- Find a Lawyer
- /
- Canada
- /
- Corporate and Commercial Litigation
- /
- Alberta
- /
- Calgary
Find Lawyers in Calgary, Alberta for Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Practice Area Overview
Commercial litigation is a very broad practice area encompassing all disputes potentially arising in a business context. Consequently, practitioners in this area must have wide-ranging knowledge of both the business world and the myriad legal issues that can arise in that arena.
Commercial disputes may take on various forms, from breach of contract to shareholder disputes. Every litigious situation gives rise to a wide variety of remedies and recourses, such as an action for damages, a motion for an injunction, or a seizure before judgment. Furthermore, depending on their nature, such disputes can fall under the jurisdiction of several courts, each with its own set of rules.
In this challenging environment, commercial litigators must be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each situation and gauge their potential impact. Thorough knowledge of the commercial and operational issues at play will allow the practitioner to propose an appropriate litigation or ADR strategy, perhaps even a business solution.
Commercial litigation has evolved considerably over the years due to several factors, such as the near-universal adoption of information technology by businesses, and the increased complexity of commercial disputes. Add to that a slowing Canadian economy, and it is clear that commercial litigators must be prepared for war but open to peace.
Marco is a skilled litigator who represents clients in a wide range of disputes. He applies his considerable experience before courts and administrative tribunals to successfully defend his clients’ best interests. Marco’s diverse practice includes commercial litigation, insurance and risk management, professional discipline, and municipal matters. He has significant experience litigating contractual disputes and negligence claims, routinely representing energy companies, engineer...
A respected civil litigation lawyer, Robb Beeman’s first goal is to help people and find solutions to their problems. Known for integrity, common sense, and skill in dispute resolution, he likes nothing more than to help his clients find their way. He sees a client’s end goal and determines the best way to get them there. Robb represents companies, public-sector organizations, and individuals in employment, commercial, and regulatory disputes. He thoughtfully guides his clients th...
Gunnar Benediktsson practises primarily in the areas of commercial and corporate litigation and insolvency and restructuring. Mr. Benediktsson has represented parties to commercial disputes throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, and has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, and before the Court of Queen's Bench and Court of Appeal in Saskatchewan. As an insolvency and restructuring lawyer, Mr. Benediktsson has a range of experience representing court-appointed recei...
Jennifer Biernaskie is a litigation strategist who finds solutions. She skillfully analyzes a claim from all sides, considering both the present details and what will happen down the road. The end result is a forward-thinking strategy that shapes a successful future for her clients. Her strong track record for resolving claims is based on skill, creative agreements and common sense in commercial litigation, insurance defence, and administrative law. With particular proficiency in high-complex...
David Bishop is a partner at Gowlings and head of Calgary's Advocacy Group. David’s practice involves all aspects of corporate/commercial litigation with an emphasis on directors' and officers' defence, product liability, professional liability disputes, shareholder disputes, class actions, large property and industrial claims, and environmental litigation. He is familiar with all aspects of dispute resolution, including private mediations, judicial dispute resolution conferences and ar...
Michael is a partner at Carbert Waite and co-chair of the firm’s commercial litigation and condominium practice groups. Michael has represented clients in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the Provincial Court of Alberta, and in mediations and arbitrations. He enjoys appearing in Court when necessary, but focuses on finding economic and sensible solutions for his clients and works tirelessly to pursue their rights.
Blair began his legal career with MacKimmie Matthews in 1986 and was a founding partner of Carbert Waite LLP in 1999. Blair’s diverse practice of law has taken him to Canada’s three coasts, advising and acting for individuals, corporations, estates, public institutions and governments. As a senior partner with Carbert Waite LLP, Blair engages on a wide range of difficult cases that demand an advanced understanding of the law, relentless inquiry into the facts, appropriate strategi...
Ray Chartier practises commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, focusing on matters involving the energy industry, major infrastructure projects and the transportation sector. He also advises a broad range of clients on indigenous law issues, and on environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, regulation and compliance issues. Ray's clients include project proponents, financial institutions and other stakeholders. Over the years, Ray has been involved in pipeline applic...
Arif is a commercial litigator based in Calgary. He has appeared at all levels of court in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as at the Supreme Court of Canada. Arif has experience in international arbitration and before administrative boards, including the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. Arif has represented large multinational corporations, product manufacturers, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, national sports organizations, franchisees and franchisors, general contract...
