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Ljiljana cuts through legal complexity to find straightforward business results.

She represents companies in contentious, high-stakes disputes, with a particular focus on shareholder disputes and securities litigation, fraud investigations, class actions, and procurement matters. Ljiljana has significant experience in fiduciary and breach of trust issues, and particular expertise in commercial and shareholder disputes involving trust and estate law issues, including high net worth family disputes. Clients value her deep insight and pragmatic advice.

Ljiljana helps international and domestic clients navigate the dynamic landscape of international trade and sanctions regulations. She brings her strengths in advocacy and incisive, solutions-focussed approach to bear in her trade law practice, which centres on enforcement and compliance matters relating to economic sanctions and trade and export controls, as well as investment treaty arbitration.

She has acted as lead or co-counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, and all levels of court in Ontario. She has also represented clients before arbitral and administrative tribunals, including the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and the first binational panel under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC).

Ljiljana’s recent significant mandates include:

• successful representation of a public company in a private arbitration addressing minority shareholder oppression and dissent claims
• assisting clients in obtaining permits pursuant to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Permit Authorization Order and other sanctions permit authorization orders
• assisting clients with delisting applications in reference to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations and other Canadian sanctions listings
• resisting an attempt by defendant insurers to force individual plaintiffs into an unwieldly class proceeding
• successfully representing the winner of a procurement in five judicial review applications (Heiltsuk Horizon Maritime Services Ltd. v. Atlantic Towing Limited, 2021 FCA 26)
• representing a Canadian bank in connection with litigation under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act
• representing a foreign national in a judicial review application concerning the application of sanctions law
• successfully resolving complex disputes involving business structuring and estates and trusts disputes
• conducting an investigation of the anti-corruption and compliance program of a major multinational corporation
• representing the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in TELUS Communications Inc. v. Wellman, an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada concerning the enforcement of arbitration agreements in proposed class proceedings
• representing a foreign company in a multi-jurisdiction price-fixing class action
• representing an international company in a $400 million Canadian class action alleging unlawful competition
• representing a multi-national defence contractor in relation to a procurement award
• representing a foreign bank in relation to a Canadian fraud investigation

In addition to her private practice, Ljiljana maintains a significant pro bono practice. She is committed to providing pro bono litigation and advisory assistance to individuals and organizations where it will have the greatest impact and practising in a trauma-informed manner. Her significant mandates include leading cases regarding equality rights and constitutional remedies, including UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity v Government of Saskatchewan (2024 SKKB 23, 2023 SKKB 204), (Ontario (Attorney General) v. G, 2020 SCC 38)

In addition, Ljiljana is the lead supervising lawyer for the 519 Trans ID Clinic. She also provides summary legal advice through the Indigenous Human Rights Clinic, administered by Pro Bono Students Canada (PSBC) in collaboration with the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and Odawa Native Friendship Centre.

Ljiljana is actively engaged in the firm’s Inclusion Now initiative, and on diversity and inclusion issues. She is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Theatre Passe Muraille, an alternative Canadian theatre company dedicated to supporting and showcasing marginalized voices and independent and emerging artists and companies.

Ljiljana is a member of the Securities Litigation Group at the Advocates’ Society and secretary of the CBA International Law section, as well as member of the Civil Litigation section executive of the OBA, on which she has served for four years. She has also served as Chair and Past Chair of the International Law section of the OBA. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Advocates’ Society.

Ljiljana received her law degree from the University of Toronto, where she was Co-Editor-in-Chief of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review and a member of the Grand Moot team. During law school, she was awarded a fellowship sponsoring her work in forensic legal services. Ljiljana also studied at the University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law, with a focus on international and EU trade and development law.

Prior to entering law, Ljiljana received a SSHRC grant to conduct her graduate studies in epistemology and metaphysics at the University of Toronto, from which she holds both Honours Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in philosophy.