IFLR is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement


Key contacts
Partner: D.J. Miller
Quick facts
Number of partners

13

Number of other qualified practitioners

19

Number of total lawyers (worldwide)

32

Key practice areas
Financial and corporate
Restructuring and insolvency
Firm profile

TGF is a specialty firm that occupies a unique space in the high-end legal services market in Canada. TGF specializes in finding creative, efficient and persuasive solutions to the most complex business disputes, consistently achieving precedent-setting results.

TGF lawyers have deep experience as trial and appellate counsel and in the negotiation, mediation and private arbitration of complex business disputes. The firm is nationally recognized for its expertise in complex commercial litigation, restructuring, insolvency litigation, public-private partnership disputes, securities related matters, director & officer liability and M&A litigation across a wide variety of industries. Many of the firm’s cases have a cross-border component, and TGF plays a leading role in many of the highest profile cross-border and multi-jurisdictional insolvencies. The number and significance of the mandates that TGF has acted on is extraordinary for a firm of its size (34 lawyers operating out of one Toronto office).

TGF has noteworthy experience successfully litigating infrastructure and engineering disputes. The firm’s mandates have involved LRTs, subways and railway signaling projects, controlled access highways (involving bridge design disputes), combined stormwater sewage tunnels, hospitals, and above-ground and submerged power transmission lines. In those projects TGF has dealt with design, engineering, construction, insurance and surety disputes.

Clients include Canadian banks (some of whom the firm has represented for more than 25 years), accounting firms, regulatory bodies such as the Ontario Securities Commission, public and private companies, individuals involved in significant and often high-profile D&O litigation, and all types of stakeholders in restructuring and insolvency litigation proceedings.

TGF partners have leading roles in the most influential litigation organizations. Leanne Williams is Past-President of the Toronto Chapter of Turnaround Management Association (“TMA”). Deborah E. Palter is a Past-President of The Advocates’ Society, which is the leading organization for advocates across Canada. Robert I. Thornton is immediate Past-President of the Insolvency Institute of Canada. D.J. Miller is on the Executive Committee and Board of the International Insolvency Institute, Past-President of the Toronto Chapter of TMA and previously served on the Executive Board of TMA Global.

More than 55% of the firm’s restructuring partners are women. This is particularly noteworthy in view of the fact that the areas in which TGF practices consistently have the lowest representation of women in national ranking publications. TGF’s percentages refer to full equity partners, whereas many other firms’ partnership statistics include income partners and other categories.

TGF is listed in the Top 100 Restructuring Firms worldwide in the annual ranking compiled by Global Restructuring Review (GRR) and has been included since the creation of the list. It is one of only a handful of Canadian-based firms (as compared to international firms that happen to have a Canadian office) to be included.

Key transactional practices
  • Restructuring and insolvency
Address:
100 Wellington Street West, Suite 3200,
Toronto, M5K 1K7
Tel:+1 416 304 1616 Email:Contact Us Web Address:https://www.tgf.ca/
Rankings published in 2026
Restructuring and insolvency
Tier 1
22 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Blake Cassels & Graydon
15 practice areas
View full profile
Goodmans
14 practice areas
View profile
McCarthy Tétrault
15 practice areas
View profile
Osler Hoskin & Harcourt
15 practice areas
View profile
Stikeman Elliott
16 practice areas
View profile
Thornton Grout Finnigan
2 practice areas
View full profile
Torys
14 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Bennett Jones
15 practice areas
View profile
Cassels Brock & Blackwell
14 practice areas
View profile
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg
12 practice areas
View profile
Fasken
15 practice areas
View profile
McMillan
12 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais
14 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
12 practice areas
View profile
Gowling WLG
5 practice areas
View profile
Miller Thomson
6 practice areas
View profile
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada
13 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Aird & Berlis
6 practice areas
View profile
Chaitons
1 practice area
View profile
Fishman Flanz Meland Paquin
1 practice area
View profile
McInnes Cooper
3 practice areas
View profile
Sangra Moller LLP
6 practice areas
View full profile
Linked Reviews
Financial and corporate

Thornton Grout Finnigan, or TGF, is a boutique firm specializing in restructuring and insolvency. The firm is headquartered in Toronto but frequently works with clients outside of Canada. As a boutique restructuring and insolvency firm, TGF advises clients on all sides of insolvency proceedings including debtors, monitors, creditors, lenders and receivers. It frequently works on Canada’s largest restructuring and insolvency matters.   

 

Highlights 

Thornton Grout Finnigan is advising on two highly complex, precedent-setting insolvency matters in Canada. The firm represents the Government of Yukon in the receivership of Victoria Gold following a catastrophic environmental failure at the Eagle Gold Mine, overseeing a significant remediation effort and structuring a priming charge in favor of the regulator—an unprecedented move in Canadian insolvency law. The matter involves sensitive engagement with affected First Nations communities whose land and waterways were impacted, adding significant regulatory and social dimensions. TGF also acts for Ernst & Young as Monitor in the Carillion CCAA proceedings, managing claims exceeding $5 billion, negotiating asset and share sales, and implementing an innovative claims process that enabled substantial recovery. Both matters involve intricate regulatory, environmental, and cross-border issues, underscoring TGF’s leadership in complex restructuring and litigation. 

 

Key clients 

Ernst & Young, FTI Consulting Canada, Government of Yukon, Oxford Properties Group and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. 

 

Testimonials 

“Excellent strength in depth, first class restructuring counsel and litigation counsel when needed” (Financial restructuring) 

“Top class restructuring advice, Bob Thornton is one of, if not the best restructuring lawyers in Canada, also of note Grant Moffat. TGF has a great team in depth. I have worked with Rebecca Nicholson, Mitch Grossel and Puya Fesharaski all of whom will make sure TGF is a top Canadian restructuring law firm for many years. Also, when it comes to restructuring related litigation, there is nobody better in Canada than John Finnigan.” (Financial restructuring) 

“The team provided a solid plan on how to proceed with the Receivership Application and secure a Receivership Order.  Their experience and ability to stay on track and focus on the main issues were critical to our success.” (Restructuring client) 

“Robert Thornton combines first class legal, knowledge, advice and strategy with excellent business and strategic advice.” (Financial Restructuring client) 

“Robert combines top notch legal knowledge with excellent business acumen and negotiating skills.” (Financial Restructuring client) 

“D.J. is a great listener.  She listens to the issues at hand and is thoughtful in her interpretations of them and in the action plans she recommends.  She is extremely experienced and always remains calm.” (Restructuring client) 

Deal Highlights
3 results3 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
HSBC; Grant Thornton - Restructuring
2021-01-02
Thornton Grout Finnigan
Canada (National)
Restructuring
D.J. Miller
HSBC, Grant Thornton
Creditor
Alvarez & Marsal - Restructuring
2021-01-02
Thornton Grout Finnigan
Canada (National)
Restructuring
D.J. Miller
Alvarez & Marsal
Examiner
Ernst & Young - Insolvency
2020-02-12
Thornton Grout Finnigan
Canada (National)
Insolvency
D.J. Miller
Ernst & Young
Examiner
IFLR1000
Shortlists for deals, firms, individuals and teams of the year available to view online
Sponsored