About Pamela
Pamela is a Partner in the Restructuring & Insolvency group, widely recognized as one of Canada's leading restructuring practices. Recognized for her deep expertise in both complex commercial restructurings and insolvency litigation, she is acknowledged as one of Canada's foremost practitioners in this field. Continuously ranked in Band 1 by Chambers Canada, Pamela is described by clients as "very smart, strategic, and a strong advocate who also gets to solutions."
With over 35 years of experience, Pamela advises major corporations, financial institutions and other stakeholders in high-stakes transactions, providing strategic guidance to achieve the best possible outcomes. She has led domestic and cross-border matters across diverse industries, including real estate, transportation, manufacturing, energy, hospitality and retail. Pamela has appeared at all levels of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, where her advocacy has helped shape key areas of insolvency law.
A recognized thought leader in restructuring and insolvency, Pamela has been a guest lecturer at leading law schools, a prolific author and a sought-after speaker at industry conferences. She has served as chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Insolvency Section, chair of the Policy Reform Committee of the Insolvency Institute of Canada and was the first woman elected as president of the Institute, where she holds the distinguished title of Fellow.
Pamela's leadership extends beyond her practice; she served for over a decade on the Firm's Executive Committee and as leader of the Restructuring & Insolvency group. A champion of diversity and inclusivity, Pamela has mentored countless up-and-coming professionals within the Firm and the broader industry, helping to develop the next generation of leaders in restructuring and insolvency law.
Deeply committed to giving back, Pamela leverages her expertise and leadership to support a number of organizations. She is currently serving as a director of the Trillium Health Partners Foundation, which is committed to raising funds to improve healthcare in the Greater Toronto Area, and as a director of Golf Canada, the national sports organization which is committed to improving the participation of women in recreational, amateur and professional golf. She volunteers her time for the University Health Network of hospitals in Toronto as the community liaison on key committees.
Some of the cases on the public record in which Pamela has been involved include acting for:
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The court-appointed monitor in the CCAA and US Chapter 15 proceedings of the Pride Transportation Group, involving multiple lenders and over C$2-billion in secured debt
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The court-appointed monitor in the CCAA proceedings of JTI-Macdonald Corp., involving over C$600-billion of claims asserted against it and the Canadian tobacco industry
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Carillion Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of Carillion plc, one of Canada's largest integrated construction support services and facilities management enterprises based in Ontario, which at the time of the commencement of its CCAA proceedings employed approximately 7,500 individuals across Canada
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The Plan Administrator for the Sears Canada Pension Plan in the CCAA liquidation of Sears Canada
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The monitor in the CCAA proceedings of certain Urbancorp condominium developments
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The lending syndicate in the CCAA proceedings of Endurance Energy Ltd.
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The lending syndicate in the cross-border CCAA/Chapter 15 restructuring proceedings of Sanjel Group
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The monitor of Express Canada in the CCAA proceedings and liquidation of its retail fashion stores in Canada
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The secured creditor on its successful credit bid for the Trump International Hotel and Tower
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The monitor of Co-op Atlantic on the sale of its assets and successful restructuring plan
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The monitor and subsequent receiver of First Leaside Group
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The monitor of the multi-use condominium/retail development of Mady Collier Centre Ltd.
