BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is home to over 750 lawyers across six offices. We list 48 practitioners covering an impressive 24 practice areas, demonstrating the depth and breadth of talent on board.
BLG leads the construction research with five “terrific” partners featuring in the corresponding chapter. Chair of the firm’s international construction practice is “the highly respected” Bruce Reynolds, who specialises in the litigation, arbitration and mediation of construction claims. Christopher O’Connor is “renowned” for his expertise in advising owners and contractors in a broad cross-section of construction disputes. Montreal-based Simon Grégoire was lead counsel when he represented the contractor in the landmark case of Les Constructions du Saint-Laurent Ltée v Aluminerie Alouette Inc. The “excellent” Daniel Ayotte is praised for his work representing both contractors and engineers and is “respected” as an advocate of alternative dispute resolution. Jeffrey Vallis QC is the national litigation department leader at the firm and “offers extensive experience” in acting on behalf of owners, subcontractors, lenders and sureties.
The firm’s insolvency and restructuring group also enjoys five entries. Patrick McCarthy QC is co-chair of the insolvency and restructuring group. Described as “one of Alberta’s finest lawyers”, his practice focuses on the energy industry and cross-border insolvency. The “brilliant” Josef Krüger has acted in numerous insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings and is highly regarded for his cross-border restructuring expertise. Magnus Verbrugge is another “top name” at the firm and he has acted as lead debtor’s counsel in the restructuring proceedings of Seanix Technology and NEMI Northern Energy & Mining. Michael MacNaughton’s extensive experience includes acting for lenders, creditors, debtors and insolvency processionals with regard to bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring matters. An “impressive lawyer in the Quebec market”, Marc Duchesne is regional leader of the firm’s insolvency and restructuring group.
Four lawyers are included in our commercial litigation chapter. The “formidable” David Scott QC is described by peers as a “true talent” and is lauded for his abilities as a commercial, IP, criminal and administrative litigator. Frank Foran is a “specialist” in energy disputes, including oil and gas and electricity cases as well as energy regulatory matters. Guy Pratte is the national leader of the commercial litigation practice group and has acted in professional negligence, pharmaceutical litigation, judicial reviews and defamation suits.
For its work in matters concerning insurance and reinsurance, BLG earns three listings. Calgary-based Bruce Churchill-Smith is the regional head of the insurance and tort liability group and a “key player in the market”. The highly regarded Keith Batten’s practice focuses on the prevention of insurance brokers’ errors and omissions claims and insurance coverage options. The “exceptional” Robert Bell is also singled out for the strength of this litigious practice and features in both the insurance and reinsurance and product liability defence chapters.
The firm’s shipping and maritime group lists three prominent names. Peter Pamel is the national leader of the firm’s maritime group and is “key player in the market”. Referred to by peers as “superb”, Jeremy Bolger is a senior member of the firm’s maritime group. In Toronto, Norm Letalik completes the list where he is recognised as a “significant name”.
The “phenomenal” Jeff Barnes is a “leading name in the market” for corporate and finance related matters and is listed in the capital markets, corporate governance and M&A chapters. Shane Freitag joins him in the capital markets section and Jay Lefton is also a prominent name for M&A work.
Matthew Alter and Gerry Stobo are “eminent” figures in public procurement. In addition, demonstrating the extent of his practice, Stobo also features in the trade and customs chapter where he is joined by Gregory Tereposky.
Listings in a further 14 chapters demonstrate BLP’s position as one of Canada’s leading law firms.
