Gowling WLG is a large international law firm with a significant Ontario litigation practice. It is counsel to all six major Canadian banks and acts in banking, debt recovery, insolvency and commercial litigation. As a full-service firm, it can litigate and enforce judgments.

Why would a firm this large contact me about a debt?

Large firms are typically retained on higher-value or more complex recovery and insolvency matters for institutional clients. Whatever the size, the legal process is the same: a demand is not a lawsuit, and being served with a court claim starts a strict deadline.

Only if you are served with a court-issued Statement of Claim bearing a file number and seal. If so, you generally have 20 days in Ontario to respond before the creditor can seek default judgment.

Identify whether you received a letter or a court claim, do not admit the debt in writing, seek proof of the debt, and get legal advice promptly if a deadline is running.

If a firm has contacted you

Contacted by Gowling WLG About a Debt in Ontario?

Reviewed by Angelos Spingos, Principal Lawyer, Spingos Law · Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario · Last reviewed July 28, 2026

A letter from one of the country’s largest firms can be intimidating — but the process, and your rights, are the same as with any creditor’s counsel. Here is who Gowling WLG is and how an Ontario homeowner should respond.

Who Gowling WLG is

Gowling WLG is a large international law firm with a significant Ontario litigation practice. It is, by public record, counsel to all six major Canadian banks and acts across banking, debt recovery, insolvency and commercial litigation. As a full-service firm, it can litigate and enforce judgments.

Firms of this scale are usually engaged on higher-value or more complex matters for institutional clients. That does not change your fundamentals: what matters is whether you have received a letter or an actual court claim, and how much time you have.

Check for a court file number and seal. If the document has them, the Ontario clock — generally 20 days to respond — is already running.

The path from a debt to your home

Demand — correspondence; no deadline yet.
Lawsuit — you are served; the 20-day clock starts.
Judgment — the court orders payment, often by default.
Enforcement — garnishment, or a writ of seizure and sale against your home.

Your options

Require proof of the debt and the amount.
Consider the limitation period — pleaded, not automatic.
Explore settlement — frequently easier before judgment.
Act before a writ reaches your title.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Gowling WLG?: Gowling WLG is a large international law firm with a significant Ontario litigation practice. It is counsel to all six major Canadian banks and acts in banking, debt recovery, insolvency and commercial litigation. As a full-service firm, it can litigate and enforce judgments.
Why would a firm this large contact me about a debt?: Large firms are typically retained on higher-value or more complex recovery and insolvency matters for institutional clients. Whatever the size, the legal process is the same: a demand is not a lawsuit, and being served with a court claim starts a strict deadline.
Have I been sued?: Only if you are served with a court-issued Statement of Claim bearing a file number and seal. If so, you generally have 20 days in Ontario to respond before the creditor can seek default judgment.
What should I do?: Identify whether you received a letter or a court claim, do not admit the debt in writing, seek proof of the debt, and get legal advice promptly if a deadline is running.

Sources

Firm practice description: Gowling WLG — litigation and debt collection in Ontario (public website) · Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure · Execution Act · Limitations Act, 2002. General information for Ontario, not legal advice; not affiliated with or endorsed by the firm named.