Lesley Mercer

Lesley Mercer, serving as counsel within the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group, specializes in handling complex commercial litigation, including class actions, product liability, professional negligence, shareholder disputes, and restructuring and insolvency proceedings. Her defense of corporations against intricate legal challenges spans product liability, consumer protection, and securities law across both class and non-class actions.

Her courtroom experience is extensive, with appearances in both trial and appellate courts across Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador, showcasing her national legal acumen.

Mercer's professional affiliations are broad, encompassing memberships in the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, The Advocates’ Society, and the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, reflecting her deep engagement with the legal community.

Before her current role at Stikeman Elliott, Lesley honed her litigation skills at a major law firm in Atlantic Canada, dealing with a wide spectrum of civil and commercial litigation matters. Her transition to Stikeman Elliott in 2007 marked a significant phase in her career, where she further specialized in litigation and dispute resolution. Between 2014 and 2017, she offered her expertise as senior counsel at a major financial institution, advising on a diverse range of disputes including class actions related to competition and consumer protection.

Lesley's educational credentials include a J.D. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. from Memorial University of Newfoundland, laying a solid foundation for her legal expertise. Her admission to the bars of Newfoundland in 2005 and Ontario in 2007 further solidified her standing in the legal profession.

Her recognition in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and The Best Lawyers in Canada for her work in class actions, and corporate and commercial litigation, highlights her excellence in the field.

Lesley's contributions to legal literature, particularly on privacy breaches and misrepresentation claims in class proceedings, provide valuable insights into evolving areas of class action defense.

Her engagement in legal discussions extends to speaking engagements on contemporary issues such as e-discovery, consumer protection, and emerging trends in Canadian class actions, emphasizing her thought leadership in complex litigation matters.