Peter has more than 24 years of experience with personal injury claims and disability insurance claims. He helps ill and injured clients recover the disability insurance benefits owing to them because they are unable to work, and the compensation they are entitled to for the damages suffered as a result of an accident. For 20 years Peter acted as defence counsel for automobile, life, and health insurance companies before committing exclusively to advocating for the ill and injured. His keen u...
Prior to and during the course of attending University, Brad was involved in the residential construction industry. After obtaining his law degree in 1989, Brad articled and practiced with Code Hunter Wittmann. In 1998 he joined the litigation team at Donahue Wells as a partner. In 2010, Brad joined Carbert Waite LLP. Brad has extensive experience as a litigator in a number of areas (with an emphasis on insurance related litigation, product liability litigation, aviation, and commercial litig...
Mike Donaldson, QC, has practiced energy, commercial, and securities litigation, and commercial arbitration in Calgary for over 25 years. He has extensive experience with claims in the electricity, oil & gas, midstream, petrochemical, and pulp & paper industries both before the courts and in complex commercial arbitrations. Mike has appeared as counsel in over 100 reported cases before all Alberta Courts, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada, the ...
For more than 20 years I have been focused on the resolution of business disputes. Over that time, the arbitral proportion of my practice has increased progressively, such that it now comprises a high majority, involving complex matters typically with at least tens of millions of dollars at stake. In 2005, I obtained a Certificate in Arbitration from the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society (now the ADR Institute of Alberta) (ADRIA), based on 11 different relevant courses including 62 ho...
Karen Fellowes, KC is Senior Counsel in our Advocacy Group, and the Western Canadian Leader for our national Restructuring & Insolvency Group. Her practice is based in Calgary and Vancouver, and she serves clients throughout Western Canada. Karen specializes in protecting the interests of banks, secured lenders, unsecured creditors, landlords and tenants, debtors, suppliers and other stakeholders in commercial re-organizations, workouts, restructurings and proceedings under the Bankruptcy...
Jamie Flanagan is an experienced advocate who has guided his clients through difficult times for more than 30 years. Focusing on civil litigation, he handles commercial and construction litigation, employment law disputes, and estate litigation. When a matter proceeds to trial, Jamie has the litigation experience to aggressively and thoroughly pursue his clients' interests. He has appeared before the provincial, superior, and appeal courts of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan on a w...
Howard Gorman practises primarily in the areas of insolvency and restructuring and civil litigation. His practice has developed with emphasis on workout and recovery, insolvency, oil and gas and commercial disputes. Mr. Gorman has acted on behalf of numerous secured and unsecured creditors, insolvent or financially challenged corporations and individuals and insolvency practitioners in their capacity as receivers, trustees and monitors. His practice has resulted in numerous reported appearanc...
Robyn’s practice focuses on insolvency and restructuring, banking and oil and gas related litigation and general commercial litigation. She advises companies, boards of directors, shareholders, creditors and accounting professionals with respect to all aspects of restructuring and insolvency proceedings, whether informal or formal proceedings, both within Canada and on a cross-border basis. Robyn also acts for clients involved in general commercial disputes, banking specific litigation ...
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Mr. Halt graduated as the gold medal recipient from the University of Saskatchewan in 1986 and in 1988-89 he had the honour of serving as a law clerk to Madam Justice Bertha Wilson of the Supreme Court of Canada. Following his clerkship, Mr. Halt relocated to Calgary and has since practised civil litigation, including insurance with an emphasis on professional liability, corporate commercial litigation, securities litigation, franchise litigation, insolvency, construc...
Robert has extensive experience in oil and gas litigation and arbitrations, construction litigation, contract breach cases, First Nations governance, pension litigation and defamation actions, and he has represented clients in professional disciplinary matters before the Alberta Securities Commission, APEGGA, CREB and the Professional Conduct Committee of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. He acts for a range of clients, from large corporations, pension funds and public institutions to indi...
Pragmatic in her approach to client service, Gillian is a versatile litigator with significant courtroom experience in the United States and Canada. With a diverse skillset, Gillian maintains a civil litigation practice primarily in the areas of insurance defence, commercial and condominium litigation. Gillian began her career as a lawyer in Nevada and California. There, she honed her skills working in private practice and as in-house counsel with a national insurance company. Industrious and...
