Our Team

The Honourable Frank Iacobucci, CC, QC, LLD, LSM

Senior Counsel

	Direct: 416.865.8217 Office: Toronto Fax: 416.865.7380 Email: fiacobucci@torys.com

	The Honourable Frank Iacobucci is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Practice

Frank Iacobucci joined Torys as Counsel in September 2004 after retiring as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. As Counsel, Frank advises government and business on important legal and policy matters. His work includes guidance, advice and support to clients of Torys and members of the firm.

Recognitions

Lexpert/Thomson Reuters' Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2011-2012—Consistently recommended practitioner in international commercial arbitration and aboriginal law; repeatedly recommended practitioner in corporate commercial law and litigation: public law

Lexpert/American Lawyer Media’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2013—Leading lawyer in arbitration (international)

Lexpert's 2012 Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in international commercial arbitration

Best Lawyers in Canada, 2008-2013—Leading lawyer in international arbitration

Lexpert/Thomson Canada’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2010—Consistently recommended practitioner in international commercial arbitration; repeatedly recommended practitioner in aboriginal law and public law litigation

Lexpert/Thomson Canada’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2009—Consistently recommended practitioner in international commercial arbitration

Frank has received numerous awards, honours and other recognitions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy.

Professional Involvement

Frank has had a distinguished career in private practice, academia, government and the judiciary. He began his career in 1964 as a lawyer at Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood in New York, where he practised corporate and securities law. In 1967, he joined the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, and was a professor of law there until 1985. He also served as Vice-President, Internal Affairs at the University of Toronto from 1975 to 1979 and Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1979 to 1983. From 1983 to 1985, he was Vice-President and Provost of the University. In 1985, Frank was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General for Canada; in 1988, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada; and in 1991, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

During his career, Frank was also a Commissioner of the Ontario Securities Commission from 1982 to 1985, and Counsel to the Estey Commission in 1974.

In June 2005, Frank was appointed by the Government of Canada as its representative to lead discussions toward a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian residential schools. In November 2006, Frank was appointed by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General as a member of the Board of Governors of the Law Commission of Ontario. He is past Chairman of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. In December 2006, he was appointed Commissioner to lead an inquiry into the conduct of Canadian officials regarding certain individuals. He also was appointed by the Government of Ontario to lead discussions that resulted in a Framework Agreement between Grassy Narrows First Nation and the Ministry of Natural Resources. In 2011, he was appointed by the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario as an Independent Reviewer to provide a report on the process for including individuals living in First Nations reserve communities on the province's jury roles.

Directorships

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, 2006–2012
Advisory Board, General Motors of Canada, 2006–present
Tim Hortons, 2006–present (Lead Director)
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, 2005–present (Conduct Review Advisor)
Member, Ontario Law Commission, 2006–2012
Member, Board of Directors, COSTI Immigration Services, 2009–present
Torstar, Board of Directors, 2004–2009
Trudeau Foundation Mentor, 2006–2007
International Center for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, 1993–2004 (Director)
Cambridge Canadian Trust, 1984–1991 (Director)
Multicultural History Society of Ontario, 1976–1988 (Director)
National Congress of Italian Canadians (Vice President, 1980–1983; Director, Toronto District, 1979–1983)
Advisory Board, Institute of Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa, 1998–2004
Advisory Committee, Faculty of Law, McGill University, 1996–2004
Advisory Council, International Center for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, 1991–1993
Canadian Judicial Centre/National Judicial Institute, 1989–2004 (Governor)
Board of Governors, Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, 1991–1998 and 1981–1985 (Vice President and member)
Canadian Judicial Council and Education Committee, 1988–1991 (member); 1990–1991, (Executive Committee)

Selected Media Highlights

February 26, 2013: Treatment of First Nations peoples in the justice system found wanting, says the Hon. Frank Iacobucci about his provincial report

February 26, 2013: The Hon. Frank Iacobucci releases report on First Nations people and the Ontario justice system

January 23, 2013: The Hon. Frank Iacobucci speaks at U of T Faculty of Law’s conference, “Assessing the Indian Residential Schools Litigation & Settlement Processes”

April 2, 2012: Civility in the courtroom is still important, says Frank Iacobucci in Lexpert

September 7, 2010: Frank Iacobucci is inducted into Toronto's Italian Walk of Fame

August 4, 2010: I think of myself as a Canadian first and foremost, says Frank Iacobucci in Partners

July 14, 2010: Frank Iacobucci named to panel studying Afghan detainee documents

October 20, 2009: The Hon. Frank Iacobucci is awarded the 2009 Justice Medal by the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice

June 10, 2009: Frank Iacobucci to receive honorary degree from the University of Western Ontario

April 3, 2009: Sikh Centennial Foundation honours Frank Iacobucci's lifelong commitment to social justice and equality

October 22, 2008: Government of Canada Releases Report of the Iacobucci Internal Inquiry

September 8, 2007: The Honourable Frank Iacobucci is appointed to lead Grassy Narrows First Nation discussions

November 30, 2006: Frank Iacobucci is appointed to the Board of Governors of the Law Commission of Ontario

Practice Areas and Industry Groups

Aboriginal Government and Public Policy

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1970

Education

Dip Int’l L, 1966
Cambridge University

LLM, 1964
Cambridge University

LLB, 1962
University of British Columbia

BComm, 1961
University of British Columbia

Frank has been awarded honorary degrees from University of Western Ontario (2009), McMaster University (2008), University of Trinity College at the University of Toronto (2005), York University (2005), Queen’s University (2005), University of Waterloo (2003), Università della Calabria (Cosenza, Italy) (2003), McGill University (2003), Law Society of Upper Canada (2000), University of Victoria (1996), University of Ottawa (1995), University of British Columbia (1989) and University of Toronto (1989). He is also an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of St. John’s College, Cambridge. On October 2, 2009, Frank was awarded the Justice Medal for lifetime achievement from the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. He was also appointed a Companion in the Order of Canada in July 2007. In 2010 he was inducted into the Italian Walk of Fame and in 2012 awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award.