Executive Summary
Stephen Thiele is the firm’s Director of Legal Research. He primarily closely works with the Dispute Resolution lawyers, providing advice, value-added analysis and opinions on a wide-range of litigation matters.
Stephen also develops strategies and legal arguments for use on motions, at trials and on appeals. He is frequently required to prepare the written arguments used by the firm’s Dispute Resolution lawyers.
Stephen’s work also branches out beyond supporting Gardiner Roberts legal teams, being engaged by a number of private practicing lawyers and corporate counsel for institutional clients on an outsource basis to review and analyze legal issues affecting the clients of those lawyers or their institutions, adding to the breadth of his experience.
Stephen is an author and co-author of many legal articles that cover and discuss topics related to legal research as well as others related to current high profile legal issues, including those related to the law of defamation, political law and sports law.
He is the co-author of A Practical Guide to the Law of Defamation (LexisNexis: 2024) and the author of Heroes of the Game: A History of the Grey Cup (Moulin Publishing: 1997).
In April 2025, Stephen was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada and the Government of Ontario in recognition of his making a profound and lasting contribution to Ontario and to Canada and his exceptional contributions and dedication to the betterment of our province and country. Stephen was the recipient of the Toronto Lawyers Association’s 2017 Honsberger Award in recognition of his accomplishments and ongoing contributions to the legal community and the community at large. Stephen is currently a Trustee for the Law Foundation of Ontario. The Law Foundation of Ontario is the sole foundation in Ontario with the mandate of improving access to justice.
Representative Work
- Preparing written arguments for Ontario Superior Court of Justice and Court of Appeal for Ontario on multiple legal issues and topics, including professional liability and defamation matters
- Co-counsel in successful defence of defamation against now former Mayor of the City of Toronto
- Co-counsel in contested election case that was eventually determined by the Supreme Court of Canada)
Expertise
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Election Law
Articles and Presentations
Articles
- ‘Smart gun’ technology: Class action against Smith and Wesson gets certified, Law360 Canada - 7/11/2025
- ‘Smart gun’ technology: Class action against Smith & Wesson gets certified, Law360 Canada - 7/11/2025
- ‘Smart gun’ technology: Class action against Smith and Wesson gets certified, Law360 Canada - 7/7/2025
- There is no right to party: Ontario court, Law360 Canada - 6/12/2024
- Use of fake cases by U.K. lawyer qualifies as professional misconduct, Law360 Canada - 5/23/2025
- Ontario Place: Court is not forum for resolving political grievances, Law360 Canada - 5/2/2025
- Vexatious litigants: Protecting the justice system, Law360 Canada - 3/21/2025
- Lawyer’s victim of fake U.S. cases generated by AI- assisted research, Law360 Canada - 2/28/2025
- Torts committed in sports: Potential liability, Law360 Canada - 2/14/2025
- Defamation: Action arising out of relationship breakdown to proceed, but no costs ordered, Law360 Canada - 1/16/2025
- Defamation action for media article based on a court decision dismissed, Law360 Canada - 12/13/2024
- Lessons in the law of contracts: The meeting of the minds, Law360 Canada - 11/22/2024
- Rebuilding Ontario Place allowed to proceed, Law360 Canada - 8/28/2024
- A Practical Guide to the Law of Defamation, LexisNexis - 7/12/2024
- Defamation action dismissed on summary judgment motion, Law360 Canada - 7/22/2024
- Trespass trumps freedom of speech, Law360 Canada - 7/19/2024
- Women in workplace should not be deterred by Harvey Weinstein’s overturned conviction, Law360 Canada - 5/31/2024
- Personal Costs Awards against Lawyers: Advocating for Extreme Caution and Mala Fides, The Advocates’ Quarterly [Vol. 54, Issue 1] - 5/7/2024
- Disputes between condominium owners can lead to multiple causes of action, Law360 Canada - 8/8/2023
- Solicitor-Client Privilege: Claim for breach denied and argument to preserve upheld - 12/9/2019