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The debtors, Québec Lithium Inc. and RB Energy Inc., et al., in their proceedings under the CCAA
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A Canadian securities firm on the cross-border liquidation of Montaque Capital Partners Limited
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The debtor, Terrace Bay Pulp Inc., on its restructuring and subsequent sale process
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The acquisition lender on the successful restructuring of Canwest Publishing Group
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The DIP lenders, who provided the C$1-billion DIP facility in favour of Quebecor
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Significant stakeholders on cross-border engagements, including U.S. Steel, Nortel, General Motors, Bombay Furniture, Pope & Talbot, and Destinator Technologies
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The court-appointed receiver of Kraus Inc., Kraus Canada Inc. and Strudex Fibres Limited on the credit bid sale of the business
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The senior secured creditor and court-appointed receiver on the insolvency and subsequent sale of The Rosseau, a luxury condominium hotel, conference centre and spa, and Canada's first JW Marriott Resort and Spa
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The debtors in Linens n' Things Canada, SemCanada Crude, and Athletes World
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Aircraft lessors and secured creditors on most of the Canadian airline insolvencies, including Canadian Airlines, Canada 3000, Air Canada and Skyservice
Pamela is recognized as a leading Canadian restructuring and insolvency lawyer in the following publications:
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2025 (Most Frequently Recommended: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring – Insolvency Litigation; Most Frequently Recommended: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring – Financial Restructuring)
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The Best Lawyers in Canada (2024–2025: Aviation Law; 2020–2022, 2024–2025: Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law)
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The Legal 500 Canada – 2023–2025 (Hall of Fame – Restructuring and Insolvency)
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Chambers Global Legal Guide – 2020–2025 (Band 1 – Restructuring/Insolvency)
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Chambers Canada Legal Guide – 2020–2025 (Band 1 – Restructuring/Insolvency)
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Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada – 2020–2025 (Insolvency & Financial Restructuring)
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Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – 2022–2025 (Litigation Star – Insolvency)
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Lexology Index: Restructuring & Insolvency – 2020–2025 (Global Elite Thought Leader)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Insolvency and Restructuring 2024
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Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada – 2020–2024 (Insolvency & Financial Restructuring)
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Lexology Index: Canada – 2020–2024 (Restructuring & Insolvency)
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IFLR1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial and Corporate Law Firms – 2022–2024 (Restructuring and Insolvency)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2023
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Euromoney's Women in Business Law Expert Guide 2022 (Restructuring & Insolvency)
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IFLR1000 Women Leaders – 2021–2022 (Restructuring and Insolvency – Canada)
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Benchmark Canada’s Top 100 Women in Litigation – 2020–2022 (formerly, Top 50 Women in Canadian Litigation)
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Benchmark Canada Awards – 2019 and 2020 (Insolvency Litigator of the Year)
In 2011, Pamela received the Women in Restructuring Mentorship Award presented by the Turnaround Management Association (Toronto Chapter). In 2012, she was recognized by the Turnaround Management Association (Toronto Chapter) as a Trailblazer for Women in Restructuring. In April 2025, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.
Pamela has held several executive leadership roles within the Firm for over a decade, including as a member of the Executive Committee and Practice Group Leader of the Firm's Restructuring & Insolvency group.
Outside her practice Pamela has served as a director and chair of the Policy Reform Committee and as the first woman president of the Insolvency Institute of Canada. In 2023, she was inducted as a fellow of the Insolvency Institute of Canada.
Pamela also served for over a decade on the Commercial List Users' Committee of the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario), a panel of senior practitioners and judges of the specialized Commercial List that develops model orders and best practices and serves as a liaison between the bench and bar. She is a member and past vice-president of the Turnaround Management Association (Toronto Chapter), a past chair of the Insolvency Section of the Ontario Bar Association, and a member of the International Insolvency Institute, INSOL International and The Advocates' Society.
Pamela has been a special lecturer for the advanced business law program at Windsor Law School. In 2000 and 2007, she was retained by Industry Canada as an adjudicator for the Trustee in Bankruptcy Licensing Oral Boards. She is a frequent author and speaker on insolvency topics.
- Co-author : Key Developments in Canadian Insolvency Case Law in 2022
Blakes Bulletin on Restructuring & Insolvency, July 11, 2023. - Co-author : Below the Surface: A Deeper Look at Harte Gold and the Future of Reverse Vesting Orders
Blakes Bulletin on Restructuring & Insolvency, August 4, 2022.
- Panellist : Inspiring Change: A Celebration of Women in Restructuring and Insolvency
International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (Ontario), Toronto, Ontario, May 8, 2025. - Speaker : RBC Women’s Leadership Networking Series
Weston Golf & Country Club, Toronto, Ontario, July 4, 2024. - Panellist : Pullin’ Back the Reins: Developments in Stalking Horse Selection
Insolvency Institute of Canada, Annual National Conference, October 20, 2023. - Panellist : The Future of the Insolvency Industry
CAIRP Insolvency and Restructuring Exchange, Toronto, Ontario, September 12, 2023. - Panellist : Empowering Women in Business Law
University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Business Law Society, February 9, 2023.
ICD.D (Rotman Directors Education Program), Institute of Corporate Directors – 2021
Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 1987
LLB, University of Toronto – 1985
BA, University of Toronto – 1982
