Graeme A. Hamilton

Partner

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6746

Graeme is the National Co-Chair of BLG's Investigations and White Collar Defence Group. He is a very experienced advocate who represents clients in complex, high-stakes litigation and investigations with uncompromising commitment to their cause.

Graeme is recognized as a leading White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations practitioner by Chambers Canada. He defends public and private companies, corporate directors, senior executives, regulated professionals and others in criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions, including under the Criminal Code, the Competition Act, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, the Income Tax Act, the Ontario Securities Act, and occupational health and safety legislation. He has acted as counsel in some of the most significant white collar investigations and prosecutions in recent Canadian history, including most recently in landmark bribery and tax evasion matters.

As part of his white collar defence practice, Graeme is frequently engaged to conduct corporate internal investigations in response to allegations of corporate or employee misfeasance. In addition, he provides advice regarding compliance with anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, sanctions and other penal legislation.

Graeme’s practice also encompasses complex civil litigation and public law. He represents companies, public sector organizations and individuals in a broad range of disputes, including banking disputes, securities disputes, general commercial disputes, fraud and asset recovery litigation, constitutional litigation, administrative proceedings and judicial reviews.

Graeme teaches Trial Advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and previously taught Evidence at Osgoode Hall Law School as an adjunct professor. He has testified as an expert witness on criminal and constitutional law issues before the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on multiple occasions.

Experience

  • White Collar Criminal and Regulatory Matters
    • Counsel to an individual in a high profile investigation for alleged tax evasion arising out of the Panama Papers.
    • R. v. Barra and Govindia – trial and appellate counsel to an individual prosecuted under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.
    • Counsel to a multinational company in an investigation by the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario into alleged violations of the Lobbyists Registration Act.
    • Acted in several Competition Bureau investigations regarding alleged price-fixing and misleading advertising.
    • Counsel to a large public company in an investigation for alleged contraventions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
    • Represented an investment dealer in a regulatory prosecution under the Pension Benefits Act.
    • In the Matter of Home Capital Group Inc. et al. - acted for the former CFO of Home Capital Group in Ontario Securities Commission enforcement proceedings and related class action proceedings.
  • Civil Litigation and Public Law
    • Counsel to a Schedule I bank in a multi-million dollar bills of exchange dispute arising out of a fraud by a customer’s employee.
    • Counsel to a global automaker with respect to a multi-million dollar fraud claim.
    • Counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association as intervener in a section 7 challenge to animal welfare legislation.

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Advocates' Society
  • Member, Criminal Lawyers' Association
  • Member, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section
  • Member, International Bar Association
  • Teaching Advisor, Trial Advocacy, University of Toronto Faculty of Law, 2018-2019

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2020) of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations - Nationwide).
  • Recognized in the 2022 and 2021 editions of Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a Litigation Star.
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Business Crime Defence)
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal: Global (Business Crime Defence)
  • Recognized in the 2020 edition (and since 2018) of the Benchmark Canada 40 and Under Hotlist.
  • Recognized in the 2020 edition (and since 2018) of Benchmark Canada - The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a Future Star.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2009
  • LLM, Harvard Law School, 2010
  • JD, University of Toronto, 2008
  • MA in Economics, University of Toronto, 2008
  • BSc in Mathematics and Engineering, Queen's University, 2003