Emergency Arbitrator & Interim Measures

Emergency Arbitration and Interim Relief Lawyers

PREMIUM LEGAL SERVICES

Experienced. Aggressive. Client-Centered

Get Started

Successful Litigation Cases Handled

0 +

Litigation, Mediation, Trial - Focused

0 %

Years of Combined Legal Experience

0 +

In Handling Complicated Disputes

0 *

Why You Need Legal Help with Emergency Arbitration and Interim Measures

Commercial disputes do not always unfold on a timetable that permits parties to await the constitution of an arbitral tribunal or a final award. Assets may be transferred, evidence lost, confidential information disclosed, contractual rights exercised, or the practical value of the arbitration impaired before the merits can be determined.

The immediate question is therefore not simply whether a party has a strong underlying claim. It is what interim relief is available, who has jurisdiction to grant it, and how quickly that relief can be made effective.

These issues form part of ME Law’s broader Arbitration Lawyers practice.

For domestic arbitrations governed by Ontario law, the Arbitration Act, 1991 preserves distinct roles for courts and arbitral tribunals. Section 8(1) preserves specified court powers concerning the detention, preservation and inspection of property, interim injunctions, and the appointment of receivers in arbitration-related matters.

Under s. 18, an arbitral tribunal may, within the statutory scope of that provision, direct the detention, preservation or inspection of property and documents and require security in connection with such a direction. The court may enforce the tribunal’s direction as if it were a similar direction made in an action.

International commercial arbitration engages a broader statutory interim-measures regime under Ontario’s International Commercial Arbitration Act, 2017 and the UNCITRAL Model Law. Chapter IV A addresses interim measures and preliminary orders, including measures directed to preserving the status quo, preventing harm or prejudice to the arbitral process, preserving assets from which an award may be satisfied, and preserving relevant evidence.

Article 17J separately recognizes court powers to issue interim measures in relation to arbitration proceedings, exercised in accordance with court procedures and with regard to the specific features of international arbitration.

Where applicable institutional rules provide for an emergency arbitrator, urgent relief may also be available before constitution of the full tribunal. That procedure depends on the arbitration agreement and applicable rules; it is not a universal statutory remedy.

The choice between an emergency arbitrator, a constituted tribunal, and the court can be consequential. Counsel must consider jurisdiction, timing, evidentiary requirements, notice, enforceability, asset location, and whether the proposed relief supports the broader arbitration strategy.

Where emergency relief forms part of an international dispute, our International Arbitration practice addresses the corresponding cross-border considerations.

The objective is not simply to obtain an order quickly. It is to identify the remedy capable of preserving the client’s position without undermining the arbitration it is intended to protect.

Years of
combined
legal
experience

ME Law - Civil Litigation Law Firm

WHO WE ARE

ME Law is a litigation-only firm representing businesses, investors, shareholders, lenders, principals, and other sophisticated parties in arbitration-related disputes and court proceedings in Ontario. Our broader arbitration practice encompasses domestic and international commercial arbitration, including disputes requiring urgent relief before or during the arbitral process.

We act for parties seeking emergency arbitration, interim measures, and related court relief, as well as parties responding to applications affecting assets, contractual rights, evidence, confidential information, or ongoing business operations.

Our role begins by identifying the appropriate forum and remedy. Depending on the arbitration agreement, governing legislation, applicable institutional rules, and stage of the proceeding, urgent relief may be sought from an emergency arbitrator, a constituted tribunal, or an Ontario court.

Domestic matters may engage the Arbitration Act, 1991 and the respective statutory powers of tribunals and courts. International commercial matters may instead engage the International Commercial Arbitration Act, 2017, the UNCITRAL Model Law, applicable institutional rules, and cross-border considerations.

Where urgent relief arises in an international dispute, we coordinate the strategy so that the immediate application supports the client’s position in the underlying arbitration.

Our focus is practical: identify what must be protected, determine which decision-maker can provide effective relief, and pursue—or resist—the measure with the speed and precision the circumstances require.

Click to watch video

How We Help

Arbitration Lawyers

Commercial Contract Arbitration

Commercial arbitration is a core part of our dispute-resolution practice. We represent parties in high-stakes commercial conflicts involving complex agreements, financial exposure, operational disruption, and strategic business concerns.

