Overview
Melanie Ouanounou is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group at Goodmans. Melanie has a diversified litigation practice, specializing in general commercial litigation, class action defence litigation, electricity law and estate litigation.
Melanie’s commercial and class action defence litigation practices encompass a wide variety of business disputes with a focus on securities litigation, contract disputes, product liability and plans of arrangement. Melanie acts for clients involved in disputes across many different sectors, including clients in the health care, mining, oil and gas, energy, real estate, technology and entertainment industries.
Melanie has trial and appellate experience and has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also been involved in proceedings before the Ontario Securities Commission and has appeared before the courts of several other provinces.
Melanie is recognized by Benchmark Litigation Canada as a “Litigation Star”, by The Legal 500 Canada as a “Next Generation Partner", and by Best Lawyers in Canada for class action litigation. She is also included in the 2023 Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under List – Canada.
Featured Work
Melanie's representative work includes acting for:
- certain Stronach family members in various trust/commercial litigation matters
- the Independent Electricity System Operator in National Steel Car v. HMQ et al in successfully responding to an application which sought to have the global adjustment charge declared unconstitutional
- the Independent Electricity System Operator in Grasshopper Solar Corporation v. IESO in successfully responding to an application and appeal (before the Court of Appeal for Ontario) regarding the IESO’s ability to terminate certain renewable energy contracts
- a lender before the Court of Appeal for Ontario in JGB Collateral v. Rochon in its successful appeal of a lower court decision regarding the enforceability of a mortgage in the context of allegations of undue influence
- a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer and pharmaceutical distributor in various class proceedings relating to the sale and marketing of opioids in Canada
- the Ontario Long-Term Care Association in the Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Home System
- CI Mutual Funds Inc. at the Supreme Court of Canada in Fischer v. IG Investment Management Ltd., the most recent authority from the Supreme Court regarding the preferable procedure analysis for certification of class proceedings
- InterOil Corporation in Mulacek v. InterOil, a Yukon Court of Appeal decision concerning the use of fairness opinions in plans of arrangements
- Renfrew Power Generation Inc. in Plaunt v. Renfrew Power Generation Inc. in its successful motion to decertify a class proceeding on the basis that the class members’ claims did not raise any common issues
- the Canadian court-appointed monitor in a cross-border insolvency trial in Nortel Networks
- New Gold Inc. in Barrick Gold Corp. v. Goldcorp Inc. in its successful defence of a claim brought by Barrick Gold Corporation in respect of the sale of an interest in the El Morro mining project in Chile
- the Canadian underwriters in Coulson v. Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc. in their successful dismissal of a class proceeding alleging prospectus misrepresentation
- various parties in applications for rectification of estate freezes
Awards & Recognition
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The Legal 500 Canada Next Generation Partner, Dispute Resolution: Ontario 2025
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized, Class Action Litigation 2025
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The Legal 500 Canada Next Generation Partner, Dispute Resolution: Ontario 2024
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Benchmark Canada Litigation Star 2024
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized, Class Action Litigation 2024
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Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under List - Canada 40 & Under List - Canada 2023
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Credentials
- University of Toronto, J.D., 2007
- McGill University, B.A., 2004, Honours, First Class, Political Science
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- The Advocates’
Society
Call to Bar
- 2008 Ontario
Insights
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Class Actions
Hurdles to Certifying a Cyber-Attack Class Action
A recent decision from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice highlights some of the difficulties plaintiffs might face when seeking to certify a class action relating to the disclosure of…
News & Events
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Banking and Financial Services
Goodmans Once Again Receives Top-Tier Recognition from The Legal 500 Canada
We are pleased to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top-tier recognition from The Legal 500 Canada in their 2025 Guide released today.Recognition from The Legal 500 is based on independent… -
100+ Goodmans lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada: 2025 Edition
We are delighted to share Goodmans has once again been recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada with 105 lawyers featured across 43 practice areas.Congratulations to Andrew Brodkin… -
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Goodmans Recognized in the 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation Canada
We are proud to announce that we have once again been recognized in the 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation Canada.16 Goodmans lawyers have been recognized as being the country’s most…