Yan David Payne, B.A.(Hons), LL.B. is a Certified Civil Litigation Specialist, as designated by the Law Society of Ontario. He has an impressive track record and is the Senior Managing Lawyer of the Payne Law Team as well as a Qualified Arbitrator (ADRIC/ADRIO).

Mr. Payne articled at a highly-respected civil litigation boutique in Toronto.  He later headed the litigation division of a commercial and tax litigation firm in Toronto, taking on full responsibility for important cases and successfully taking numerous cases to trial and to appeal over the 22+ years that followed.  Ultimately, Mr. Payne’s drive, work ethic and successes led colleagues and clients alike to follow him to his private practice, which was founded in 2005/2006.

He has acted as principal and mentor to articling students and to new lawyers over the years.  Mr. Payne has been retained to lead a variety of litigation cases.  He has represented clients in tax matters, negligence and professional liability claims, defamation actions, wrongful and constructive dismissal matters, human rights, complicated commercial disputes including shareholder and partnership litigation, contentious estate litigation, property/title disputes, and complex appeal proceedings, among others.  Mr. Payne has acted as a Judge (including being asked to judge final rounds) at the Osgoode Cup Mooting Competition (the largest and longest standing undergraduate moot in Canada) and is a qualified arbitrator.

Starting in 2020, Mr. Payne was asked to be an expert speaker by the Canadian Bar Association and Ontario Bar Association on tax litigation and employment law developments in the Covid-19 era.

Mr. Payne has been appointed by the Superior Court of Ontario as Independent Supervising Counsel and has advised and represented a broad range of clients from individual employees to established corporations, from small and medium-sized businesses to domestic, foreign, national and international organizations, from the chief of police, top ranked athletes, university professors, the Mayor of a major Canadian City, to court officials, professional regulatory and insurance bodies, as well as other professionals including lawyers, accountants, and doctors.

Mr. Payne has represented clients before administrative tribunals, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and up to the Supreme Court of Canada.

He has also been assigned to mediate and arbitrate a broad range of disputes.  He is recognized as a Qualified Arbitrator by the ADR Institute of Canada and the ADR Institute of Ontario.

Mr. Payne has an outstanding trial and appeal record including numerous widely-reported cases.  He has personally successfully argued hundreds of motions, trials, and appeals.

For example, see the precedent-setting unanimous Ontario Court of Appeal decision of Rausch v. Pickering (City) 2013 ONCA 740 which recognized, for the first time, a duty of care upon a municipality and its by-law officers in the enforcement of by-laws.  The case has been repeatedly cited by numerous courts on multiple legal issues.

In Loyst v. Chatten’s Better Hearing Service 2012 ONSC 1653, Mr. Payne secured an impressive wrongful dismissal award for lost wages equal to a 29-month notice period plus a 15% ownership interest in the company for a total award of $256,902.93 (the decision was unanimously upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal, see Loyst v. Chatten’s Better Hearing Service, 2013 ONCA 781).

In Osinski v. Her Majesty the Queen 2013 TCC 71, Mr. Payne defeated the Canada Revenue Agency and the Department of Justice, overturning $3,834,543.62+ in taxes, penalties, and interest in favour of taxpayer.  In the recent 2017 case Her Majesty the Queen v. M. S., 1211 998 16 361300, Mr. Payne was able to secure an Order for the withdrawal of 20 tax evasion charges against an accountant and for the return of all seized property.

Mr. Payne is always eager to play David to Bay Street’s Goliath.  The Ontario Court of Appeal recently accepted Mr. Payne’s arguments dismissing Fasken’s attempt to exercise a $360,000.00 solicitor’s lien against its former individual client – see Ontario Court of Appeal decision in Weenen v. Biadi , 2018 ONCA 288 and related article about Mr. Payne’s handling of the case: Court of Appeal dismisses Fasken’s motion for charging order against client – The Lawyer’s Daily – PDF.  Please visit our Reported Cases section to review numerous other court victories secured by senior member of the bar, Yan David Payne.