Enforcing Arbitral Awards Ontario

An arbitral award may determine the parties’ rights, but it does not necessarily secure payment or performance. Effective enforcement requires a coordinated strategy addressing the applicable arbitration regime, recognition, jurisdiction, available assets, potential resistance, interim protection, and the court remedies required to convert an award into a commercially meaningful result.

International Arbitration

We combine litigation strength with strategic global insight to protect your interests, advance your position, and secure meaningful results before international tribunals.

Setting Aside & Challenging Arbitral Awards

Arbitral awards are intended to be final, and Ontario courts do not provide a general opportunity to relitigate an arbitration on its merits. Challenging an award requires careful analysis of the governing arbitration regime, statutory grounds for judicial intervention, procedural deadlines, jurisdiction, and the distinction between an appeal, a set-aside application, and resistance to recognition or enforcement.

Shareholder & Partnership Arbitration Lawyers

At ME Law, we represent shareholders, partners, corporate officers, founders, and businesses of all sizes in high-stakes arbitration. We are litigation and arbitration counsel—meaning we are built for disputes, conflicts, and contested matters.

Mediation-Arbitration (Med-Arb)

At ME Law, we guide clients through every stage of Med-Arb to ensure fairness, enforceability, and strong advocacy—whether in negotiation or in binding arbitration.

Why Choose Us

Premium Litigation Services:

Quality over quantity for selected clients in complex litigation matters

Selective Focus

We act for a select group of clients in high-stakes litigation, dedicating focused time and strategic attention to each matter to ensure precise, results-driven advocacy.

Limited Caseload

By limiting our caseload, we provide bespoke, high-level representation, where no detail is overlooked and every legal step is carefully considered. Quality over quantity is embedded in our ethos.

Strategic Execution

Our limited-file approach enables us to deliver thorough, strategic legal work on every matter. We don’t offer surface-level service – we provide clarity, focus, and substance.

Beyond Expectations

Our lawyers invest considerable time in legal analysis, research, and continuous training. This ongoing development allows us to stay ahead and deliver outcomes that often exceed clients’ expectations.

Clients’ Success Stories

Our cases

Strategic Commercial Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

Securing a $50M+ Mareva Injunction for a Silicon Valley Startup

Strategic Resolution of $5M+ Shareholder Disputes Across Litigation and Arbitration

Strategic Resolution of $20M Corporate Dispute and $8M+ Estate Succession Matter

Strategic Litigation Leadership in a $15M+ Corporate and Family Dispute

Securing a $2M+ Property Interest After an 8-Day Civil Trial

How We Work

What To Expect

Clear and Strategic Guidance

Transparent and well-informed advice is provided to help navigate your options and achieve the best possible outcome.

Proactive Client Engagement

Clients can expect consistent communication and dedicated attention to ensure their needs are fully understood and addressed.

Meticulous Attention to Details

Every detail is carefully considered, and strategic oversight is provided to guide clients toward a favorable resolution.

Experienced. Effective. Results-Oriented.

Emergency arbitration and interim relief require a different litigation discipline from determination of the underlying merits. The immediate objective is not to resolve the dispute, but to protect a position that may otherwise be lost before the arbitration can do so.

At ME Law, our analysis follows a structured sequence:

Urgent Commercial Risk → Applicable Arbitration Regime → Arbitration Agreement and Institutional Rules → Emergency Arbitrator, Tribunal, or Court? → Available Interim Measure → Legal and Evidentiary Requirements → Enforceability → Underlying Arbitration Strategy

That sequence matters because the fastest remedy is not necessarily the most effective one.

For domestic arbitrations, we assess the respective statutory roles of the tribunal and court under the Arbitration Act, 1991, including the court powers preserved by s. 8(1) and the tribunal powers addressed by s. 18. The appropriate route depends on the stage of the arbitration, the nature of the threatened harm, and the relief required.

Where applicable institutional rules provide for an emergency arbitrator, relief may be available before the full tribunal is constituted. We assess whether those provisions apply, the scope of the emergency arbitrator’s authority, the procedural timetable, and the practical effectiveness of the resulting relief.

