Magrath's International Legal Counsel
1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 794 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
About Magrath's International Legal Counsel
Magrath's International Legal Counsel is a Toronto sole practice run by barrister and solicitor Gavin Magrath, focused on maritime and transportation law, civil and commercial litigation, and mediation and arbitration. Magrath earned a law degree with distinction from Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, winning the Ronald St. John Macdonald Award for Public International Law, then completed a Master of Laws at the University of Toronto in public international, development, human rights and humanitarian law. Before law school, Magrath finished commerce and philosophy degrees at Queen's University with First Class Honours and worked as an associate with the Boston Consulting Group.
The maritime and transportation practice covers cargo, carriage, and international trade disputes under conventions such as the Hague-Visby, Hamburg, and Rotterdam Rules, plus regulatory appeals and international arbitration. On the litigation side, the firm takes on commercial contract disputes and employment matters that go beyond what's covered by employment standards legislation. Magrath also mediates and arbitrates civil and commercial disputes, work that's often required before a case reaches trial in a Toronto court. Since 2007, Magrath has been General Editor and Canadian Member for ForwarderLaw.com, a network of international transportation lawyers, and was a volunteer director of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders' Association from 2009 to 2020.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Gavin Magrath graduated from Dalhousie Law School with distinction and won the Ronald St. John Macdonald Award for Public International Law.
- Magrath completed commerce and philosophy degrees at Queen's University with First Class Honours before attending law school.
- Magrath holds a Master of Laws from the University of Toronto focused on public international, development, human rights, and humanitarian law.
- Magrath has been General Editor and Canadian Member for ForwarderLaw.com, a network of international transportation lawyers, since 2007.
- Magrath served as counsel and volunteer director of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders' Association from 2009 to 2020.
- Magrath has served as a director of Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada and its sister research organization since 2015.
In the community
- The firm's pro bono practice supports Toronto's arts and culture sector, with Magrath serving pro bono as counsel and as a director for several Toronto-based artists and companies.
- The firm takes on pro bono matters involving government defendants, including proceedings before the courts or on judicial review, where there's both an important issue and genuine need.
- Magrath has made representations to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal in TWU v. LSUC as part of the firm's human rights work with Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleWho handles what
The neighbourhood
The office is at 393 University Avenue, Suite 2000, in downtown Toronto. That same address is home to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice's civil courthouse, so a litigation and mediation practice based there sits a short elevator ride from the court where many of its own civil matters are heard.
Mediation is mandatory for civil actions filed in Toronto's Superior Court, and University Avenue's cluster of courts and legal offices makes it a natural base for a practice built around litigation, mediation, and arbitration rather than a storefront serving walk-in clients.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Magrath's handle cargo or shipping disputes?
- Yes. The maritime and transportation practice covers cargo damage and carriage disputes, conflicts of law, and regulatory appeals before transport and customs authorities, drawing on conventions like the Hague-Visby, Hamburg, and Rotterdam Rules.
- Can Magrath's help with a commercial contract dispute?
- Yes. The litigation practice covers a wide range of commercial and contractual disputes, and also drafts agreements like shareholder, partnership, and non-compete agreements to help prevent disputes before they start.
- Does the firm handle employment disputes?
- Yes, for matters that go beyond what's covered by employment standards legislation, including claims of unjust dismissal or other unlawful conduct.
- Can Magrath's act as a mediator or arbitrator?
- Yes. Gavin Magrath acts as a neutral in civil and commercial mediations and arbitrations. Half-day mediations start at $1,200 and full-day mediations at $2,000 for two parties, with pricing for larger or multi-party matters available on request.
- Is Magrath's a large firm?
- No. It's a sole practice run by Gavin Magrath from an office at 393 University Avenue in Toronto, in the same building as the Superior Court of Justice's civil courthouse.
- Does the firm take on pro bono or human rights matters?
- Yes, where there's both an important issue and genuine need. Magrath has represented Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada before the UN Human Rights Council and the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the firm provides pro bono support to Toronto arts and charitable organizations.
Where to find them
393 University Avenue, Suite 2000, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E6 · 416-931-0463
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