Recent Decisions:

In 2022, Mr. Payne secured a win following attendance before the Ontario Court of Appeal panel chaired by Chief Justice Ceorge Strathy.  The appeal upheld the firm’s earlier trial decision involving beneficial ownership of a property, partition and sale, and claims of resulting trust and constructive trust.  The Ontario Court of Appeal awarded costs of $9,500.00 in favour of our clients.  See: Decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Inniss v. Blackett, 2022 ONCA 166.

In 2022, Mr. Payne succeeded in freezing funds through Preservation Order (brought on motion without notice), and later succeeded in securing a further Order for preservation of Hundreds of Thousands in additional funds.  See Order of the Honourable Justice Myers dated February 4, 2022: He v. Li, Court File No. CV-21-00672289-0000.  A further Order for the release of $266,242.14 to our client, who was not a party to the initial action, was subsequently secured in December 2022.  See: Order (He et al. v. Li et al.) – issued

Also in 2022, Mr. Payne successfully argued that a client’s former firm was not entitled to summary judgment to compel payment of its alleged outstanding fees.  See: Teplitsky, Colson LLP v. BSA Diagnostics Imaging Inc., 2022 ONSC 4130.  The action against the firm client was subsequently dismissed without costs or any award.

In September 2023, Mr. Payne spearheaded a tax trial before the Tax Court of Canada over taxpayer’s disputed deductions.  The Department of Justice ultimately consented to judgment mid-trial leading to $119,552.00 Judgment by the Honourable Justice F.J. Pizzitelli without the need to call balance of witnesses.  The Judgment binds Canada Revenue Agency.  See attached Judgment: Bagga v. His Majesty the King, 2020-2419(IT)G.

In June 2023, Mr. Payne pressed CRA and the Department of Justice to the eve of a formal hearing and was able to secure a consent Order from the Tax Court of Canada reducing the taxpayer’s assessed employment income from $43,772 to zero for the 2014 tax year; from $48,149 to zero for the 2015 tax year; from $52,964 to zero for the 2016 tax year; further reducing the capital gains tax on disposition of a property from $50,000 to zero, eliminating all penalties and interest.  See: Judgment – Signed Jun 7.23 and associated Consent to Judgment.

Also in  June 2023, Mr. Payne secured a Certificate of Pending Litigation on behalf of a firm client to be filed against title of a commercial property preserving it for the duration of the litigation.  See Court Order granting our Motion: Issued CPL Order – June 2.23 (VM).

In 2024, Mr. Payne secured a Certificate of Pending Litigation (CPL) before service of Statement of Claim, without notice, preserving client’s rights against a property in Hamilton for duration of the litigation, all stemming from a debt claim for $250,000.00.  See Order of the Honourable Justice MacNeil: Order – CV-24-84281

In June 2024, Mr. Payne secured and perfected a Construction Lien over a residential property leading to full resolution of the outstanding account plus costs.  See Construction Lien filed with land registrar: WE1727859.

In 2024, Yan David Payne and Mahrukh Bhali secured Judgment of $181,653.31 in general damages plus costs in a breach of contract case leading to Garnishment of full Judgment plus interest and costs.  See Judgment of the Honourable Justice J. Cameron: ADONIS PARTNERS INC. v. CANADIAN RAILINGS (2021) LTD. – Order dated June 6 2024 – CV-23-6036.  Enforcement through bank seizures was fully successful.

Certified Civil Litigation Specialist

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James R.D. Clark, H. BSc., LL.B., is a seasoned litigator with over 22 years of experience, and with numerous trials and appeals to his credit.  Prior to joining the Payne Law team, Mr. Clark was a named partner in a Bay Street litigation boutique where he practiced for over 17 years.  He has a broad litigation practice, which includes civil, commercial, insolvency/bankruptcy, administrative, and criminal/quasi-criminal litigation.  He has argued before the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario Superior Court of Justice (including the Commercial List and the Divisional Court on appeal matters), the Tax Court of Canada, Ontario Court of Justice, the Human Rights Tribunal and other administrative tribunals.  He has represented clients at every level of Court in Canada, including at the ultimate Supreme Court of Canada stage.