International commercial disputes require additional analysis. Under the International Commercial Arbitration Act, 2017 and the UNCITRAL Model Law, Article 17 addresses tribunal-ordered interim measures. For measures within Article 17(2)(a), (b) and (c), Article 17A generally requires consideration of harm not adequately reparable by damages, comparative harm, and a reasonable possibility that the requesting party will succeed on the merits. Article 17J addresses corresponding court powers.

Our international arbitration work addresses related cross-border considerations, including the seat of arbitration, location of assets or evidence, applicable institutional rules, and practical enforceability across jurisdictions.

For parties responding to emergency applications, we assess jurisdiction, urgency, evidentiary sufficiency, the governing legal test, proportionality, and whether less intrusive relief can adequately protect the interests at stake.

Where interim proceedings develop into post-award court proceedings, separate considerations may arise in challenging or setting aside an arbitral award.

The objective is to determine what requires immediate protection, who has authority to protect it, and which remedy best preserves the effectiveness of the arbitration.

EMERGENCY ARBITRATION AND INTERIM RELIEF LAWYERS YOU CAN RELY ON

We represent parties seeking urgent interim relief and parties responding to emergency applications in domestic and international arbitration matters.

These proceedings require more than demonstrating urgency. The central questions are whether the requested relief is legally available, which decision-maker has authority to grant it, and whether the resulting order can effectively protect the client’s position.

For parties seeking relief, we assess the arbitration agreement, governing legislation, applicable institutional rules, status of the tribunal, evidentiary record, and threatened harm. The strategy may involve an emergency arbitrator, a constituted tribunal, an Ontario court, or a coordinated approach where legally available.

For parties responding to an application, we examine jurisdiction, urgency, evidentiary foundation, the applicable legal test, proportionality, and whether the requested measure exceeds what is reasonably required pending determination of the dispute.

In cross-border matters, practical effectiveness can be as important as legal availability. Asset location, foreign proceedings, enforceability, and the seat of arbitration may materially influence where and how urgent relief should be pursued.

Our Commitment

Our objective is not simply to obtain—or resist—an emergency order. It is to identify the relief that effectively protects the client’s position while supporting the broader arbitration strategy.

We combine rigorous legal analysis with focused advocacy to address urgent commercial risk, preserve available rights, and pursue a proportionate remedy capable of producing a practical result.

Facing an urgent issue before or during an arbitration? Contact ME Law to discuss the available strategy.

Emergency Arbitrator Applications

Interim Measures Before Arbitral Tribunals

Urgent Court Applications in Support of Arbitration

Interlocutory Injunctions in Arbitration-Related Disputes

Asset Preservation and Protective Relief

Preservation of Evidence, Property and Documents

Receivership and Other Court-Ordered Interim Remedies

Security in Connection with Interim Measures

Responding to Emergency Arbitrator Applications

Responding to Applications for Interim and Injunctive Relief

Cross-Border Interim Measures and Enforcement Strategy

Coordination of Emergency Relief and Arbitral Proceedings

Clear Guidance. Strong Advocacy.

What we do:

Let us solve your legal issue

Years
Experience

0 +

Successful
Cases

0 +

Main Areas of
Specialization

0 +

Dedication to
Your Case

0 +

Reach out to us today

Frequently Asked Questions

Becoming a Client

View all faqs

How do I become a client of ME Law?

Becoming a client of ME Law begins with a complimentary intake call and proceeds through a conflict check, a formal consultation with a lawyer, and, if you decide to retain the firm and ME Law agrees to act, a written Retainer Agreement. Once the agreement is executed and the required retainer is received, ME Law opens the file and begins the agreed legal work.

The first step is the initial intake call. This is a preliminary conversation with an intake specialist, not the substantive legal consultation itself. The purpose is to understand the general nature of your matter, identify the type of dispute involved, gather preliminary information, and determine whether the matter falls within ME Law’s areas of practice.

At this stage, the firm is screening the matter so that the appropriate next step can be identified. If the matter appears to be one ME Law may be able to assist with, the process moves to a conflict check before detailed legal advice is provided.

If you want to understand why that step is required, see Why is a conflict check necessary before a consultation?.

The conflict check is conducted to determine whether ME Law has a professional conflict that would prevent the firm from acting. The process is governed by the Law Society of Ontario professional obligations and is intended to protect confidentiality, independence, and loyalty. You may be asked to identify the relevant parties so that those names can be checked against the firm’s records.

