When is half a billion dollars too much for legal fees? According to one Ontario judge; almost always.
A group of lawyers representing First Nations communities in a landmark treaty case asked for a whopping $510 million in legal fees—yes, that’s million with an ‘M’. But Superior Court Justice Patricia Hennessy had other ideas.
In a blunt ruling, Justice Hennessy called the request “not reasonable by any stretch,” ultimately awarding $85 million instead—still generous, but just a fraction of the original ask. The case itself centered on a historic dispute over the 1850 Robinson treaties, where the court awarded billions to 21 First Nations groups in compensation.
The fee cut wasn’t a comment on the quality of lawyering, the judge stressed, but on proportionality and fairness to the communities involved. After all, $510 million could buy quite a few billable hours—even at Bay Street rates.
The lawyers argued the complexity and scope of the litigation justified the fee, citing contingency arrangements and a decade of legal work. The court disagreed.
Moral of the story? Don’t get too cheeky with your invoice—especially when the client is a century-old treaty.
