Peter A Downard Toronto Lawyer

Peter A. Downard

Partner
It is crucial to address the unique aspects of defamation on the internet, as well as the roles and liabilities of third parties.
Jurisdiction Ontario, 1986
Language(s) English
Office(s) Toronto
Contact
Business +1 416 865 4369
Email pdownard@fasken.com
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Overview

Peter Downard is a senior litigator and leading practitioner in the area of defamation. With extensive experience acting as defamation counsel throughout litigation proceedings, he has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, Ontario Court of Appeal for Ontario,  trials and numerous mediations and advisory matters. Peter also has comprehensive experience in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

Peter is the author of The Law of Libel in Canada, referred to as an authority on libel law in numerous court decisions, and of the volume Defamation in Halsbury’s Laws of Canada.

Peter was one of three appointed members of the Attorney General of Ontario’s Advisory Panel on Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP), whose work resulted in the enactment of the Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act 2015

Peter has been repeatedly recognized as a leading practitioner in defamation litigation in Lexpert, the  Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, Best Lawyers in Canada, and by Benchmark Canada as a ‘Litigation Star’
Peter also has extensive experience as counsel in a wide range of civil litigation, administrative proceedings and public inquiries


Related Solutions

Practices

Achievements

  • Recognized in Defamation and Media Law in Toronto, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2018 to 2025
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as Most Frequently Recommended in Litigation - Defamation & Media, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2010 to 2025
  • Recognized in Ontario as a Litigation Star in Defamation, Benchmark Litigation Canada 2018 to 2024
Best Lawyers Publication name with laurels The Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized in Defamation and Media Law in Toronto Best Lawyers is an attorney ranking service. For more than 30 years, it has identified lawyers best qualified to represent clients in various jurisdictions and specialties. Read more
Lexpert Publication name with laurels Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as Most Frequently Recommended in Litigation - Defamation & Media The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory is the most comprehensive guide of legal talent in Canada Read more
Benchmark Litigation Publication name with laurels Benchmark Litigation Canada Recognized in Ontario as a Litigation Star in Defamation Benchmark Litigation provides extensive coverage of the North American litigation market. Read more

Client Work

  • The Corporation of the City of Brantford obtains injunction against occupiers of city owned land, [Case - The Corporation of the City of Brantford], City of Brantford obtains interim injunctions against land occupiers to close purchase and sale transaction.
  • Jacobs v. Ontario Medical Association, 2016 ONSC 4977, [Case - Ontario Medical Association], Read the decision: Jacobs v. Ontario Medical Association, 2016 ONSC 4977
  • Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris cleared of responsibility for death at Ipperwash Provincial Park, [Case - Mike Harris], The Ipperwash Public Inquiry was called by the Ontario government to investigate the death of activist Dudley George and the conflict between the Ontario Provincial Police and First Nations protestors at the Ipperwash Provincial Park in Ontario in 1995. In his final report, released May 31, 2007,...
  • Grant v. Torstar Corporation, 2007 CanLII 13705 (ON S.C.), [Case - Grant Forest Products], Ontario businessman wins libel trial against the Toronto Star - $1.5 million award one of largest in Ontario history. On February 5, 2007, after more than three weeks of trial, a jury in Northern Ontario found that The Toronto Star had libelled Fasken Martineau clients Peter Grant and his compa...
  • Falun Gong practitioners, animal rights activists, victims' rights groups successful in public interest litigation, [Case - Falun Gong practitioners], Counsel in successful public interest litigation, including: representation of Falun Gong practitioners in successful litigation against the People's Republic of China, successful defence of animal rights activists in defamation litigation commenced by Marineland of Canada, and successful represe...
  • Federation of Law Societies of Canada in investigation of the bombing of Air India flight 182, [Case - Federation of Law Societies of Canada], Counsel to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in the current Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182.
  • McMaster University in pending defamation litigation arising from terrorism-related issues, [Case - McMaster University], Counsel to McMaster University in pending defamation litigation arising from terrorism-related issues.
  • Ottawa Hospital v. Guy Lapierre, [Case - Guy Lapierre],  Lapierre is the majority shareholder in G.A.L. Power, a company which supplies backup generators to major institutions. A recent audit of several construction projects at the Ottawa Hospital has allegedly uncovered a number of irregularities in the tendering of contracts. The hospital has sued s...
Case Representing The Corporation of the City of Brantford The Corporation of the City of Brantford obtains injunction against occupiers of city owned land City of Brantford obtains interim injunctions against land occupiers to close purchase and sale transaction. Read more
Case Represented Ontario Medical Association Jacobs v. Ontario Medical Association, 2016 ONSC 4977 Read the decision: Jacobs v. Ontario Medical Association, 2016 ONSC 4977 Read more
Case Represented Mike Harris Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris cleared of responsibility for death at Ipperwash Provincial Park The Ipperwash Public Inquiry was called by the Ontario government to investigate the death of activist Dudley George and the conflict between the Ontario Provincial Police and First Nations protestors at the Ipperwash Provincial Park in Ontario in 1995. In his final report, released May 31, 2007,... Read more
Case Represented Grant Forest Products Grant v. Torstar Corporation, 2007 CanLII 13705 (ON S.C.) Ontario businessman wins libel trial against the Toronto Star - $1.5 million award one of largest in Ontario history. On February 5, 2007, after more than three weeks of trial, a jury in Northern Ontario found that The Toronto Star had libelled Fasken Martineau clients Peter Grant and his compa... Read more
Case Represented Falun Gong practitioners Falun Gong practitioners, animal rights activists, victims' rights groups successful in public interest litigation Counsel in successful public interest litigation, including: representation of Falun Gong practitioners in successful litigation against the People's Republic of China, successful defence of animal rights activists in defamation litigation commenced by Marineland of Canada, and successful represe... Read more
Case Represented Federation of Law Societies of Canada Federation of Law Societies of Canada in investigation of the bombing of Air India flight 182 Counsel to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in the current Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182. Read more
Case Represented McMaster University McMaster University in pending defamation litigation arising from terrorism-related issues Counsel to McMaster University in pending defamation litigation arising from terrorism-related issues. Read more
Case Represented Guy Lapierre Ottawa Hospital v. Guy Lapierre  Lapierre is the majority shareholder in G.A.L. Power, a company which supplies backup generators to major institutions. A recent audit of several construction projects at the Ottawa Hospital has allegedly uncovered a number of irregularities in the tendering of contracts. The hospital has sued s... Read more

