Ian Breneman

Ian Breneman


Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

Recognized since 2022

Toronto, Ontario

Practice Areas

Corporate and Commercial Litigation

Send Ian Breneman an email at ibreneman@ahbl.ca Navigate to map location for Ian Breneman
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Ian is a member of Alexander Holburn’s Business Disputes and Maritime Practice Groups.

Ian is a commercial litigator with a focus on dispute resolution in the transportation sector. Ian acts as counsel in litigation and arbitrations involving cargo, casualty, construction, and contract claims relating to all modes of transportation. He also assists shippers, intermediaries, and carriers with drafting and negotiating transportation-related agreements. Ian also advises on compliance with the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.

In addition, Ian represents clients in numerous product liability matters. He primarily defends manufacturers in civil litigation and assists with reporting defects and incidents to regulatory authorities.

Ian also has ample experience in the energy sector, including representing midstream, energy, and oilfield services companies in commercial and construction-related disputes.

In addition to his transportation, product liability, and energy law practice, Ian has experience in a variety of areas and industries, such as banking and securities, construction, municipal, insolvency, and administrative law.

Ian has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and all levels of the Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Federal Courts.

Before joining Alexander Holburn, Ian practiced in Calgary, Alberta, at one of Canada’s leading business law firms. Prior to that, Ian clerked at the Federal Court of Canada and practiced at a major regional firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Ian volunteers with Pro Bono Ontario and sits on the board of directors of a registered charity. He has also acted as pro bono counsel for refugee claimants before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court, and he has volunteered with Pro Bono Law Alberta’s Civil Claims Duty Counsel and Queen’s Bench Amicus programs.

Location
  • Bay Adelaide Centre
    2740 – 22 Adelaide Street West,
    Toronto, ON M5H 4E3
    Canada
Education
  • Dalhousie University, LL.B., graduated 2009
Bar Admissions
  • Nova Scotia, 2010
  • Alberta, 2015
  • Ontario, 2021
Affiliations
  • Canadian Maritime Law Association - Member, and Members of the Arctic Issues, Federal Court Act and Rules, and Limitation of Liabilities Committees, Member
  • Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association - Member
  • Eastern Admiralty Law Association - Member
  • The Advocates’ Society - Member, 10+ Committee, Anti-Racism Working Group, Inclusive Pronouns Working Group, and co-producer of the Friends Who Argue podcast
  • The Hamilton Bay Sailing Club - Member and Large Boat Captain

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2025 for work in:
  • Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Awards:

Representative Experience
  • Acting as counsel for shippers and carriers in arbitrations and litigation involving shipments that were cancelled or misdelivered, and cargo that was spoiled or damaged
  • Acting for and advising municipalities in disputes regarding the construction of light rail transit systems
  • Acting for a major railway in a variety of disputes, including derailments, cargo claims, crossing disputes, property damage, and personal injury matters
  • Acting as counsel in disputes regarding the construction of pipeline, rail, and multimodal infrastructure
  • Acting as co-counsel for refinery and pipeline owners in disputes regarding refinery outages, capacity issues, and contractual disputes
  • Representing clients in the financial and energy sectors in matters involving fraud and other serious misconduct
  • Representing business owners, developers, and landowners before municipal appeal boards and councils, including for cannabis store development permits, and in litigation with municipalities and provincial governments
  • Acting as co-counsel in the Clyde River v Attorney General of Canada Supreme Court of Canada appeal regarding the duty to consult Aboriginal peoples
  • Acting for manufacturers and owners of heavy equipment involved in incidents during construction and operation
  • Acting as counsel for a major petroleum producer and shipper in judicial review proceedings
  • Advising product manufacturers and petroleum producers regarding standard terms and conditions for shipping and crewing contracts
  • Defending financial institutions and financial advisors against investment loss and similar claims, and advising companies responding to securities and related investigations
  • Acting for applicants and respondents in applications for judicial review from a number of provincial and federal decision-makers

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