Adam Bazak

Adam is passionate about advocacy. A fearless advocate with a proven record of accomplishment in complex and legally novel matters, Adam understands that effective dispute resolution requires carefully considering clients’ objectives and devising creative approaches that are mindful of the big picture and the bottom line.

Whether working with corporations, chartered banks, governments, regulatory agencies, class members, professionals or other private individuals, clients value the strategic insights, sound judgment, and practical advice that Adam delivers.

Adam has a wide range of expertise and experience involving trial and appellate advocacy in private and public law across many practice areas. His private civil litigation practice includes plaintiff- and defence-side class actions, corporate and commercial litigation, product liability, torts, banking litigation, and professional liability. Adam’s public law practice includes judicial reviews, state immunity, administrative law, and constitutional challenges against government actors.  

Adam is also experienced in judgment enforcement, including cross-border and foreign judgment enforcement, acting for both private entities and public agencies, including North American financial and securities regulators. 

Adam has appeared before various administrative tribunals and courts across Canada, including: the Ontario Securities Commission; the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario; all levels of Ontario courts; the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba; the Superior Court of Québec; the Court of Appeal of Québec; the Federal Court; and the Federal Court of Appeal. Adam has also represented appellants and respondents involved in leave applications to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Adam actively participated in mooting while completing his Juris Doctor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where his colleagues repeatedly elected him to the executive of the Osgoode Mooting Society.  Among the awards Adam received while participating in various moots were a distinguished oralist prize and a top factum prize in the Jessup International Law Moot, in which he advanced to represent Canada at the international rounds in Washington, D.C. During law school, Adam was also a client advocate and later Director of the Fair Change Legal Clinic, which provides free legal services and representation to street-involved individuals. Upon graduation, Adam received the Legal and Literary Society Student Leadership Award and the F.W. Minkler Prize for outstanding integrity, scholarship, and contribution to his alma mater.

Adam is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, the Toronto Lawyers Association, and The Advocates’ Society.

As a first generation Canadian, Adam is committed to mentoring students and young lawyers. He is a member of the First Generation Network and the Osgoode Mentor Program.

Since being called to the bar, Adam continues to provide pro bono legal services to low-income Ontarians under Pro Bono Ontario in the areas of Civil Litigation and Appeals.

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:
  • 2017

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       2017
      Year of Call, Ontario
  • 2016

    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      F.W. Minkler Prize, Osgoode Hall Law School
    • Rankings & Awards
       2016
      Legal & Literary Society Award, Osgoode Hall Law School
  • 2015

    • Community
       2015
      Chief electoral officer of Osgoode Hall Law School
    • Community
       2015
      Executive director of a pro bono legal clinic offering advocacy services to street involved individuals with mental health and addiction issues

"Transnational Labour Law in Context: FIFA, Qatar and the 2022 World Cup," presentation at King's College London, Dickson Poon School of Law in London, U.K., Summer 2015

Representative Work

G&K Services Canada Inc. v. Aivaliotis

Successful trial counsel to the plaintiff, obtaining an award of all contractual damages sought by the client at trial for breach of contract under a long-term services agreement.

Toth v. Canada

Class counsel to a certified plaintiff class of approximately 15,000 Canadian and war veterans that was successfully resolved by a court-approved $100 million settlement payable by the defendant. The class alleged government discrimination in breach of equality rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Park v. Nongshim Co., Ltd. et al.

Counsel to a defendant manufacturer that successfully settled a certified class action involving allegations of price-fixing by manufacturers of Korean noodles.

Price v. Smith & Wesson Corp.

Counsel to plaintiffs in a proposed class proceeding commenced on behalf of victims and related individuals who were shot and injured or killed during the Danforth Shooting that occurred on 22 July 2018 in Toronto. On the first stage of the certification motion, the Court dismissed the defendant’s motion to strike finding in favour of the plaintiffs that the defendant foreign gun manufacturer owes a duty of care not to design its firearm negligently.

Petersen v. Defense Contract Management Agency International

Counsel to the respondent, an agency of a foreign government, in a successful proceeding before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal in which the Tribunal dismissed the application finding it was outside the Tribunal's jurisdiction.

Chetty v. Attorney General of Canada et al.

Counsel to a defendant in a successful case in which the Quebec Superior Court dismissed the case against the client, finding the plaintiff's case was unfounded in law and an abuse of process.

Tanny v. Royal Victoria Hospital et al.

Counsel to a defendant in a proposed class proceeding in which the Quebec Superior Court dismissed the proceeding against the client because the client was immune from the Court’s jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal of Quebec unanimously upheld the decision on appeal.

Manuge v. Canada

Class counsel to a certified plaintiff class of approximately 330,000 Canadian Forces and RCMP veterans that was successfully resolved by a court-approved $817.3 million settlement payable by the defendant. The class alleged Canada miscalculated various statutory benefits resulting in underpayments over two decades.