After roughly a dozen years practising as a UK barrister, Thomas joined McCarthy Tetrault's Toronto litigation group and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2020. Ghahhary joined the UK independent Bar in 2012 after ten years as an in house government lawyer, and later completed an LLM at Columbia Law School in 2023 focused on public international law, global governance, and international human rights.

Practice areas

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Criminal Defence Administrative & Regulatory Law

Milestones & recognition

  • Chambers Canada 2026 ranked Leila Ghahhary in Litigation: Administrative and Public Law.
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada named Ghahhary Thomas a Recommended Firm in its 2026 guide, with both founders ranked as Litigation Stars, up from Future Star rankings in prior years.
  • The Best Lawyers in Canada 2026 recognised Dan Thomas for Corporate and Commercial Litigation.
  • The Best Law Firms guide again recognised Ghahhary Thomas for Corporate and Commercial Litigation in Toronto.
  • In March 2026, Dan Thomas was appointed to the Capital Markets Tribunal's Securities Proceedings Advisory Committee for a three year term.
  • Leila Ghahhary served as counsel to Canada's Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in the Federal Electoral Process and Democratic Institutions, and was appointed to the UK Attorney General's Public International Law Panel of Counsel in December 2025.

In the community

  • Leila Ghahhary has represented Yazda, the global Yazidi advocacy organization, briefing the UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights in September 2025 on accountability for Daesh crimes against the Yazidi community.
  • Leila Ghahhary attended the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in March 2026, moderating a panel on access to justice for Yazidi women and girls.

Lawyers 2

Dan Thomas Barrister Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionClass Actions Leila Ghahhary Barrister Administrative & Regulatory Law

This firm’s lawyers at a glance

Called to the bar
2012–2020 · median 10 years in practice 2 of 2 lawyers
Law schools
University of Nottingham School of Law 1 of 2 lawyers

Who handles what

The neighbourhood

The firm's office is on Bay Street in Toronto's financial district, the same corridor as the province's banks, brokerages, and securities regulators. That's a practical fit for a firm whose practice includes OSC and CIRO investigations and matters before the Capital Markets Tribunal, rather than a coincidence of address. It's a small firm inside a downtown office tower, closer in scale to an independent Bar set than to the large full service firms that dominate the same few blocks.

Frequently asked questions

What areas of law does Ghahhary Thomas LLP practice?
The firm handles corporate and commercial litigation, securities litigation, government and public law, international arbitration and public international law, public inquiries and inquests, and white collar defence and regulatory investigations.
My company is facing an OSC or CIRO investigation. Can Ghahhary Thomas LLP help?
Yes. The firm defends individuals and organizations facing Ontario Securities Commission and CIRO investigations and enforcement proceedings, and says it can advise from the earliest stages of an investigation through hearings, settlement discussions, and appeals.
Does Ghahhary Thomas LLP represent parties in public inquiries and inquests?
Yes. The firm represents individuals, organizations, and institutions in federal and provincial commissions of inquiry, including applications for standing, witness preparation, and representation at hearings.
Is Ghahhary Thomas LLP limited to practising in Ontario?
No. Its founding lawyers were called to the Bar in England and Wales as well as in Ontario, and the firm's litigation and inquiry work spans both Canada and the UK.
How big is Ghahhary Thomas LLP and where is its office?
It's a two lawyer litigation firm with a single office at 320 Bay Street, Suite 101, in Toronto.
Does the firm handle allegations of fraud or corporate misconduct?
Yes. Its white collar defence and regulatory investigations practice covers fraud, corruption, and financial misconduct investigations, internal investigations, and whistleblower related matters.

Where to find them

320 Bay St, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5H 4A6 · 437-290-6321

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Listing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