In 2025, James Clark represented a client excluded from running store in bitter and messy shareholder dispute with sibling.  He was able to expedite the hearing on urgent basis to have client’s access to business restored within months of retaining our firm.  See reasons of the Honourable Justice Akazaki: Hewage v 1000635690 Ontario Inc. Reasons Mar 2025.

In May 2024 James Clark secured a Judgment from the Honourable Justice Howie declaring that a 2019 Judgment for over $427,000.00 (also secured by the firm) shall survive the debtor’s bankruptcy.  Mr. Clark had already been successful in extracting hundreds of thousands by setting aside transfer of property to spouse prior to bankruptcy.  See: DJ v. DaSilva, Superior Court File No. CV-24-00000768.  Also see previous reported decision of the Court setting aside property transfer from debtor to spouse:  JV v. DaSilva et al. 2022 ONSC 2691 which was upheld by unanimous panel of the Ontario Court of Appeal: [2023] JV v. DaSilva, 2023 ONCA 137

April 2024 – James Clark secured a judgment against the Nature Conservancy of Canada as well as an individual land owner, correcting title and declaring a right of way (ROW) in favour of our client over multiple abutting lands.  See Judgment of the Honourable Justice Hurley: F-judgment-DJ-v-nature conservancy-cv-24-0012-00

In July and September, 2023  Mr. Clark obtained a declaration for a right of way and secured a cost award of $28,000 in relation to the right to modify the right of way for vehicular access.  See September 25, 2023 cost decision of the Honourable Justice Owen Rees: Jokovic v Middleton – Costs Endorsement.  See underlying July 21, 2023 Superior Court of Justice decision: 2023-07-21-END-JOKOVIC v MIDDLETON- REES, J.

On March 2, 2023 – Mr. Clark secured a unanimous decision before a panel of the Ontario Court of Appeal, upholding lower court decision setting aside the transfer of real estate between spouses (transferred by debtor prior to bankruptcy) making value of debtor’s interest in property available for distribution among creditors.  Total value of proven claims $974,395.23.  See [2023] Jovkovic v. DaSilva, 2023 ONCA 137.

In June 2023, Mr. Clark secured a Writ of Possession entitling our client to evict occupying family members with the assistance of the sheriff.  See: Order Gorman J. CV22-895 Nguyen v. Van Tong et al. 14Jun23-signed_Redacted.  This follows earlier (2022) Order for Partition and Sale of property occupied by client’s family members despite bitter opposition.  See: Endorsement Dube, J – Nov 3.22. A separate Cost Order was released in 2023 for $8,600.00 in favour of our client, being the full amount claimed.

In 2022, Mr. Clark and Mr. Payne secured a win following attendance before an Ontario Court of Appeal panel chaired by Chief Justice Ceorge Strathy.  The appeal upheld the firm’s earlier trial decision involving beneficial ownership of a property, partition and sale, and claims of resulting trust and constructive trust.  The Ontario Court of Appeal awarded costs of $9,500.00 in favour of our clients.  See: Decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Inniss v. Blackett, 2022 ONCA 166.

In 2022, Mr. Clark was successful in setting aside the transfer of property (transferred by the debtor prior to bankruptcy) making value of debtor’s interest in the property available for distribution among creditors.  Total value of proven claims $974,395.23.  Read full May 27, 2022 Endorsement of Justice A.K. Mitchell: https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2022/2022onsc2691/2022onsc2691.html?resultIndex=1

Also in 2022, Mr. Clark secured an Order for Partition and Sale of property occupied by client’s family members despite bitter opposition.  See: Nguyen v. Tong – London Court File No. CV-22-895 – Ruling on Application.  A separate Cost Order was released in 2023 for $8,600.00 in favour of our client, being the full amount claimed.

