Awi solves problems.
Drawing on a wealth of experience in high-stakes commercial litigation scenarios involving multiple stakeholders, Awi excels at cutting through the noise, connecting-the-dots and making quick decisions to get to the core of the issue. When matters of reputation and public opinion are on the line, Awi exercises discretion, leverages his expertise and delivers results.
With unparalleled depth of experience in Project Litigation, Transformation Law, Political Law and Crisis Law, Awi is the first call that clients make when they cannot afford to lose. Entrusting Awi to solve their most sensitive, most unpredictable problems with excellence, creativity and agility.
Awi has unique experience advising firm clients in special circumstances - acute, high-risk situations that are not part of ordinary operations. Awi works with clients to minimize exposure and maximize opportunities when “business as usual” has been displaced.
Project Litigation
Awi has a leading practice litigating large-scale commercial matters related to infrastructure, energy and innovation projects that have a asignificant public policy component. He successfully achieves practical and financial results for clients in major procurement; construction; and financing disputes. He appears before courts and arbitration panels in scenarios where finances, public reputation and public policy all define litigation success. Awi’s Project Litigation clients include Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), Infrastructure Ontario (IO), Enbridge Pipelines, Regional Power, York University and Carillion Construction.
Transformation Law
In partnership with Matthew Kelleher, Awi acts for major institutions involved in transformational or disruptive industry change. In such circumstances, regulation is often catching up with new realities created by technology, revolutionary business models and major shifts in public policy. Clients trust Matt and Awi to navigate uncharted legal waters. (As needed, they also coordinate legal experts within McCarthy Tétrault to ensure you receive multi-dimensional thinking to assess legal pressures in a variety of subject matter areas – and from a litany of stakeholders.)
Currently, Awi is advising: Uber on a variety of Canadian litigation; LCBO and Ontario Cannabis Stores on legal strategy for the Canadian legalization of cannabis; Department of Justice Canada on the modernization of its legal risk management strategies; and on long-term strategy for Canada 2020, the country’s leading, independent, progressive think tank.
Political Law
Awi has particular expertise advising high-profile business and political leaders on legal obligations in the political sector, including ethical compliance, conflicts of interests, election finance and lobbying law. He has represented senior public office holders and major corporations before federal and provincial parliamentary commissioners. He understands the personal, reputational, and strategic significance of these proceedings.
Crisis Law
Awi serves clients when disaster strikes. He has provided readiness and response strategies to clients grappling with physical disasters, corporate violations of public trust and executive malfeasance. Awi specializes in practical, real-time legal advice to coordinate with – not compete with - business priorities and public communications responsibilities.
Clients include public figures and major corporations.
Community Engagement
Awi is also deeply involved with community and social issues, serving on McCarthy Tétrault’s NationalDiversity Task Force as its ambassador to Legal Leaders in Diversity, serving four years as the firm’s United Way Campaign Co-Chair and, in 2014, achieving the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) Legal Excellence Award. In 2015, Awi served as Toronto Counsel for the Liberal Party of Canada’s federal election campaign. Currently, he also serves as a board member of the Canadian Club: Toronto.