Geoff Holub is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. His practice focuses on the areas of civil and commercial litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on oil and gas, construction and manufacturer's liability. Geoff has acted for companies, shareholders, directors and officers in a wide variety of corporate and securities disputes, including directors’ and officers’ liability, oppression, dissent rights and corporate opportunity cases. Geoff is involved ...
Clarke Hunter has practised litigation and dispute resolution since 1980, following a clerkship with Chief Justice Laskin at the Supreme Court of Canada. He has represented clients in domestic and international arbitrations and mediations, at all levels of the courts in Alberta, in the courts of two other provinces, and in the Federal Court, the Tax Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. The disputes on which Mr. Hunter has acted have involved a broad range of subject matters, including abori...
Greg has successfully litigated a wide variety of civil litigation matters and commercial litigation matters including energy related matters. Greg’s trial and appeal experience is extensive and he has appeared before every level of court in Alberta. Greg has also appeared before several administrative tribunals. He has been involved in the resolution of numerous disputes, using mediation, judicial dispute resolution and other ADR forums. Greg became a partner in Parlee McLaws in 1990. ...
Carsten is a founding member and senior partner of JSS Barristers, the largest civil litigation boutique law firm in western Canada. His practice emphasizes complex and multi-party corporate and commercial litigation, commercial class actions, oil & gas litigation including royalty, environmental and CAPL issues, shareholder disputes, advising creditors and others in insolvency matters and professional negligence claims. During a leave of absence from JSS Barristers, he served as Senior L...
Shannon joined Parlee McLaws as an associate in 2003 following the completion of her articles with the firm. She has focused her practice in the area of civil litigation, with a primary emphasis on oil and gas litigation and insurance defence matters. Specifically, in the oil and gas context, Shannon has extensive experience litigating all aspects of the industry including: Lease disputes Drilling contracts Service Agreements Constructive dismissal Breach of fiduciary duties Breach of confide...
Shane is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution group where he advises clients–individuals, small businesses, and corporations–on litigation and contractual issues, including: corporate litigation employment agreements and contract negotiation severance package determination and review construction contracts and defects holdbacks and builders’ liens debt recovery, bankruptcy, and insolvency regulatory applications He has appeared before all levels of court in A...
Alex Kotkas is a leading, senior litigator at Fasken with extensive trial and appellate experience. Appearing as litigation and arbitration counsel and as an advocate before a variety of statutory boards and tribunals, he provides practical advice and outstanding advocacy in high stakes litigation. He is the founder and former Leader of the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution group in Calgary.
Bianca, a native of Quebec City, is a bilingual lawyer with extensive experience in commercial, banking, and real estate law. She is a member of the Law Society of Alberta and the Barreau du Québec. In her current role as Practice Group Leader for the Commercial, Banking, and Real Estate department in Calgary, Bianca has been leading the group for several years providing legal advice to a broad range of clients. Bianca is a member of the Huron-Wendat First Nation, whose reserve is loca...
Jim Lebo finds legal solutions that protect businesses. With his detailed knowledge of the people and the intricacies of the court system, he guides his clients through every step of the litigation process with skill and expertise. Jim handles corporate commercial litigation, appeals, and arbitrations. He has specialized expertise in appeals for complicated regulatory proceedings as well as an interest in constitutional litigation. His clients come to him for help with a range of issues in ma...
Steve Leitl's practice covers a broad range of commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on securities, M&A, directors'/officers' liability, class actions and internal investigations. Mr. Leitl has conducted proceedings in the courts of Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and Canada (Federal Court) and appeals in the Ontario Court of Appeal and Alberta Court of Appeal. He has conducted various regulatory proceedings before the Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba securities commissions and the Albe...
Lucy L'Hirondelle is a litigator whose practice encompasses a broad range of commercial litigation matters and international arbitration with an emphasis on oil and gas litigation/arbitration, contractual disputes, management-side employment litigation. She also has experience conducting third-party investigations. Lucy has worked in the Calgary litigation group since 2012 and has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, and is familiar with Federal Court...
Curtis is a partner at Carbert Waite LLP, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice. Curtis has extensive experience in a wide variety of commercial litigation and arbitration matters, including international arbitration and litigation, defamation, and estate litigation. His clients include multinational corporations, energy companies, construction companies, family-run businesses, and individuals. He also acts for US and...
