Michael Byers

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

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“I had a picture of a house, and the house was Premiere Mortgage Centre”

Kerri Reed, Premiere Mortgage Centre

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Winner: RISING STAR

Andrea is an Employee Learning and Development professional with two years of experience who is passionate about using her skills to implement innovative and pioneering HR initiatives to drive a culture of professional development. Her strengths lay in people and relationship management, critical thinking and delivering behaviour change projects with an innovative twist. She has been responsible for introducing compliance learning tailored to our significantly diverse employee base of over 12,000 and using her skills to create engagement for and roll out of 'Altogether Autism & Neurodiversity awareness programme at The Warehouse Group. She has shifted the way our team engages with learning, cultivating a continuous learning and development culture specific to their journey.

www.cmblaw.ca

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

MByers@cmblaw.ca

416.217.0886

Toronto

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@HarperGreyLLP

J.R. Laffin is widely recognized as a leading dealmaker and talented public M&A lawyer. He advises on many of Canada’s most sophisticated and complex M&A transactions, offering strategic solutions and innovative approaches. J.R. was honoured in 2021 as a Top 10 M&A lawyer in Canada by a global news outlet for his leadership in high-profile transactions. He is known for his legal expertise, professionalism and collaborative approach helping clients complete industry-altering transactions. In addition to his distinguished legal presence, J.R. provides leadership as public M&A practice group head and is an active mentor to junior lawyers providing advice and support.

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Nate has successfully acted as lead counsel in trials, arbitrations, and appeals at all levels of court in Ontario and in other provinces. He is repeatedly recognized by industry awards for excellence in corporate and commercial litigation and is described by his peers as “an exceptional advocate.” As Chair of AGB’s Technology Committee, Nate leads initiatives to integrate AI and data-driven tools into litigation strategy and client service. He teaches advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and contributes to pro bono cases. Known for his business-minded, practical approach, Nate combines tenacious advocacy with sound judgment. His clients – ranging from emerging companies to major public enterprises – trust him to deliver strategic, efficient results in their most significant commercial and corporate disputes. He has been acknowledged as one of Canada’s next-generation leaders in dispute resolution and trial advocacy.

Nate Read-Ellis is a Toronto-based commercial litigation lawyer and trial advocate known for his strategic insight, professionalism, and courtroom excellence. A partner at Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP, Nate represents entrepreneurs and businesses in complex commercial disputes, shareholder and partnership litigation, class actions, and corporate governance matters across diverse industries, including renewable energy, real estate, financial services, and telecommunications.

Michael Byers is an experienced litigation partner at Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP whose practice focuses on corporate, securities, and complex employment disputes. In addition to receiving the 2025 Lexpert Rising Star award and being ranked as a leading lawyer by Lexpert in four practice areas, Michael has been recognized by Chambers as a leading securities litigator and by Benchmark Litigation Canada as a Litigation Star and one of the top litigators aged 40 & Under. Michael’s practice includes contract disputes, shareholder and oppression claims, class actions, insolvency litigation, professional liability, fraud claims, and insurance litigation. His securities litigation practice includes investigations and proceedings before the OSC and other securities regulators, investment loss claims, broker/dealer disputes, and cryptocurrency litigation. Michael also has expertise in employment law matters, especially in litigation involving departing brokers and advisors, executive employment disputes, and cases involving complex financial and damages quantification issues or allegations of cause. He has expertise in wrongful dismissal matters in the financial services and securities industries. Michael has worked with a broad range of corporate and individual clients and has particular experience in disputes in the financial services, securities, mining and natural resources, software and technology, cannabis, cryptocurrency, and accounting sectors.