Once the conflict check is cleared, the next stage is a formal consultation with a lawyer. This is different from the preliminary intake call. The consultation is the substantive meeting in which the lawyer reviews your situation in more detail, answers questions, discusses preliminary legal options and strategy, and explains what the next steps may look like.

For a fuller explanation of the meeting itself, see What is a consultation at ME Law?.

The onboarding process can therefore be understood in five stages:

Initial intake call.
ME Law gathers preliminary information, identifies the nature of the matter, and determines whether it falls within the firm’s practice areas.
Conflict check.
The relevant party names are reviewed to determine whether a conflict of interest prevents ME Law from proceeding.
Consultation with a lawyer.
Once cleared, you meet with a lawyer, either in person or remotely, for a more detailed assessment of the matter and the legal options that may be available.
Retainer and engagement.
If you decide to proceed and ME Law agrees to take on the matter, the firm provides a Retainer Agreement setting out the scope of work, estimated costs, and billing structure. The scope is defined according to the work that is actually required rather than assumed to cover every possible step in the dispute.
File opening and legal work.
Once the Retainer Agreement is executed and the required retainer is received, the file is formally opened. The lawyer can then begin the agreed work, which may include developing a case strategy, drafting pleadings, engaging in negotiations, or preparing for court proceedings, depending on the mandate.

Becoming a client is therefore not the same thing as making an inquiry or completing an intake call. It also does not occur merely because a consultation has been booked. The formal engagement stage matters because it defines what ME Law has agreed to do, how the work will be billed, and what the client and firm should expect from the relationship.

The consultation is also where the proposed scope of the engagement can be discussed. Depending on the matter, that may involve advice on a defined issue through a limited-scope retainer or broader ongoing representation through a full-scope retainer. The appropriate structure depends on the record, complexity, procedural stage, and work required.

If your matter is urgent, explain that during the intake process so the firm can assess timing and lawyer availability. See How quickly can you schedule an initial consultation? for how consultation scheduling is handled after intake and conflict clearance.

ME Law’s onboarding process is designed to move from preliminary screening to conflict clearance, substantive legal assessment, and then a clearly defined engagement. The purpose is to ensure that the firm understands the matter, can act without a professional conflict, and has agreed with you on the scope of the work before substantive representation begins.

Contact ME Law to start the intake process and discuss whether your matter is one the firm may be able to assist with.

What are the typical steps from first contact to retaining ME Law?

The process typically moves through five stages: an initial intake call, a conflict check, a consultation with a lawyer, a formal Retainer Agreement, and then file opening and the start of the agreed legal work. Each stage has a different purpose, so contacting ME Law does not automatically mean that the firm has been retained.

1. Initial intake call

The process begins with a complimentary intake call. An intake specialist gathers preliminary information about the dispute, identifies the parties involved, and considers whether the matter falls within ME Law’s areas of practice.

This is an initial screening step rather than the substantive legal consultation. If you want the broader overview of becoming a client, see How do I become a client of ME Law?.

2. Conflict check

If the matter is potentially suitable for the firm, ME Law conducts a conflict check before moving into substantive discussions. Relevant party names are checked against the firm’s records to determine whether professional obligations prevent ME Law from acting.

For more detail on the purpose of this step, see Why is a conflict check necessary before a consultation?.

3. Consultation with a lawyer

Once the conflict check is cleared, a formal consultation can be scheduled. The consultation may take place in person or remotely and is the stage at which the lawyer reviews the matter in greater depth, discusses preliminary legal options and strategy, and considers what further work may be required.

This is distinct from the initial intake call. What is a consultation at ME Law? explains the scope of that substantive meeting in more detail.

4. Retainer and engagement

If you decide to proceed and ME Law agrees to accept the mandate, the firm provides a written Retainer Agreement. It identifies the agreed scope of work, billing structure, and other terms governing the engagement.

Depending on the matter, the engagement may be structured as a limited-scope retainer for defined work or as broader ongoing representation. The lawyer-client engagement begins according to the terms of the executed retainer rather than merely because an inquiry or consultation has taken place.

5. File opening and next steps

After the Retainer Agreement is executed and any required retainer funds are received, ME Law can formally open the file and begin the work within the agreed mandate.

