Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP was founded in 1987. The firm's practice is limited to civil litigation with an emphasis on complex commercial disputes. The firm's strengths are high quality advocacy, intellectual rigour, flexibility in procedural matters and responsiveness to clients' needs.

We have represented clients in corporate commercial litigation including shareholders' disputes, hostile take-over bids and derivative actions, securities matters, class and representative proceedings, pension litigation, actions for professional negligence, and administrative proceedings.

Our clients include many of the largest and most successful private and public companies, many of whom are referred to us by leading Canadian and international law firms. The firm has also acted for the successful plaintiffs in two of Canada's most significant mining cases, Minera Aquiline Argentina SA v. IMA Exploration Inc., and Inmet Mining Corp. v. Homestake Canada Inc.

Since its inception, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, which identifies leading law firms and lawyers in Canada, has ranked Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP as one of the "most frequently recommended" corporate commercial litigation firms in Vancouver.  Two of the firm's partners are ranked as leading commercial litigators in Vancouver.

The Chambers Global Guide 2010 ranks Nathanson Schachter & Thompson LLP, along with two others, first among litigation firms in Vancouver, stating:

The Firm:  Peers say that that this extremely active boutique is a major competitor for dispute resolution work, stating: “Nathanson can always produce a fantastic team for significant pieces of litigation.” The group handles the full range of complex commercial matters, including securities, pensions and regulatory work, IP litigation and contract disputes.

The Lawyers:  A long-standing prominent player in this field, Irwin Nathanson QC's outstanding reputation is another factor that makes the firm stand out. Sources declare: “He is still as good as it gets,” and say that he is known for his “forceful, compelling and indefatigable” litigation style. He focuses on shareholder disputes, class actions, commercial fraud, pensions and product liability matters. Murray Clemens QC “has buckets of charm - clients love him,” say sources. His broad practice includes arbitration work, alongside professional negligence and insurance matters. Stephen Schachter QC is “a highly analytical, cerebral litigator” who handles class actions, professional negligence, commercial fraud, product liability and pensions matters. Geoffrey Gomery's workload includes litigation and arbitration. He concentrates on professional negligence and securities, estate and pension disputes.

The 2009 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada ranks Nathanson Schachter & Thompson LLP "#1" in Vancouver and British Columbia in six separate practice areas, including Corporate and Commercial Litigation, and lists three individual partners of the firm as leaders in those areas.  In 2010, Best Lawyers named Irwin Nathanson "Lawyer of the Year" in Vancouver in the category of "Bet the Company Litigation".

Canadian Lawyer ranks Nathanson Schachter & Thompson LLP as among the "Top 10 Litigation Boutiques" in Canada, and as only one of two firms on that list from British Columbia.

A survey of North American commercial litigation firms conducted by Euromoney ranked Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP first in Vancouver.