Jeff W. Galway, Toronto

About Jeff

Jeff is a senior trial and appellate counsel with extensive experience in corporate/commercial disputes and securities, constitutional, competition and pension law matters. A significant aspect of Jeff's practice involves defending class actions. He also regularly acts as counsel in regulatory proceedings.

Jeff has appeared as counsel before courts in four Canadian provinces as well as before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before a number of tribunals, including the Financial Services Tribunal, the Ontario Securities Commission (now known as the Capital Markets Tribunal) and the Competition Tribunal.

Jeff is known for providing practical and strategic advice to his clients. In one survey of in-house counsel, one of Jeff's clients noted, "He is highly client-focused, exceptionally attentive and proactive" (Chambers and Partners 2026). In another survey of in-house counsel (conducted by Acritas), another of Jeff's clients commented, "He does all of our high-value litigation, and he's just an exceptional litigation lawyer. He's an incredibly sound lawyer with legal skills and with practical advice."

Select Experience

Acted for the intervenor, Insurance Bureau of Canada, in Emond v Trillium Mutual Insurance Co,(2026 SCC 3), a case in which the Supreme Court of Canada provided updated guidance on the interpretation of insurance policies
Successfully acted for Marine Atlantic Inc. in connection with a judicial review application commenced in the Federal Court of Canada by Oceanex Inc. where the applicant challenged the rates established for commercial vehicles carried on Marine Atlantic's ferries between the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador
Successfully represented one of Canada's largest brewers before the Ontario Superior Court in obtaining a dismissal of a proposed competition class action brought against the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Brewers Retail Inc. and three major brewers
Acted as co-counsel for United States Steel Corporation (USS) in connection with a decision of the Ontario Superior Court confirming claims by USS in the aggregate amount of over C$2-billion in a proceeding under the CCAA regarding U.S. Steel Canada Inc.
Acted as co-counsel to Canadian Western Bank before the Supreme Court of Canada (Canadian Western Bank v. Alberta), which addressed issues of division of powers, interjurisdictional immunity and paramountcy
Successfully acted on behalf of a Canadian trust company in obtaining early dismissal of a proposed class action alleging fraud in connection with the administration of a trust
Represented a large Canadian mutual fund manager in a securities class action where the allegation was that the defendants permitted market timing to take place in the mutual funds that they managed
Acted as co-counsel to United Parcel Service of Canada (UPS) in its successful appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada concerning UPS's entitlement to claim rebates for tax paid in error

Awards & Recognition

Jeff is recognized as a leading Canadian lawyer in the following publications:

Chambers Canada Legal Guide 2026 (Litigation: General Commercial – Ontario)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2026 (Repeatedly Recommended: Class Actions, Pensions & Employee Benefits – Employer)
The Legal 500 Canada 2026 (Dispute Resolution)
Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2026 (Litigation Star: Commercial, Competition/Antitrust, Securities)
Lexology Index 2026 (Commercial Litigation, Employment & Labour)
The Best Lawyers in Canada 2026 (Appellate Practice, Administrative and Public Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Employee Benefits Law, Securities Law, Insurance Law)
Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2025

Jeff received the Osgoode Professional Development Continuing Legal Education Contribution Award for his outstanding contribution to Osgoode's CLE programs.

Professional Activities

Jeff is an honorary overseas member of the Commercial Bar Association of the U.K. He is a frequent speaker on the subject of class actions and other litigation-related topics. For more than 15 years, he was an instructor at a program jointly sponsored by Osgoode Professional Development and The Advocates' Society on written advocacy and has been a guest lecturer at the Osgoode Hall Law School intensive trial advocacy program. Jeff was a member of the Canadian Bar Association and Auditing and Assurance Standards Board's Task Force updating the Joint Policy Statement on audit inquiries.