Depending on the dispute, that work may include developing litigation strategy, reviewing evidence, drafting pleadings, engaging in negotiations, or preparing for proceedings before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The purpose of this staged process is to ensure that the matter is screened appropriately, conflicts are addressed, the legal issues are assessed, and both the client and ME Law understand the scope of the engagement before substantive representation begins.

Contact ME Law to begin the intake process.

What information do I need to provide for a conflict check after the initial call?

After the initial intake call, ME Law will ask you to identify the parties involved in your matter so the firm can complete a conflict check before receiving detailed confidential information or moving to a substantive consultation. The purpose at this stage is to establish who is involved, not to conduct a full review of your case.

The conflict check is part of ME Law’s intake and onboarding process. Before a lawyer can proceed with substantive discussions, the firm must determine whether it currently represents, previously represented, or holds confidential information relating to a party whose interests may conflict with yours.

ME Law’s conflict-check obligations arise under the Law Society of Ontario’s Rules of Professional Conduct and form part of the professional duties governing independence, loyalty, and confidentiality.

If you want a fuller explanation of the legal and ethical reason for this process, see Why is a conflict check necessary before a consultation?.

What should you provide?

At this stage, you should provide the names of the relevant parties involved in the dispute or proposed engagement. The objective is to give ME Law enough identifying information to run the appropriate check against its records.

Depending on the matter, there may be several parties whose involvement needs to be identified before the conflict check can be completed. The important point is to disclose the relevant party names accurately so the firm can determine whether a professional conflict exists.

You generally should not use the conflict-check stage to send a large volume of confidential documents or provide an extensive substantive account of the dispute before ME Law confirms that it is able to proceed. The conflict check comes before the detailed legal assessment.

The typical sequence is:

Initial intake call — ME Law gathers preliminary information about the nature of the matter.
Party identification — you provide the names required for the conflict check.
Conflict review — ME Law checks its records for potential professional conflicts.
Conflict clearance — if no conflict prevents the firm from proceeding, the matter can move to the next stage.
Consultation — detailed documents, facts, legal issues, strategy, and possible next steps can then be addressed through the substantive consultation process.

This distinction is important because completing a conflict-check form does not itself create a retainer or mean that ME Law has agreed to represent you. It is a preliminary professional safeguard within the intake process.

For the broader onboarding sequence, see How do I become a client of ME Law?. Once the conflict process is complete, What is a consultation at ME Law? explains what happens at the substantive legal assessment stage.

Contact ME Law to begin the intake process and provide the party information required for a conflict check.

What happens during the initial intake call with ME Law?

The initial intake call is a complimentary preliminary conversation with an ME Law intake specialist. Its purpose is to understand the general nature of your matter, gather the information needed to assess whether it falls within the firm’s areas of practice, identify the relevant parties, and determine the appropriate next step.

The intake call is different from a substantive consultation with a lawyer. At this stage, ME Law is not conducting a detailed review of your evidence or providing a full legal assessment. Instead, the firm is gathering enough preliminary information to determine whether the matter is one it may be able to assist with and what must happen before a consultation can proceed.

For an overview of the complete onboarding process, see How do I become a client of ME Law?.

During the initial intake process, you may be asked to explain:

the general nature of the dispute;
who the relevant parties are;
whether litigation or another legal proceeding has already started;
whether there are immediate deadlines or urgent circumstances;
what type of assistance you are seeking from ME Law.

Identifying the parties is particularly important because the next step will ordinarily involve a conflict check under the Law Society of Ontario’s professional-conduct requirements. ME Law must determine whether a professional conflict prevents the firm from proceeding before receiving detailed confidential information or moving into substantive legal discussions.

For the practical information required at that stage, see What information do I need to provide for a conflict check after the initial call?.

Once the conflict check is completed and the firm is able to proceed, a formal consultation with a lawyer can be scheduled. That consultation is where the matter can be examined in greater depth, including the factual record, legal issues, preliminary strategy, and possible next steps.

The distinction matters: an intake call, a conflict check, a substantive legal consultation, and a Retainer Agreement are separate stages of the client-onboarding process. Completing the intake call does not by itself mean that ME Law has agreed to act or that a lawyer-client retainer has been established.

If you want to know how quickly the substantive lawyer meeting can be arranged after intake and conflict clearance, see How quickly can you schedule an initial consultation?.

Contact ME Law to begin the intake process.