FARHAD SHEKIB
Partner | 416.901.9984
fashekib@pintoshekib.ca
Having arrived in Canada as a refugee from Afghanistan, Farhad developed resilience and composure in the face of adversity — qualities that now define his approach to litigation. These attributes have enabled him to represent some of Canada’s largest public and private corporations, including banks, insurers and family-owned enterprises, in high-stakes disputes involving millions of dollars.
Farhad’s litigation practice focuses on employment law; estates disputes; real estate litigation; commercial litigation; and insurance disputes.
In his employment law practice, Farhad represents both non-unionized employees and employers in a range of matters, including wrongful dismissal claims and human rights disputes. Farhad is often retained by employers to conduct workplace investigations and to draft employment agreements and workplace policies.
In the area of estate litigation, Farhad acts for beneficiaries, estate trustees and attorneys for property and personal care in complex disputes involving will challenges, guardianship applications and dependent support claims.
Farhad’s real estate and commercial litigation practice includes contract disputes, shareholder and partnership litigation, commercial lease disputes and injunctions.
Through his insurance practice, Farhad brings a unique perspective. Having previously represented some of Canada’s largest insurers in insurance defence and Directors’ and Officers’ liability matters, he now represents insured policyholders. Farhad regularly litigates against insurance companies in disputes involving coverage, professional liability matters and business insurance disputes.
Farhad has been recognized by his peers in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada for his excellence in Commercial Litigation and Labour and Employment Law, a distinction awarded based on peer-reviewed assessments of legal skill and integrity.
Before co-founding Pinto Shekib LLP, Farhad earned his law degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. He completed his legal training at a leading international Bay Street firm and a respected mid-sized litigation boutique in Toronto.
Farhad is also deeply committed to legal education. He frequently delivers seminars across Ontario on civil litigation and trial advocacy.
EXPERTISE
- Employment Law
- Wills, Estates & Trusts Disputes
- Real Estate Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Law
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- Patell v Patell – Counsel to the Applicant in a successful preservation motion before the Estates Court in Toronto, securing assets valued in excess of $1.7 million, pending trial.
- Lavides v Windsor Hill Non-Profit Housing Corp., 2024 HRTO 878 – Trial counsel to the Respondent, Windsor Hill, in a successful defence of a Contravention of Settlement Application. The Applicant’s claim was fully dismissed.
- Lavides v Windsor Hill Non-Profit Housing Corp., 2024 HRTO 97 – Counsel to the Respondent, Windsor Hill, in a successful defence of a breach of the Human Rights Code Application. The Applicant’s claim was dismissed in its entirety.
- Lavides v Windsor Hill Non-Profit Housing Corp., 2024 HRTO 2 – Counsel to the Respondent, Windsor Hill, in a successful motion to strike the Applicant’s allegations as being time barred.
- Ramcharran v State Farm et al., 2023 ONSC 3698 – Trial counsel in this personal injury action, winning $596,479.42 for the Plaintiff after a two week jury trial.
- Nathalie Doiron v BMG Marketing Services Inc., 2021 CanLII 51835 (ON LRB) – Trial counsel to BMG Marketing Services Inc. in a successful defence of a Reprisal Complaint brought under Section 50(1) of the OHSA before the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The Applicant’s claim was dismissed.
- Target Park Inc. v 1164757 Ontario Inc., 2019 ONSC 6301 – Counsel to the Applicant, Target Park, achieving a declaration from the Court that the Respondent’s purported termination of the commercial lease was unlawful and invalid. An injunction (plus costs) was awarded to Target Park, allowing it to re-enter and resume operations from the leased premises.
- Gamble v TD Bank et al., 2019 ONSC 5574 – Counsel for the third parties on a successful summary judgment motion, dismissing the action as against the third parties.
- Rush v De Ruiter et al., 2018 ONSC 1210– Counsel for the Defendant nurse on a summary judgment motion, seeking to enforce a waiver in a medical malpractice action.
- Dosman et al. v The Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students’ Association Inc. et al., 2018 ONSC 2075 – Counsel for the Wilfrid Laurier University GSA on a successful motion to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ claim for libel and slander pursuant to Section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act.
EDUCATION
- Juris Doctor (J.D.), University of Toronto, Faculty of Law
- Honours B.A., Criminology (Summa Cum Laude), University of Ottawa
INSIGHTS, AWARDS & MEDIA
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada for expertise in Commercial Litigation & Labour and Employment Law
- Lessons Learned From My Trial Experiences, Ontario Bar Association
- Speaker (on conducting trials), Litigating an Employment File, Ontario Bar Association
- Co-Chair, The Civil Trial – Views From The Bench, Ontario Bar Association
- So… You Want To Launch Your Own Law Firm?, Keeping Tabs, a publication by the Advocates’ Society
- Co-Chair, The Nuts and Bolts of an Application, Ontario Bar Association