Seumas Woods is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. Originally from Saskatchewan, Seumas earned his law degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Toronto before studying at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Seumas was called to the Ontario Bar in 1989, receiving the Treasurer's Medal as the student with the highest standing in The Law Society of Upper Canada's bar admission course.
Since 1989, Seumas has appeared as counsel before all levels of courts in Ontario, as well as numerous arbitrations and mediations. He is certified as a specialist in civil litigation by The Law Society of Upper Canada and currently sits on the committee that considers applications for that status.
Among the matters in which Seumas has been involved are as follows:
- An international commercial arbitration by a software company based in France that resulted in a judgment of more than USD 100 million against Xerox Corporation
- A commercial arbitration by an Italian-owned American company in respect of claims arising from its acquisition of an interest in a Canadian private company
- A commercial arbitration by a steel manufacturer relating to the modernization of a cold-rolling steel mill
- Applications to the Ontario Securities Commission with respect to the shareholder rights plans of, amongst others, Inco Limited and Regal Greeting & Gifts Limited
- Statutory arrangements under the relevant business corporations legislation for companies in the telecommunications information-technology and investment banking sectors
- Fair-value valuation proceedings on behalf of public corporations
- Shareholder litigation arising out of the acquisition of a Canadian insurer by another Canadian insurance company
- Shareholder oppression cases involving family holding and privately held companies
- Defending the Ontario Securities Commission against a civil action brought against it by former directors and underwriters of YBM Magnex International Inc.
- Advising directors of public companies in respect of possible insider trading charges by the Ontario Securities Commission
Seumas brings with him a strong knowledge of the law, as well as a practical, common sense approach to legal problems.
