Joshua Abaki

Joshua Abaki

Senior Associate

Toronto
JAbaki@blg.com
416.367.6568

Joshua's practice focuses on Canadian competition and foreign investment review law, providing BLG's clients with valuable insight and legal support across a wide range of industries.

His work covers complex mergers, cartel investigations, and antitrust class actions, with a particular interest in addressing regulatory challenges in advertising and marketing compliance.

Joshua helps our clients navigate Canada's regulatory landscape, providing practical solutions on issues like abuse of dominance, reviewable trade practices and proactive compliance programs. His ability to connect legal strategies with business objectives has made him a trusted advisor to companies in retail, healthcare, financial services, real estate, among others.

Joshua's experience includes precedent-setting litigation before the Canadian Competition Tribunal, including a landmark case that clarified how the "general impression test" in false and misleading advertising should be applied—an interpretation that continues to influence the field today. He's also been at the forefront of one of Canada's largest price-fixing actions, acting in both criminal and civil matters while guiding clients through complex Bureau investigations.

Beyond his practice, Joshua co-authors Competition Law Practice Advisor (LexisNexis) and contributes to thought leadership in a number of areas, including a chapter on Examinations for Discovery in Dimock's Intellectual Property Disputes. Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as “One to Watch" in competition/antitrust law, Joshua brings a forward-thinking approach that combines technical expertise with a genuine commitment to helping clients thrive.

Experience

  • Acting for Loblaw Companies Limited, George Weston Limited and certain of their affiliates in class actions across Canada alleging price fixing in respect of wholesale and retail sales of commercial packaged bread and in the related Competition Bureau investigation
  • Acting for Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited in its acquisition of grain elevators from Louis Dreyfus Company 
  • Acting for Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited in a merger litigation at the Competition Tribunal
     

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Law Society of Ontario
  • Member, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
  • Member, International and Competition Policy Committees of the CBA National Competition Law Section
  • Member, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers

Community Involvement

  • Volunteer, BLG Reads to Kids
  • Refugee Sponsorship Support Program
  • President, Allard Law Students’ Society (2016-2017)
  • Member, University of British Columbia Senate (2015-2016)
  • Youth Leadership Trainer & Mentor, Starehe Boys’ and Girls’ Centers

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2024) of The Best Lawyers in Canada as “Ones to Watch” (Competition/Antitrust Law).

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2018
  • JD, Peter A. Allard School of Law, UBC, 2017
  • BSc, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 2011