Ehsan Ghebrai — Senior Partner

Rusonik, O’Connor, Ross, Hershberg, Ghebrai & MacDonald LLP
Certified Specialist in Criminal Law (LSO)
Leading Toronto Homicide Lawyer | Complex Case & Extremely Serious Matters Panels

Ehsan Ghebrai is a nationally recognized criminal defence lawyer and Toronto homicide lawyer with more than fifteen years of exclusive experience in criminal litigation. His practice focuses on homicide, complex criminal litigation, and the defence of the most serious criminal charges in Canada. Mr. Ghebrai is designated by the Law Society of Ontario as a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law and is empanelled on both the Complex Case and Extremely Serious Matters panels.

Mr. Ghebrai is a named partner at Rusonik, O’Connor, Ross, Hershberg, Ghebrai & MacDonald LLP, one of Canada’s leading criminal law firms. Prior to the firm’s 2025 reorganization, he served as a long-standing partner at Rusonik, O’Connor, Robbins, Ross & Angelini LLP beginning in 2010. He began his career at the venerable Pinkofsky’s Criminal Trial and Appeal Lawyers, formerly Canada’s largest criminal defence firm, where he developed a strong foundation in trial advocacy and cross-examination.

A veteran jury-trial lawyer, Mr. Ghebrai has conducted countless trials and preliminary inquiries before the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. He is known for his strategic litigation approach, meticulous preparation, and ability to navigate complex, multi-expert cases. He regularly appears before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and represents clients throughout Ontario and across Canada.

Recent Notable Homicide Results

• 2017 – R. v. B.W. (Second Degree Murder) – All charges withdrawn at Preliminary Inquiry (Toronto)
• 2019 – R. v. A.D. (First Degree Murder) – Client acquitted of all charges by jury (Peel)
• 2020 – R. v. M.C. (First Degree Murder ×2) – All first-degree murder charges withdrawn at Preliminary Inquiry (Barrie)
• 2021 – R. v. M.S. (First Degree Murder) – Client acquitted of first-degree murder; guilty only of manslaughter (Peel)
• 2022 – R. v. E.M. (First Degree Murder) – Client acquitted of all charges by jury (Brantford)
• 2023 – R. v. S.S. (First Degree Murder) – Client acquitted of all charges by jury (Newmarket)
• 2024 – R. v. H.J. (First Degree Murder) – First-degree murder charge withdrawn before trial (Thunder Bay)
• 2024 – R. v. Z.B. (First Degree Murder) – Client acquitted of all charges by jury (Toronto)
• 2025 – R. v. A.P. (First Degree Murder) – Client acquitted of first-degree murder; guilty only of manslaughter (London)

Other Serious Criminal Matters

Mr. Ghebrai has extensive experience defending clients charged with:

• Attempted murder
• Aggravated assault and other violent offences
• Sexual offences
• Firearm and weapons offences
• Drug trafficking, importation, and other Controlled Drugs and Substances Act matters
• Youth matters under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

Known for his exceptional trial advocacy, strategic preparation, and deep expertise in serious criminal litigation, Mr. Ghebrai is sought after nationwide for high-stakes cases involving the most serious and complex allegations.

If you need an experienced litigator on your side, contact Mr. Ghebrai at Ghebrai@criminaltriallawyers.ca or (416) 557-6417.