Gavin Magrath

Gavin Magrath is one of Magrath O’Connor two founding lawyers. Prior to 2007 he was an Associate with a Toronto litigation boutique where he enjoyed a varied litigation practice, assisting both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial and civil litigation including Aviation, Employment, Insurance, Marine and Multimodal, Municipal Liability, Personal Injury, Professional Liability, and Wills and Estates matters.

Gavin’s practice focuses on Canadian litigation liability arising out of international shipping and transportation activities. He has represented forwarders, carriers, ship owners, and cargo interests in litigation and dispute resolution and has appeared on their behalf before the Superior and Federal Courts, as well as before various administrative tribunals.

In addition to his Maritime and Transport practice, Gavin assists clients with a variety of civil and commercial litigation matters, including conflicts referrals, commercial and contract disputes, employment litigation, and privacy and e-commerce issues. He remains active in the arts community, representing several Toronto area artists, performers, and theatre companies, and  acts in a pro-bono capacity for a variety of charitable organizations.

In May 2009 Gavin was named to the National Board of Directors of CIFFA, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders’ Association, the first Associate Member to be invited to sit on the Board. In May 2007 Gavin was named General Editor for Forwarderlaw.com, an international network of lawyers from over 20 countries who specialize in representing forwarders and transportation intermediaries. Recently, Gavin has been a speaker at the 2009 CIFFA AGM, the 2008 i|e Canada Trade Show and Conference,  the 2007 Singapore Logistics Association conference, the 2007 Paterson MacDougall Aviation Conference, and the 2006 CTLA AGM. He appears regularly as a guest lecturer on transportation law and liability for CIFFA’s educational programs.

Education and Experience

Gavin obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Distinction, 2004) from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During his studies he won a number of recognitions including the Ronald St. John Macdonald Award for Public International Law, selection for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia clerkship, and, while on exchange at Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane, Australia) the Culture Regeneration Society Award for Master’s level legal research in the field of international intellectual property.

Prior to commencing his law career, Gavin graduated from Queen’s University with degrees in Commerce (First Class Honours) and Philosophy, where he won more than a dozen honours and awards. Between his undergraduate and law school he worked as an Associate with the internationally renowned Boston Consulting Group. He continues to bring his business knowledge and experience to bear for the benefit of clients both by ensuring legal services are provided efficiently on a day-to-day basis and by treating key litigation levers as rational economic decision points for which optimal outcomes can be achieved.

Contact

Direct: (+01) 416-931-0463
Toll Free Fax: 1-866-389-0743
email: gavin@magrathoconnor.com

Recent Published Decisions

American Transport Logistics v. Kobi Group Inc., [2009] OJ no 4980 (Sup Ct).

Locher Evers International v. Canada Garlic Distribution Ltd., [2008] FCJ 388 (T.D.).

Lovat v Blue Anchor Line et al, [2007] FCJ No. 659 (T.D.).

Professional Memberships and Activities

Canadian International Freight Forwarders’ Association (Associate member, legal counsel, and Director)
Forwarderlaw.com (General Editor and Co-Editor for Canada)
Canadian Maritime Lawyers’ Association (Member and Board representative for CIFFA)
Ontario Bar Association (elected council member: Toronto Region, 2006-2010)
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Transport Lawyers’ Association
Association of Transportation Law Professionals (USA)
The Advocates’ Society

Gavin maintains an extensive pro bono practise and advises or is Director on several non-profit and charitable Boards.