Ira Nishisato

Associé

Toronto
INishisato@blg.com
416.367.6349

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Ira is a leading commercial litigator and international disputes lawyer focused on complex commercial litigation, commercial fraud, investigations, cybersecurity and information technology litigation, intellectual property litigation, and international disputes.

He has been described by Who’s Who Legal as “one of Canada's leading legal minds” and a “first-rate practitioner in complex commercial fraud cases” who “draws widespread acclaim” and is “well-known for his expert handling of complex commercial disputes”.

Ira leads complex international fraud litigation and investigations and asset recovery proceedings, and is a widely-recognized expert in in extraordinary remedies, including Anton Piller (civil search), Mareva (asset freezing) and Norwich Pharmacal (equitable discovery) orders. He has appeared in approximately 100 injunction proceedings before Canadian courts and has fashioned creative, leading-edge remedies to assist clients.

Ira advises clients on cybersecurity, data breaches, information security intrusions and exfiltration, and serves as “breach coach” in cybersecurity incident response. He has served as lead counsel in many important information technology and intellectual property cases in Canada.

Ira has also brought numerous court applications for the enforcement of international arbitral awards and foreign judgments, for letters of request/letters rogatory, and to stay proceedings on jurisdictional grounds. He has also acted in applications to set aside and seek leave to appeal international arbitral awards.

Testimonials

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Experience

  • Represented shareholders of Devas Multimedia Private Limited in proceedings to recognize and enforce in Canada investment treaty arbitration awards in excess of USD$110 million against the Republic of India and various state entities.
  • Represented Tower-EBC G.P./S.E.N.C. in proceedings to recognize and enforce in Canada an arbitration award of nearly $100 million and in proceedings to set aside and appeal the award before the Superior Court of Justice and Court of Appeal for Ontario.
  • Represented Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham) and October’s Very Own (OVO) in various litigation matters.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Director, The Advocates' Society
  • Vice-President and Director, Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (The Cambridge Lectures)
  • Council Member, Legal Practice Division, International Bar Association (IBA) (2023-2026)
  • Council Liaison Officer, Dispute Resolution Section (responsible for Arbitration, Litigation, Negligence and Damages, Class Actions and Mediation Committees), International Bar Association (IBA)
  • Council Member, Association Council, Upper Canada College
  • Past Chair, Litigation Committee, International Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2025 (and since 2013) edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Corporate and Commercial Litigation)
  • Recognized in the 2025 (and since 2015) edition of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Litigation Star: Commercial"
  • Recognized in the 2024 (and previous) edition of Who's Who Legal (Asset Recovery)
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and previous) edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Commercial Litigation, Asset Recovery, Business Crime Defence, Investigations)
  • Recognized in the 2021 and 2017 editions of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Litigation - Corporate Commercial)
  • Recognized in the 2019 edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Thought Leaders – Litigation)

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 1995
  • Diploma in International Law, Université de Cambridge, 1996
  • LLB, Université de Toronto, 1993
  • BA (High Dist., Political Science and French), Université de Toronto, 1990