Alexi Wood
Founding Lawyer (she/her)
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Administrative Law
Anti-SLAPP Litigation
Appeals
Charter & Constitutional Law
Civil Litigation
Civil Sexual Assault & Harassment
Commercial Litigation
Crisis Management
Education Law
Health Law
Media & Defamation Law
Mediation
Privacy
Professional Liability & Regulation
Public Law
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CBC v Named Person, 2024 SCC 21
Counsel to Intervener, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, in an appeal concerning a "private trial."
Animal Justice v Ontario, 2024 ONSC 1753
Counsel to Intervener, the Centre for Free Expression, in an appeal which addressed the need for whistleblower protection.
Ahluwalia v Ahluwalia, 2023 ONCA 476
Counsel to Respondent on an appeal which sought to uphold a novel tort addressing family violence.
Hansman v Neufeld, 2023 SCC 14
Counsel to Intervener, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, in an anti-SLAPP appeal which dismissed a defamation action.
Howlett v Northern Trust Company, 2023 ONSC 4531
Successfully defended Plaintiff in a motion which sought to dismiss her claim for the novel tort of stalking.
Hategan v Frederiksen, 2022 ONCA 217
Counsel to Respondent in a successful summary judgment appeal. Damages for defamation were awarded against the Appellant, as well as a permanent injunction which restraint the Appellant from publishing any statement referring to the Respondent.
National Council of Canadian Muslims v. Canada (Attorney General), 2022 FC 1087
Counsel to Applicant in a judicial review which challenged the actions of a justice on the Tax Court of Canada.
Toronto v Ontario, 2021 SCC 34
Counsel to Intervener, the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, in an appeal challenging provincial legislation which rewrote Toronto’s municipal election boundaries.
1704604 Ontario Ltd v Pointes Protection Association, 2020 SCC 22 /Bent v Platnick, 2020 SCC 23
Acted for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in a case addressing Ontario’s legislation prohibiting strategic litigation against public participation.
Shantz v Chu, 2020 ONSC 7226
Successfully defeated a motion for an interim injunction in a defamation case.
Grant v Ryerson Student Union, 2016 ONSC 5519
Successfully acted for Respondent in a case confirming the ability of domestic tribunals to self regulate.
R v Barabash, 2015 SCC 29
Acted for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in a case addressing personal freedom and autonomy of young persons.
Cuthbertson v Rasouli, 2013 SCC 53
Acted for Canadian Critical Care Society in a case addressing the meaning of a “plan of treatment” under the Health Care Consent Act.
Endicott v Office of the Independent Police Review Director, 2012 ONSC 6250 affirmed 2014 ONCA 363
Successfully acted for the applicant in a judicial review establishing the disclosure requirements in a police complain matter.
Kurdina v Gratzer, 2010 ONCA 288
Successfully defended Respondent in an appeal seeking to overturn summary judgment, in a case establishing the need for reports from properly qualified experts.
R v Patrick, 2009 SCC 17
Counsel to Intervener, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, in a case addressing the need for a warrant for police to search garbage on private property.
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Teaching:
Adjunct Professor, teaching Tort Law in Practice (upper-year seminar), University of Toronto Faculty of Law, 2012-present
Selected Presentations:
April 2025: Canadian Bar Association - “’Pathways to Power: Women Rising Above Gender-Based Discrimination”
October 2024: Law Society of Ontario, 12 Minute Civil Litigator program - “The Dangers of AI: Deep Fakes and Online Harassment”
September 2023: Medico Legal Society; co-chair, Annual Pot Pourri of Medico-Legal Cases: Challenges and Appeals of OHIP Decisions: An Update
August 2023: Kelly and Ramya Accessible Media Inc podcast segment- “On Know Your Rights Danielle McLaughlin chats with Lawyer, Alexi Wood about important research her firm has done about defamation lawsuits against sexual assault complainants. {28:41}”
February 2023: Osgoode Professional Development; co-chair, Civil Sexual Assault: Critical and Emerging Issues
October 2022: The Advocates’ Society; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for Litigators (discussing acting as an advocate in EDI matters).
October 2022: LSO; Evidence update for litigators (discussing use of evidence when litigant no longer available or has passed away).
Sept 2022; Canadian Animal Law Conference (discussing implication of “ag gag” legislation and free expression issues).
Oct 2021; Ryerson Centre for Free Expression; Panel member, Publication Bans vs Press Freedom and Open Courts.
August 2021; Ontario Bar Association; Panel member, Family Violence: an Essential Series for Every Family Lawyer (addressed issues of non consensual sharing of intimate images)
May 2021; Canadian Justice; Panel member, Me Too and Defamation
March 2021; Ontario Bar Association; Panel member, Key Advocacy and Adjudicative Skills in a Virtual World
February 2021; Kelly and Company; Speaker, Issues around medical decision making for people with disabilities
February 2021; Osgoode Professional Development; co-chair, Civil Sexual Assault: Critical and Emerging Issues
June 2020; Ontario Bar Association; Panel member, Access to Justice Summit
June 2020; Advocates’ Society; Panel member, Objection, Your Honour!
Alexi Wood, the founding lawyer at St. Lawrence Barristers, represents clients at all levels of courts in Ontario, frequently appearing in the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal, and she has appeared as counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous occasions. Her practice includes a wide range of commercial litigation, administrative and regulatory disputes, and professional regulation, both at trial and on appeals. She also acts for clients on tort matters, including issues related to health law, defamation, harassment and privacy including online harassment and non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
Alexi’s clients rely on her practical advice in a wide range of contract, securities, and fiduciary disputes, as well as administrative and regulatory matters. She frequently assists members of various regulated health professions colleges, as well as other professions including lawyers and teachers. In addition, she provides advice in academic matters, including funding disputes. Clients frequently seek Alexi’s assistance in judicial review of administrative decisions.
Alexi provides strategic advice, utilizing the most effective means to navigate the litigation, regulatory or licensing processes, specific to each client’s needs. She has expertise in drafting clear, concise submissions, as well as advocating before a wide range of adjudicative bodies to advance her clients’ interests.
Alexi is frequently asked to speak on panels and continuing education events on topics including harassment, privacy, and defamation whether spoken, written or online. Alexi also acts a mediator in commercial and tort matters.
Alexi’s passion for social justice and commitment to pro bono work began prior to entering private practice when she was the National Security Project Director for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Alexi is proud to act, on a pro bono basis, for social justice and environmental organizations including the Canadian Centre for Free Expression and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society before various administrative bodies and courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
In September 2016, Alexi was invited to be a faculty member in the Vital Voices Justice Institute in Mumbai, India, a training program for judges, police officers, prosecutors and NGO staff members who work in preventing human trafficking and domestic violence. In 2014, she received the Precedent Setter Award for her work fighting for social justice.
Alexi is a member of the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations, and the Advocates’ Society. Alexi is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law where she teaches in both the JD and LLM programs. She is also a co-chair of the University of Toronto Tribunal, a post she has held since the fall of 2019.
Education:
J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law (2000)
B.A., Florida Atlantic University (1995)
Bar Admissions:
Ontario (2007)
Recognition:
Recognized by Best Lawyers in 2026 for Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Administrative and Public Law, and Health Care Law
2025 Benchmark Litigation Star