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Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP | Barristers
Hilary Book

Hilary Book

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Hilary Book

Benchmark Top 100 Women in Litigation BadgeBM - Litigation Star Badge 2025

2025 Lexpert Ranked Lawyer

Hilary’s judgment, creativity and persistence have earned her a reputation as a go-to commercial litigator. Hilary is a skilled trial and appellate lawyer. Her practice includes contractual disputes, partnership and shareholder disputes, commercial real estate litigation, professional negligence (plaintiff-side) and acting for creditors in insolvency matters. She is experienced in cases involving fraud and conspiracy, contempt of court and cross-border issues, and has represented clients as lead counsel at all levels of court in Ontario on motions, trials and appeals.

Prior to joining AGM, Hilary served as a partner at two leading Bay Street firms and launched her own commercial litigation firm. Many of Hilary’s clients are referred to her by other lawyers, who trust her to handle their clients' complex business and financial disputes with sound judgment and integrity. She continues to welcome conflict referrals at AGM.

Hilary currently serves as President of The Advocates' Society, the leading national association of litigation counsel in Canada, with over 6,000 members across the country. She is a Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only society of trial lawyers whose members are selected based on excellence in litigation and superior ethical reputation. She is listed as "Most Frequently Recommended" for Corporate Commercial Litigation in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada and was named "Litigation Star" and one of the "Top 100 Women in Litigation" by Benchmark Canada.

Outside of law, Hilary enjoys gardening, cycling, reading, playing piano and spending time with her small-in-stature, big-in-personality Shih Tzu, Leora.

Practice Areas

  • Corporate and Commercial Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • Shareholder & Partnership Disputes
  • Regulatory and Administrative Law

Other Practice Areas

Show More Practice Areas
  • Contract Disputes
  • Defamation
  • Fraud, Misrepresentations, Deceit
  • Insolvency Law
  • Municipal Law
  • Partnership Litigation
  • Products Liability
  • Professional Negligence Claims (lawyers, investment advisors, auditors, insurance brokers)
  • Professional Negligence Law
  • Professional Negligence Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Shareholder Litigation

Experience

  • Partner, Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP, 2025-present
  • Co-founding Partner, Book Erskine LLP, 2024-2025
  • Founding Partner, Book Law, 2018-2023
  • Partner, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP, 2016-2018
  • Partner, WeirFoulds LLP, 2014-2016
  • Called to the Bar, Ontario, 2006

Education

  • J.D., University of Toronto (2005)
  • B.A. (Honours), Political Science, The University of British Columbia (2002)

Memberships & Associations

Selected Cases

Spass Inc. et al. v. Ko et al.

Lead counsel to a shareholder and director of an artificial intelligence company in successfully opposing an attempt to force them out of the business by way of summary application. Reported at: 2025 ONSC 1451 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice)

James Bay Resources Limited v. Mak Mera Limited et al., 2023 ONSC 6844

Lead counsel on trial and appeal in an important case concerning damages for corporate defamation. Reported at: 2023 ONSC 6844 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice)

7868073 Canada Ltd. v. 1847978 Ontario Inc., 2024 ONCA 371

Lead counsel to several appellants in an appeal concerning breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of corporate opportunities. Reported at: 2024 ONCA 371 (CanLII)(Ontario Court of Appeal)

Leader Automotive Inc. v. Warwick, 2022 ONSC 5438, 163 O.R. (3d) 379; aff’d 2023 ONCA 726, 168 O.R. (3d) 702, 47 B.L.R. (6th) 33

Lead counsel at first instance and on appeal to a shareholder successfully resisting a forced buyout. Reported at: 2022 ONSC 5438, 163 O.R. (3d) 379 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice); aff'd 2023 ONCA 726, 168 O.R. (3d) 702, 47 B.L.R. (6th) 33 (CanLII)(Ontario Court of Appeal)

Cohen v. Estate of Cohen, 2023 ONSC 69, 84 R.F.L. (8th) 286

Lead counsel to a non-party successfully opposing production requests in family/estates litigation. Reported at: 2023 ONSC 69, 84 R.F.L. (8th) 286 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice)

Kang v. Dhillon, 2022 ONSC 1305

Lead counsel to the successful party in an application for partition and sale of property. Reported at: 2022 ONSC 1305 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice)

McFlow Capital Corp. v. James et al., 2020 ONSC 374: aff'd 2021 ONCA 753

Lead trial and appellate counsel to the plaintiff in a successful claim establishing serious oppression and fraudulent activity by the defendants. Reported at: 2020 ONSC 374 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice); aff'd 2021 ONCA 753 (CanLII)(Ontario Court of Appeal)

College of Optometrists of Ontario et al. v. Essilor Group Canada Inc.

Co-counsel to successful appellant in regulatory case involving the extraterritorial application of provincial statutes. Reported at: 2019 ONCA 265, 145 O.R. (3d) 561 (CanLII)(Ontario Court of Appeal)

Thorne et al. v. Hudson et al.

Lead counsel at first instance and on appeal to a manufacturer concerning choice of law issues. Reported at: 2016 ONSC 5507, 134 O.R. (3d) 301 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice); aff'd 2017 ONCA 208, 136 O.R. (3d) 797 (CanLII)(Ontario Court of Appeal)

PDM Entertainment Inc. v. Three Pines Creations Inc.

Co-counsel on an appeal involving the interpretation of an option agreement and relief from forfeiture. Reported at: 2015 ONCA 488, 388 DLR (4th) 478, 46 BLR (5th) 1 (CA) (CanLII)(Ontario Court of Appeal)

Remarkable Energy Inc. v. Crosscurrent Energy Corp.

Lead counsel to the successful applicant in an application for relief from forfeiture under the Personal Property Security Act. Reported at: 2015 ONSC 3663, 4 P.P.S.A.C. (4th) 36 (CanLII)(Ontario Superior Court of Justice)

Korea Data Systems Co. v. Amazing Technologies Inc. et al.

Lead counsel (2011-2015) to a key target defendant, who succeeded at trial, in a complex, multi-party fraud and conspiracy claim. Trial decision unreported.

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