Clifton Prophet

Clifton Prophet, a key figure at Gowling WLG, leads the Financial Institutions Litigation Group from the Toronto office, focusing on insolvency, pensions, and employment benefits. He offers comprehensive legal services to a wide array of stakeholders, including creditors, debtors, and insolvency practitioners, in restructuring, liquidation, and asset realization scenarios. His expertise extends to handling complex disputes related to insolvency.

His work also encompasses advising on pensions and employment issues that emerge during business acquisitions and sales. Clifton actively represents pension plan trustees and administrators, advising on matters such as investment management, insurance, plan mergers, surplus entitlement, and drafting plan documents.

Clifton's courtroom presence spans the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada, alongside various administrative tribunals, including the Financial Services Tribunal.

Before his tenure at Gowling WLG, Clifton enhanced his global perspective with nearly two years at a leading law firm in London, where he navigated pensions and employment issues across significant multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions.

His professional affiliations include memberships with the Association of Pension Lawyers (U.K.), the CBAO Pension and Benefits Section Executive, and the Legal Advisory Committee to the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Clifton is also recognized as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Clifton's areas of expertise are broad, covering Financial Institutions & Services, Employment, Labour & Equalities, Pensions, Distressed M&A, among others, showcasing his versatility in the legal field.

He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including being a finalist for the Osler Purdy Crawford Deal Making Award in 2019, and playing a pivotal role in the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, which was named the #1 Deal of the Year by Lexpert. Furthermore, under his leadership, his legal team was acknowledged among the top in-house legal teams in Canada by Legal 500's GC Teams Powerlist. Clifton himself was recognized in the GC Powerlist 2020 for Canada by Legal 500.

Currently, Clifton chairs the Steering Committee for the Canadian Infrastructure Law Forum and remains an active speaker and author on infrastructure development topics in Canada.

Outside the office, Clifton commits his time to coaching youth sports and mentoring students, emphasizing his dedication to community engagement alongside his professional achievements.

With his admission to the Ontario bar in 1993 after earning an LLB from the University of Toronto, Clifton Prophet has built a notable legal career, marked by his contributions to insolvency, pensions, employment benefits, and beyond, making him a trusted advisor and litigator in his field.