Gillian Hnatiw & Co.
4 lawyers · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 794 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
About Gillian Hnatiw & Co.
Gillian Hnatiw & Co. is a civil litigation and administrative law firm based in Toronto's financial district, at 120 Adelaide Street West. Gillian Hnatiw founded the firm in November 2019 after 15 years at Lerners LLP, where the path ran from articling student to partner, followed by a stint at Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP, a small litigation firm. The firm now has four lawyers, supported by law clerks and an administrative assistant. Its practice centres on professional negligence, health law, and civil claims arising from sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, harassment, and assault, acting for both plaintiffs and defendants, individuals and corporations. Lawyers at the firm also handle employment disputes, human rights matters, and general commercial litigation.
The firm's lawyers argue cases at every level of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Taylor Bain describes a trauma-informed approach to litigation practice, and Sydney McIvor applies a trauma-informed approach to the workplace and sports-related investigations conducted at the firm. Reported matters have included the Motherisk hair-testing litigation, a proposed class action against the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and R. v. Jarvis, a Supreme Court case on voyeurism and the reasonable expectation of privacy. The firm also publishes a multi-part blog series that walks through how Ontario's civil law treats sexual assault and battery claims.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Gillian Hnatiw founded the firm in November 2019 after 15 years at Lerners LLP, progressing from articling student to partner, and time at the small litigation firm Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP.
- Gillian Hnatiw served as Senior Commission Counsel to Nova Scotia's Mass Casualty Commission from 2021 to 2023, leading the gender based violence aspects of that inquiry.
- Two of the firm's lawyers hold Best Lawyers 'Ones to Watch in Canada' recognition for 2026, in personal injury litigation and professional malpractice law.
- The firm acted in R. v. Jarvis, a 2019 Supreme Court of Canada decision on voyeurism and the reasonable expectation of privacy.
In the community
- Gillian Hnatiw is a past chair of the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) and has done pro bono work for LEAF and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
- Two of the firm's lawyers co-chair the Toronto chapter of LEAF.
- One of the firm's lawyers has served since 2020 as a member and mentor with the University of Ottawa's Legal Writing Academy, advising students on legal writing and accessibility.
- The firm publishes a public-education blog series that explains, in plain language, how Ontario civil law treats sexual assault and battery claims.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleLawyers 4
Gillian Hnatiw
Lawyer
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionAdministrative & Regulatory Law
Leigh Clark
Lawyer
Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Sydney McIvor
Lawyer
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionAdministrative & Regulatory Law
Taylor Bain
Lawyer
Civil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionEmployment & Labour Law
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2003–2023 · median 4 years in practice 4 of 4 lawyers
- Law schools
- Osgoode Hall Law School, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Western University Faculty of Law 4 of 4 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm's office sits in the Richmond-Adelaide Centre at 120 Adelaide Street West, a tower built in 1966 in the heart of Toronto's financial district. Most of the buildings on that block connect into the underground PATH network, so the office is reachable without setting foot outside once you're in the system, a practical detail for clients heading to meetings through a downtown Toronto winter. It's an unglamorous but central perch for a litigation practice: surrounded by the bank towers and law firm addresses that make up Toronto's legal core, rather than a storefront in a residential neighbourhood.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Gillian Hnatiw & Co. represent survivors of sexual assault or abuse in civil claims?
- Yes. Civil claims arising from sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, harassment, and assault are one of the firm's core areas, and its lawyers act for both plaintiffs and defendants in these matters.
- I think I might have a claim over something that happened years ago. Does the firm's blog cover limitation periods for sexual assault claims?
- The firm publishes a blog series on sexual assault and battery in Canadian civil litigation, including a post on how long someone has to sue. Limitation periods have exceptions that depend on the facts of a case, so it's worth contacting the firm directly to discuss your specific timeline. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Does the firm only handle abuse related cases, or does it take on other kinds of litigation?
- The firm describes its practice as broad civil litigation and administrative law, with particular focus on professional negligence and health law alongside abuse-related claims. Its lawyers also handle employment disputes, human rights matters, and general commercial litigation.
- Can Gillian Hnatiw & Co. help with a wrongful dismissal or workplace investigation?
- Employment disputes are part of the firm's practice, and its lawyers have conducted workplace investigations. Separately, Gillian Hnatiw provides independent legal advice to professional regulators in discipline matters.
- How big is Gillian Hnatiw & Co. and when was it founded?
- Gillian Hnatiw founded the firm in November 2019 after 15 years at Lerners LLP and time at another small Toronto litigation firm. The firm today has four lawyers, supported by law clerks and an administrative assistant.
- Where is the firm located and how do I reach it?
- The office is at 120 Adelaide Street West, Suite 2105, in downtown Toronto. The firm can be reached by phone at 416.825.5659 or through the contact form on its website.
Where to find them
120 Adelaide Street West, Suite 2105, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1T1 · 416-825-5659
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