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB University of Toronto
  • BA University of Toronto

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association

Knowledge

  • Anti-SLAPP Legislation: The Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act, 2013, 6/13/2013
  • The Secret Corporate Source: Protected or Not?, 5/8/2013
  • Hate Speech in the Supreme Court: Saskatchewan v. Whatcott, 3/13/2013
Bulletin Anti-SLAPP Legislation: The Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act, 2013 The Ontario government has addressed the issue of 'SLAPP' lawsuits by introducing the Protection of Public Participation Act, 2013 (the "PPPA") in the Ontario legislature. The PPPA adopts recommendations made in a 2010 report by the Attorney General of Ontario's Anti-SLAPP Advisory Panel.[1]  Th... Read more
Bulletin The Secret Corporate Source: Protected or Not? The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed the identity of a media source within a corporation to remain secret in a related civil action.  The Court has made clear, however, that in future cases disclosure of secret corporate sources may be required. "This was a difficult case," Justice Juriansz s... Read more
Bulletin Hate Speech in the Supreme Court: Saskatchewan v. Whatcott The Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously confirmed that precisely focused legislative prohibitions of hate speech in human rights legislation are consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In Saskatchewan (Human Rights Commission) v. Whatcott,[1] the Supreme Court held that ... Read more

Events

  • Fasken Automotive Summit, 6/8/2018
  • The Balance Shifts: What will the Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act Mean for Free Speech and Reputation Management?, 10/3/2013
  • Ottawa Fasken Martineau Symposium (3rd Edition), 5/8/2013
In-Person Seminar Fasken Automotive Summit Come hear our expert speakers address key legal issues at the forefront of the automotive industry. You will get practical insights on issues relating to automonous vehicles; emissions issues in the US and Canada; Ontario’s political landscape; reputation management in the age of social media; and the role of digital advocacy in government advocacy, all geared to the automotive sector. location location North York, ON About the event
The Balance Shifts: What will the Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act Mean for Free Speech and Reputation Management? Litigation Group Seminar (Fasken Martineau Institute) location location Toronto, ON About the event
Ottawa Fasken Martineau Symposium (3rd Edition) Fasken Martineau Institute location location Ottawa, ON About the event

News

  • Fasken Wins Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year in the 2019 Best Lawyers in Canada Guide, 8/21/2018
  • Fasken’s litigators listed in Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 Guide, 5/31/2018
  • The 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory recognizes 200 Fasken lawyers, 4/12/2018
News - 8 News Release Fasken Wins Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year in the 2019 Best Lawyers in Canada Guide In the 13th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada guide, Fasken is ranked as “Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year” for 2019 Read more
News - 3 News Release | Rankings & Recognitions Fasken’s litigators listed in Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 Guide Benchmark Litigation highlights 65 Fasken lawyers and four offices Read more
News - 7 News Release | Rankings & Recognitions The 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory recognizes 200 Fasken lawyers The Firm has been recognized in 34 practice areas Read more

Publications

  • The Balance Shifts: The Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act, Free Speech and Reputation Protection, 10/3/2013
  • The Defence of Responsible Communication, 12/1/2010
  • Libel, 2nd Edition, 9/30/2010
Article The Balance Shifts: The Ontario Protection of Public Participation Act, Free Speech and Reputation Protection Download
Article The Defence of Responsible Communication Download
Book Libel, 2nd Edition

Speaking Engagements

  • Defamation Law in the Internet Age: Essentials for In-House Counsel, 11/14/2012
  • Fundamentals Part 1: The Essential Elements of Libel, 9/27/2011
  • Defamation Law in the Internet Age: Essentials for In-House Counsel, 9/27/2011
Defamation Law in the Internet Age: Essentials for In-House Counsel Toronto Fasken Martineau Mini-Symposium, Fasken Martineau Institute location location Toronto
Fundamentals Part 1: The Essential Elements of Libel Defamation Law in the Internet Age: Essentials for In-House Counsel, Osgoode Professional Development location location Toronto
Defamation Law in the Internet Age: Essentials for In-House Counsel Osgoode Professional Development location location Toronto

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