Molly Krishtalka
LawyerQUEBEC BAR (2015) LAW SOCIETY OF ONTARIO (2015)
Molly joined Novalex in 2021 after practising as a litigation associate at a leading national law firm and as media law counsel to a large Canadian media organization.
Molly’s practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, defamation and media law, and public and constitutional law. She assists clients at all stages of litigation, ranging from providing strategic pre-litigation advice to representation at trial and on appeal. Molly has made submissions at all levels of court in Quebec as well as before the Federal Courts and various administrative tribunals.
Within her media law practice, Molly advises and represents media organisations and journalists in free expression and court openness matters, including opposing publication bans, defending defamation claims, and accessing court and government documents.
Molly’s experience as in-house counsel allows her to thoroughly understand her clients’ needs and to clearly explain complex issues and concepts. Rigorous and creative, she provides her clients with efficient and practical solutions.
Molly clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada for the Hon. Justice Andromache Karakatsanis (2014-2015). She also served as Editor-in-Chief of vol. 9 of the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy.
Molly is recognized in the latest edition of Best Lawyers in Canada as a “Lawyer to Watch” in the category of corporate and commercial litigation.
"You must live life with the full knowledge that your actions will remain. We are creatures of consequence."
ZADIE SMITHPractice areas
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Professional activities and initiatives
Education
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Practice areas
- Civil and commercial litigation
- Defamation and media law
- Administrative law and access to information
- Public and constitutional law
- Appellate litigation
- Arbitration and alternative dispute resolution
- Class actions
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Molly has notably:
REPRESENTED a coalition of professionals specialized in trans and non-binary health intervening on appeal in a constitutional challenge to the laws and regulations governing sex designation change and name change for minors
ACTED successfully for the appellant in litigation before the Supreme Court of Canada involving the invocation of international lis pendens to stay ongoing proceedings in Quebec: R.S. v. P.R., 2019 SCC 49.
REPRESENTED journalists in contestations of denials by public bodies of access-to-information requests
ACTED for a technology company in proposed class action proceedings in the area of consumer protection and product liability
REPRESENTED a consumer advocate in an application for the issuance of a permanent injunction banning the publication of certain information online
ACTED for a real estate developer in litigation involving the alleged nullity of a decision rendered by the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec
ADVISED a media organization and its journalists in connection with journalistic investigations, journalistic work product, and podcasts prior to and following publication
ACTED for a Canadian financial institution in a confidential multi-party arbitration regarding the financing of an independent foreign film production
ACTED for an aviation company in contractual litigation involving the applicability of a forum selection clause
Professional activities and initiatives
Course lecturer, “Media Law”, Faculty of Law, McGill University (2023)
Board of Directors, Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund – Québec Branch
Canadian Media Lawyers’ Association/Ad IDEM
Young Bar Association of Montreal
Co-course lecturer, “Advanced Civil Law Obligations”, Faculty of Law, McGill University (2018-2020)
Education
B.C.L./LL.B., Faculty of Law, McGill University (Principal David L. Johnston Medal, Dean’s Honour List – 2014
Exchange semester, Faculty of Law, l’Université d’Aix-Marseille – 2013
B.A. International Development Studies (major), Spanish Language (minor), Faculty of Arts, McGill University (First Class Honours with Distinction) – 2010
Languages
Molly is fluent in English and French.