David Chernos' practice focuses on corporate and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on
matters involving shareholders’ disputes (including those involving family and other closely held
companies), insolvency, corporate restructuring, income tax, directors’, officers’ and
professional liability, and insurance coverage disputes. David also has broad experience in
estates and trust litigation, having acted for numerous trustees and beneficiaries as well as
Ontario’s Office of The Children’s Lawyer on a variety of large and complex estate and trust
matters. Prior to founding
Chernos Flaherty Svonkin LLP with Pat Flaherty and Stuart Svonkin,
David practised at Torys LLP in Toronto for more than twenty years, most of that time as a
partner. David has appeared as lead counsel before the Ontario trial courts, the Ontario Court
of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Tax Court of Canada.
Recognitions
Lexpert/Thomson Reuters' Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, since 2011 - Most Frequently
Recommended practitioner in corporate commercial litigation; Repeatedly Recommended in
litigation - directors' and officers' liability; insolvency and financial restructuring; and estates
litigation
Lexpert’s Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, since
2012
Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, since 2013 - Leading
lawyer in corporate commercial litigation; Most Frequently Recommended practitioner in
corporate commercial litigation
Legal Media Group's Benchmark Canada, since 2012 - Leading lawyer in commercial and
insolvency litigation
Cases
David has represented
- a variety of clients (from private individuals to large corporations) on tort and breach-of-
contract claims and shareholder disputes, including oppression actions, in a host of
different industries but with particular emphasis on real estate development and
construction
- numerous clients (from private individuals to large corporations) on a variety of
insurance coverage disputes
- both creditors and debtors in a range of insolvency and restructuring proceedings
- both construction companies and those who seek tenders from them in construction
tendering disputes
- numerous trustees and beneficiaries in a wide range of estates matters and other
intra-generational and inter-generational family disputes
- directors and officers and other professionals on issues relating to personal liability
resulting from corporate involvement (particularly in insolvency situations)
- both plaintiffs and defendants in environmental contamination cases
Directorships
The Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History
Memberships
The Advocates’ Society
Bar Admissions
Ontario, 1993
Education
LLB, 1991
Queen's University
BA (Honours), 1988
University of Toronto