John James Siple Adair

John's advocacy is tried and tested, having conducted dozens of lengthy and complex arbitrations, trials, and administrative hearings. John has a robust appellate practice, having appeared at the Court of Appeal for Ontario on over 40 appeals and before the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions.

John does not shy from challenge. Some of John’s most notable cases are the product of his creative, boundary-testing approach, and passion for applying the law creatively to achieve sensible outcomes and promote access to justice:

For his excellence in litigation, John has been inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only fellowship of exceptional trial lawyers from the United States and Canada who have demonstrated the very highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality. John is also consistently recognized as a leading litigator by his peers and leading publications, including by Chambers, Lexpert, Benchmark, and Best Lawyers. He has been listed each year since 2022 as one of Canada' 500 leading lawyers. John also frequently acts on a pro bono basis in legally important cases, including disputes over the constitutionality of Ontario's school curriculum and regarding the liability arising from medical clinical trials.

John’s passion for advocacy extends beyond casework. John is regularly invited to speak at conferences and conduct advocacy demonstrations. He has authored numerous articles related to litigation issues, including evidence and expert witnesses, and received the David Stockwood Memorial Prize, awarded biannually by The Advocates’ Journal. John is a former co-chair of the Advocates’ Society Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

John is an engaged alumnus of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he is invested in developing and supporting new lawyers. He has served as an instructor of Trial Advocacy, mentored students through the Alumni-Student Mentorship Program, and is presently an Adjunct Professor of Access to Justice and the Legal Process.