Lara Mason’s practice encompasses a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including commercial disputes, transnational and cross-border disputes, professional liability matters, insurance coverage disputes and class actions. Ms. Mason has appeared at all levels of court in Alberta, before the Supreme Court of Canada, and before the Alberta Utilities Commission. She has also participated in a variety of alternative dispute resolution processes.Ms. Mason joined our Calgary office a...
Emily is a dedicated and effective problem-solver. She is a lawyer in Gowling WLG’s Calgary office, and an experienced and successful litigator. Emily represents clients at all levels of courts and tribunals in Alberta, and in mediations and alternate dispute resolution. Her practice focuses on corporate and commercial litigation, and medical defence. Emily is an empathetic and trusted advisor and a loyal advocate for her clients, with an emphasis on finding practical solutions to compl...
Michael is Head of the Advocacy Group in the Calgary office and is a member of the Partnership Board. He represents numerous domestic and international clients in all major areas of commercial litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. Michael’s dispute resolution philosophy is predicated on the principle that every dispute has unique characteristics and exigencies. Efficient and effective dispute resolution requires a flexible and business outcome oriented approach. Hi...
Kelly Moffet-Burima's practice focuses on three main areas: complex commercial litigation, construction litigation, and professional liability. Kelly has acted in a broad range of matters, including contractual disputes in the energy and construction sectors, fraud claims, actions involving breaches of fiduciary duty and breaches of confidence, lien claims involving both owners and contractors, and professional negligence actions where she defends architects, engineers, lawyers, and financial...
Joseph graduated law school in 2003. In 2011 he joined Carbert Waite LLP after practicing with a large regional firm practicing in insurance and commercial litigation. He became a partner of the firm in 2014. His practice focuses on employment law, commercial litigation and plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. He has appeared as counsel before all levels of Court in Alberta. In his employment law practice, Joseph represents employees and employers in all aspects of the employment rel...
Stacy was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She was the Managing Partner of JSS Barristers from 2015 to early 2018. She joined JSS Barristers as their first associate over 20 years ago after articling with a major Calgary law firm. Stacy's practice focuses on civil, corporate and commercial litigation, including professional negligence. She also has experience in class actions and insolvency. Stacy has appeared at every level of the Alberta courts and has conducted and assisted with numero...
Geoff Poelman practises in the litigation group with a focus on complex commercial litigation within the energy industry, construction law, and insurance defence. He has been involved in matters at all levels of court in Alberta, having experience with proceedings including contractual disputes, statutory interpretation and negligence. Geoff has successfully managed multi-party actions with complex procedural issues, often participating in a variety of alternative dispute resolution processes...
Gavin received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Zoology) from the University of Calgary. He then attended the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary, graduating in 2001. Upon graduation, Gavin clerked at the Court of Appeal and the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta. Following his clerkship, Gavin completed his articles at the Calgary offices of a large national law firm, practicing in securities and regulatory matters. He was called to the Alberta Bar in 2002. Gavin joine...
Gulu Punia is a leading commercial and employment litigator in Alberta, representing clients at all levels of Court in Alberta, including as lead counsel at trial before the Court of Queen's Bench. From shareholder disputes and oppression remedies, to fraud claims and claims for breach of contract, Gulu acts for clients in obtaining extraordinary remedies such as attachment orders and Anton Piller orders in cases involving fraud.
Melissa became a member of the Law Society of Alberta in 2004. After her articles, Melissa participated in a Canadian Bar Association internship in Tanzania. During this internship, she assisted the Legal and Human Rights Centre in Dar es Salaam with promoting awareness on various critical human rights issues. Melissa joined Carbert Waite LLP in 2006, and became a partner in 2017. Melissa practices in all areas of civil and commercial litigation. Melissa’s primary practice areas are emp...
Allison Sears is a regulatory litigator and a member of Fasken’s Global Energy and Climate Group in Calgary. Her practice focuses primarily on energy and environmental matters. With experience before all levels of court in Alberta, Allison also represents clients in arbitrations, mediations, and regulatory proceedings before various federal and provincial regulators including the Canada Energy Regulator, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Environmental A...
Jonathan's practice includes all areas of civil and commercial litigation. In his commercial litigation practice, Jonathan has experience in a broad range of cases involving insurance matters, shareholder’s disputes and oppression remedies, professional negligence claims, complex commercial disputes, class actions, real estate disputes, and complex construction and engineering disputes, and oil and gas disputes. In his estate litigation practice, Jonathan has experience with challenges ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.