Philip Horgan Law Office
3 lawyers · Established 1996 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 794 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
About Philip Horgan Law Office
Philip Horgan Law Office is a small law firm in downtown Toronto, operating from Suite 301, 120 Carlton Street since 1996. Founder Philip Horgan was called to the Ontario bar in 1988, holds a B.A. in economics and international relations from the University of Toronto, and graduated from Queen's University Faculty of Law in 1986. The practice centres on contractual and commercial disputes in construction, employment, and estates law, plus real estate, family law, constitutional matters, and general consulting for individuals and entrepreneurs.
Two more lawyers round out the team. Mary Zettel, called to the bar in 2013, works in contract disputes, real estate, family matters, and a growing wills and estates practice, after earlier work in the mining industry and a law degree from the University of Windsor. Raphael Fernandes, called to the bar in 2019 after articling at the firm, focuses on civil litigation spanning commercial, employment, estates, real estate, and constitutional disputes. The firm has appeared in more than 20 cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, including a 2021 case it won 9-0, reversing a prior Ontario Court of Appeal decision on behalf of a Toronto religious community. It doesn't serve just one type of client: work includes individuals, entrepreneurs, contractors and subcontractors, employers, and religious and educational institutions.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- The firm was established in 1996.
- Founder Philip Horgan was called to the Ontario bar in 1988 and was elected a bencher (governor) of the Law Society of Ontario in 2019, going on to serve on nine of its committees and working groups.
- In 2021, the firm acted as counsel in a Supreme Court of Canada case, winning 9-0 and reversing a prior Ontario Court of Appeal ruling, on behalf of a Toronto religious community.
- Raphael Fernandes appeared with Philip Horgan in that 2021 Supreme Court case, becoming one of the youngest lawyers to make oral argument at the Court.
- Philip Horgan received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, recognizing contributions to Canada in advocating for freedom of conscience and religion, service to the legal profession, and development of public policy.
- Philip Horgan received the Toronto Catholic District School Board's Alumni Award in 2006.
In the community
- Philip Horgan was elected president of the Catholic Civil Rights League in 2004, after previously serving as vice president, and helped found the Faith and Freedom Alliance, chairing its board.
- Philip Horgan is a past president and long-standing member of the Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Toronto, and chaired the Parent Advisory Council of St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto from 2004 to 2009.
- Philip Horgan is a member of the Senate of the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto and has volunteered for years in minor hockey as a coach, referee, and organization executive.
- Mary Zettel has served for many years as general manager of the North York Knights, a minor hockey organization in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, and was recognized by Hockey Canada for volunteer work.
- Raphael Fernandes is active in community and legal organizations and sings medieval and Renaissance music with two amateur choirs.
Lawyers 3
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1988–2019 · median 13 years in practice 3 of 3 lawyers
- Law schools
- Queen's University Faculty of Law (2), University of Windsor 3 of 3 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits on Carlton Street in downtown Toronto, just east of the former Maple Leaf Gardens and across the street from Allan Gardens. Maple Leaf Gardens opened in 1931 and was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs until the team's final game there in 1999; the building has since become a Loblaws grocery store on its lower level and Toronto Metropolitan University's Mattamy Athletic Centre above. Allan Gardens dates to 1858, when George William Allan donated the land to the Toronto Horticultural Society, and its glass domed Palm House conservatory, completed in 1910, has carried heritage designation since 1986.
The office is a short walk or streetcar ride from College station, with complimentary on-site parking available to clients who book ahead.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Philip Horgan Law Office handle construction disputes?
- Yes. Contractual and commercial disputes in construction law are a core part of the practice, alongside employment and estates matters.
- Can the firm help with a wrongful dismissal or other employment dispute?
- Employment law is one of the firm's regular areas of commercial and contractual dispute work.
- Does the firm prepare wills or handle estate matters?
- Yes. Wills and estates work is part of the practice, and it's a growing focus for lawyer Mary Zettel alongside contract disputes, real estate, and family matters.
- Has the firm argued cases before the Supreme Court of Canada?
- Yes. The firm has appeared in more than 20 cases at the Supreme Court of Canada, including a 2021 case it won 9-0 on behalf of a Toronto religious community, reversing a prior Ontario Court of Appeal decision.
- Does the firm work with religious or educational institutions?
- Yes. Its client base includes religious and educational institutions, and its constitutional law work covers matters of education, religious freedom, and conscientious objection.
- Where is the office located and how do I get there?
- The office is at Suite 301, 120 Carlton Street in downtown Toronto, a short walk or streetcar ride from College station, with complimentary on-site parking for clients who book ahead.
Where to find them
Suite 301, 120 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario M5A 4K2 · 416-777-9994
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