Mr. Clark has been a conference speaker and panelist for the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals and has represented trustees in bankruptcy in complex litigation matters including motions for judgment and motions under sections 96(1) and 164 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.  Recently he secured a formal Order authorizing our client (Judgment Creditor) to prosecute proceedings to set aside transfer of matrimonial home to wife (18 months prior to bankruptcy) for undervalue.  See endorsement of the Honourable Justice Tranquilli dated June 4, 2021: BK-17-2314079 DaSilva v Jovkovic – Endorsement J. Tranquilli dated June 4, 2021.  See also formal Order issued by Superior Court of Justice in Bankruptcy and Insolvency: BK-17-2314079 DaSilva v Jovkovic – Order J. Tranquilli dated June 4, 2021

In the Matter of the Bankruptcy of National Telecommunications Inc. 2018 ONSC 1101, Mr. Clark secured a formal Declaration voiding $334,841.00 in transactions which were deemed undervalued.  The Honourable Justice Pattillo accepted his argument that the transfers were “intended to defraud or delay” a major creditor by falsifying its receivable and payables.  This motion came on the heels of another successful Superior Court of Justice motion in which Mr. Clark was able to obtain a separate order for the payment of $159,330.00 on similar grounds.  See the Honourable Justice Myers’ decision in Re: National Telecommunications Inc., a bankrupt, 2017 ONSC 1475.

Mr. Clark has been a speaker at the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals National Webinar Series.

Mr. Clark has handled preservation motions including complex matters involving Mareva Injunctions and Certificates of Pending Litigation.  See for example, 2057552 Ontario Inc. v. Dick et al., 2015 ONSC 3182, wherein he was successful in setting aside the Mareva Injunctions at issue.  He was also successful in fending off the subsequent appeal and in reducing the quantum of the  Judgment by way of cross-appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal.  See the Ontario Court of Appeal decision in 20157552 Ontario Inc. v. Dick et al., 2016 ONCA 8.

Mr. Clark has handle a broad range of trial and appeal matters, seeing cases through to completion.  For example, he was defence counsel in a 4-day trial under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and successfully argued the related appeal.  See R. v. Semple Gooder Roofing Corporation, 2015 ONCJ 183.

Mahrukh Bhali, B.Sc, LLB., has had a long-standing passion for law, taking on roles as a law clerk, articling student, and as a litigator in a boutique litigation firm, all prior to joining our team.  Clients value Mahrukh’s depth of procedural knowledge and skillful advocacy as well as her client-focused approach.

Mahrukh benefitted from an international education having studied at the University of Toronto as well as in the UK.  She has extensive experience independently handling all aspects of litigation from researching, strategizing, advising, and drafting complicated legal documents to being lead counsel in examinations for discovery, mediation, and contested Court proceedings including trial, human rights, motion, and appellate review hearings.  In a recent intensely opposed proceeding, Mahrukh successfully represented a former employee of the TTC in a motion seeking to combine a human rights claim to an existing wrongful dismissal action.  Mahrukh obtained the relief the client was seeking in this precedent-setting case, and also secured costs against the TTC.  See the July 12, 2024 decision of Associate Justice Jolley: Kanhai v TTC decision – signed.  This decision has since been widely reported.  Mahrukh was instrumental in securing judgments on behalf of clients including an award of $181,653.31 in general damages plus costs in a breach of contract case leading to garnishment of full Judgment, plus interest and costs (see Judgment of the Honourable Justice J. Cameron: ADONIS PARTNERS INC. v. CANADIAN RAILINGS (2021) LTD. – Order dated June 6 2024 – CV-23-6036).  In a case involving allegations of investment fraud, Mahrukh secured Judgment totaling $643,781.02 plus costs and interest of 18% on behalf of firm clients (see the issued Judgment signed by the Honourable Justice Akazaki: Issued Judgment of Justice Akazaki.)

Pratik Batta LLB(H)., LLM., is an international lawyer with over 13 years of diverse professional experience. He is dual-licensed to practice in India and Ontario, Canada.

Pratik began his litigation career in 2010 and has since handled complex cases in real estate, corporate law, tax law, and through arbitration.

Having been Lead Legal-North for the real estate wing of the world renowned Aditya Birla Group and having handled matters valued in the $2 Billion range, Pratik is no stranger to high-stakes commercial cases.

Pratik’s current practice includes domestic and international litigation.

Megan Oxenham, B.A., is the firm’s office manager and senior litigation clerk.  No stranger to conflict resolution, Ms. Oxenham brings her Bay Street firm experience and  her background as Special Assistant to the Premier of Ontario to the Payne Law team. She has been a valued member of the team since 2006.