Biography: Insolvency & Restructuring

Jim is a founding partner of TGF and is internationally recognised for his expertise in the fields of insolvency, restructuring and related litigation. Jim has extensive experience in the automotive, insurance, mining, securities firms and hedge fund sectors. He was listed as one of the leading 500 lawyers in Canada in the 2011 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide. Jim is recognised as a leading restructuring and insolvency practitioner in Canada in Chambers Global 2011 and is endorsed by the PLC Cross-border Handbook 2011/12 in the areas of restructuring and insolvency. Jim is listed as 'Most Frequently Recommended' in the areas of insolvency, financial restructuring and litigation in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2011.

Representative work includes: appearing as counsel in proceedings under the CCAA, involving AG Simpson, Alloy Wheels Industrial, Algoma Steel, Anvil Range Mining, Bramalea, the Canadian Red Cross, Central Capital, Elks, Royal Oak Mines, Stelco Inc and United Keno Hill Mines; counsel for the receiver of the Portus Group. As a result of Portus' collapse, over 26,000 investors were owed in excess of $790 million. The receiver recovered over 95 cents on every dollar of their claims; representing the vast majority of the receivers of securities firms in Ontario; counsel to the receiver and bankruptcy trustee of an insolvent pulp and paper mill, in a case involving the divestiture provisions of the BIA; and regularly advising the Ontario Securities Commission on insolvency matters and has represented the Securities and Exchange Commission in cross-border proceedings.

Jim is a member of the insolvency section of the Ontario Bar Association, INSOL International and the Insolvency Institute of Canada.

Jim obtained his BA (hons) from the University of Toronto, and his LLB from Queen's University in 1981. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1983.

Recent publications and presentations include: Purchase Money Security Interests in Commingled Goods, Federated Press; New Developments in Environmental Issues in Canadian Insolvencies; Portus: A Case Study in Innovative Cross-Border Litigation Approaches, Federated Press, November 2007; and The Latest Development in Constructive Trust: Portus – What Really Happened. Mr Grout regularly speaks at legal conferences on a broad range issues.