Member Profiles

Practitioner in the field of Civil Litigation focusing on insurance and reinsurance related matters, including cyber security and other specialty, complex and catastrophic losses. Experience at all levels of Ontario Courts and in Arbitrations. Industry experience as in-house counsel with an insurance company dealing with commercial insurance, reinsurance and large loss exposures, including products and general property and casualty exposures. EDUCATION B.A. (Hons.), Queen’s University, 1973 (Academic Medallist), J.D., University of Toronto, 1976; Arbitrators’ Institute of Canada courses, Parts I and II. (1986/87); Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Diploma, International Arbitration (2012).CALL TO THE BAR Ontario, 1978 Areas of Concentration Special Risks | Large Loss Exposures | Reinsurance Cyber Insurance & Liability Property Claims | Equipment Breakdown Subrogation | Environmental Commercial & Personal Lines Claims Defense Personal Injury | MVA Tort & Occupiers’ Liability Defense Product Liability Coverage Disputes, Claims & Defense Fraud & Arson Claims Construction & Condominium Claims Professional Negligence Claims | Defense Memberships Law Society of Upper Canada; Canadian Defence Lawyers; Defense Research Institute; Advocates’ Society; Osgoode Society, Toronto Insurance Women’s Association, Associate Member of Risk and Insurance Management Society; The Risk Management Society (RIMS); The Property Casualty Underwriters Club; Insurance Institute of Canada; Transportation Lawyers Association and The Canadian Transport Lawyers’ Association. Founding member, Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society.

Practitioner in the field of Civil Litigation focusing on insurance and reinsurance related matters, including cyber security and other specialty, complex and catastrophic losses. Experience at all levels of Ontario Courts and in Arbitrations. Industry experience as in-house counsel with an insurance company dealing with commercial insurance, reinsurance and large loss exposures, including products and general property and casualty exposures. EDUCATION B.A. (Hons.), Queen’s University, 1973 (Academic Medallist), J.D., University of Toronto, 1976; Arbitrators’ Institute of Canada courses, Parts I and II. (1986/87); Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Diploma, International Arbitration (2012).CALL TO THE BAR Ontario, 1978 Areas of Concentration Special Risks | Large Loss Exposures | Reinsurance Cyber Insurance & Liability Property Claims | Equipment Breakdown Subrogation | Environmental Commercial & Personal Lines Claims Defense Personal Injury | MVA Tort & Occupiers’ Liability Defense Product Liability Coverage Disputes, Claims & Defense Fraud & Arson Claims Construction & Condominium Claims Professional Negligence Claims | Defense Memberships Law Society of Upper Canada; Canadian Defence Lawyers; Defense Research Institute; Advocates’ Society; Osgoode Society, Toronto Insurance Women’s Association, Associate Member of Risk and Insurance Management Society; The Risk Management Society (RIMS); The Property Casualty Underwriters Club; Insurance Institute of Canada; Transportation Lawyers Association and The Canadian Transport Lawyers’ Association. Founding member, Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society.

Howard Levitt has appeared as lead counsel in more employment law cases in the Supreme Court of Canada and at more provincial Courts of Appeal than any lawyer in Canadian history. He has been lead counsel in thousands of employment law cases, acting as counsel in over 50 trials, appeals, judicial reviews and other hearings annually. He has regularly chaired employment law and labour law conferences across Canada, including the Ontario Law Society, for its first ten years 2001-2009, the maximum time permitted. Howard is the best known and most widely quoted authority on employment law in Canada. Howard writes a twice weekly employment law column in the Financial Post, has weekly radio appearances discussing employment law, and is the author of one of Canada’s leading dismissal textbooks, The Law of Dismissal in Canada, five other texts, and is Editor-In-Chief of the national law report, The Dismissal and Employment Law Digest, which covers every notable dismissal and employment law case across Canada. The Law of Dismissal and accompanying law report is cited extensively in decisions across Canada. He is cited by the Canadian media more than any other lawyer in any field for his commentary on legal issues of the day. Howard practices employment law and labour law in Toronto, the GTA and throughout Canada and has an extensive national profile. Any lawyer can settle a case in some amount. Howard Levitt’s settlements are noteworthy as a result of his effective and tireless representation. Mr. Levitt conducts his own trials, which is not the case for many employment lawyers. Howard is the labour lawyer and employment lawyer for many of Canada’s largest corporations and acts as chief spokesperson for numerous collective bargaining negotiations in a variety of industries. He conducts lobbying at the Federal and Provincial level on behalf of several clients regarding labour legislation. Howard frequently represents other lawyers and provides his opinions on complex employment matters when requested. Over the past 42 years, Howard has lectured at seminars across Canada, appearing at over 400 employment law conferences. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Community Service and Citizenship.

Daniel is experienced in residential and commercial real estate transactions as well as mortgage re-finances and real estate investing. In addition, Daniel provides corporate and commercial law advice to early stage and established businesses. From determining a business structure to purchase and sale transactions, Daniel will help guide your business in the right direction. Daniel further provides assistance to foreign businesses seeking to establish a presence in Ontario through the extra-provincial registration process.

As the partner in charge of BCF’s Trademark group, Johanne Auger supports businesses of all sizes in developing and supervising national and international trademark portfolios. Her global vision of issues, her excellent listening skills and her personalized approach help her develop protection strategies tailored to the realities and needs of each client, whether in Quebec, Canada or worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in trademark protection, intellectual property management and litigation, Johanne advises start-ups, SMEs and large companies operating in the technology, agri-food, pharmaceutical, tourism, cultural, finance, manufacturing, textiles and retail industries.  An excellent communicator eager to share her knowledge, Johanne regularly gives trademark lectures to various organizations in Europe, Asia and North and South America. She provides customized training to senior management and marketing teams from several companies.  Johanne Auger will be attending the UNIFAB conference in Paris, FR, March 21st to March 22nd, 2024.  Johanne Auger will be attending the International Trademark Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, May 18th to May 22nd, 2024.