- It's Game Day!: The Summary Dismissal of a Misfeasance Claim - 10/16/2019
- Star Chamber v. Equity: Politicians Beware - 8/22/2019
- Reduction of Right-of-Way Denied - 5/1/2019
- Premier Ford Vindicated - 4/17/2019
- Dismissal of abusive proceeding upheld; Home buyer who got more land than he bargained for not entitled to damages for lost secondary transactions - 4/2/2019
- Time period expired: Claim for contribution and indemnity dismissed - 1/30/2019
- Is Partial Summary Judgment Dead - 12/7/2018
- The End of the Charter? - 11/19/2018
- The Unforgiving Forgivable Loan - 9/21/2018
- Lawyers Owe Duty to Their Own Clients, Not the Opposite Side - 6/15/2018
- In the Cold Light of an Unfavourable Result, Blaming Your Lawyer Will Not Brighten Your Prospects - 3/29/2018
- An Online Date to Forget - 10/31/2017
- Failure to Respond to Foreign Litigation Can Be Risky - 10/19/2017
- Provisions of whole contract make seller responsible for severance costs - 8/4/2017
- Plaintiff’s “Kicks at the Can” are limited - 5/23/2017
- Bank not responsible for fraudulent instructions delivered via customer’s email account - 5/12/2017
- Mortgage proceeds paid to fraudster’s lawyer, in trust, covered under title insurance policy - 2/23/2017
- Court Holds Canada A Free Trade Nation Within Its Own Borders: Provincial Tariff Ruled Unconstitutional - 8/18/2016
- Purchase of Title Insurance a Buyer’s Issue: Sellers’ Claim Against Lawyer for Failing to Advise of Insurance Purchase Dismissed - 7/14/2016
- GR Lawyers Obtain Dismissal of Municipal Conflict of Interest Case Against Ford Brothers - 4/21/2016
- Nervous shock claim dismissed: Divisional Court agrees that juror in criminal trial fails to meet test - 2/4/2016
- Court Refuses to Give Buyer 13 Month Extension to Exercise Assignment Option: Time Period Held Unreasonable and Right Surrendered - 12/24/2015
- Unpermitted Removal of Support Walls Covered by Title Insurance Policy: Title Insurer Obligated to Pay Future Repair Costs to Remedy Dangerous Condition - 12/7/2015
- $1.4 Million in Damages Awarded Under "Spills Bill" Action: Court States That "Polluter Pays" Principle Codified - 12/4/2015
- Insider Trading: What Does it Mean for In-house Counsel? - 11/12/2015
- Conflict of Interest in the Era of Multi-national Law Firms - 11/12/2015
- The Throwback Heard Around the (Baseball) World A Legal Perspective - 10/21/2015
- Court Refuses to Enjoin Use of Controversial Ride Service Uber Drives On in Toronto - 8/21/2015
- Family Law Act Remedy Trumps Professional Liability Claim - 8/18/2015
- Need for Administrative Tribunal to Apply Gladue Principles Rejected - 8/7/2015
- Major reforms proposed to Condominium Law - 6/12/2015
- Municipal Election Victories - 5/28/2015
- Controversial Practice of Carding Hits Court - 5/13/2015
- Collection of Unpaid Legal Fees - 5/13/2015
- Record Retention eDiscovery Spoliation - 4/1/2015
- Amended Rules of Professional Conduct - 10/28/2014
- Canada's proposed Fair Elections Act bill: More can be done to restore integrity in election process - 2/10/2014
- Keeping Current - Anti-SLAPP Legislation Proposed - 6/10/2013
- The Employer - Taking With You Only What You Can Take - 6/7/2013
- Not a Technicality: Magder v. Ford - 1/30/2013
My Blog
Board Memberships
- Member of The Canadian Abridgement Editorial Advisory Board (Canadian Association of Law Libraries)
Recognition
- 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal
- 2017 Honsberger Award from the Toronto Lawyers Association
Professional Involvement
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Legal Research Network
Community Involvement
- Member, Rotary Club of Toronto West
- Chair, Owners Re-zoning committee, Kamaole Sands
- Past- Elected Representative, Ward 6, Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (Toronto District School Board)
- Past-President, The Toronto Party for a Better City
- Past-Director, Etobicoke Centre Federal Liberal Association
- Coach, Royal York Baseball League
- Coach and co‑convenor, Humber Valley Hockey Association
Beyond the Office
Outside the office, Stephen enjoys playing ice hockey with some long-time friends from high school and golfing with his family. Stephen also enjoys collecting sports memorabilia and learning about Canadian history and ancient Roman coins.