Canada 2020 – Arbitration

Most Highly Regarded

• Henri Alvarez QC – Independent Arbitrator, Vancouver
• Pierre Bienvenu Ad. E.– Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Toronto
• Stephen L Drymer – Woods LLP, Montreal
• L Yves Fortier CC QC – Independent Arbitrator, Montreal
• David R Haigh QC – Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP, Calgary
• John A M Judge – Arbitration Place, Toronto
• J William Rowley QC – Independent Arbitrator, Toronto
• Janet Walker – Arbitration Place, Toronto

Arbitration Place excels in this year’s research with seven practitioners highlighted.
John Judge is an “excellent arbitrator for commercial disputes” who is “affable and fair in his approach”.
Janet Walker is distinguished by her “splendid international reputation” and “strong academic background”. Her expertise spans construction, shareholder, environmental, employment and M&A disputes.
John Lorn McDougall QC is a “first-class arbitrator” with “decades of experience in domestic and international commercial disputes” including securities cases, energy disputes, competition matters and class actions.
John Keefe stands out as a “phenomenal arbitrator” with an “in-depth understanding of white-collar crime and compliance issues”.

Norton Rose Fulbright sees three lawyers listed.
Pierre Bienvenu is “the top name for arbitration counsel in Montreal” and is “without a doubt one of the best advocates operating in Canada”.
Martin Valasek is “simply excellent, and always provides strong work” in domestic and international disputes across a broad range of industries including banking, pharmaceuticals and construction.
Clarke Hunter QC is “top-tier counsel” with four decades of experience in contract, joint venture, oil and gas, D&O liability and tax disputes.

At Borden Ladner Gervais, the “brilliant” Craig Chiasson is a “phenomenal lawyer with an impressive level of knowledge” and extensive experience in commercial and investor-state disputes.
Robert Deane is a “wonderful lawyer” and “clear market-leader in the field of arbitration” thanks to his “highly impressive response time and quality of legal advice”.

Independent arbitrator Henri Alvarez QC is an “incredible arbitrator” and “pre-eminent international practitioner” who is “highly accomplished in commercial disputes” and is “extremely thoughtful and widely respected”.

Independent arbitrator L Yves Fortier CC QC is “the very best international arbitrator in Quebec” with long-standing experience in investor state disputes.

Stephen Drymer with Woods is a “top-tier arbitrator” with broad experience covering commercial and investment treaty disputes.

David Haigh QC at Burnet Duckworth & Palmer is a “vastly experienced international arbitrator” who is a “real trailblazer in the energy and mining sectors” thanks to his “brilliant down-to-earth approach”.

Independent arbitrator J William Rowley QC is a “long-standing legend” with an “outstanding reputation” for his “impressively sharp mind”.

Gerald Ghikas QC with Vancouver Arbitration Chambers stands out as a “first-rate commercial arbitrator” with four decades of experience in the field.
The “terrific” Tina Cicchetti is “renowned for her work in domestic and international arbitration” and is heralded “one of her generation’s very best”.

J Christopher Thomas QC of J.C. Thomas Law Corporation is “a brilliant arbitrator” with a wealth of experience in complex trade disputes.

Independent arbitrator Marc Lalonde PC OC QC is a veteran in the field who continues to excel as an authority on investor-state arbitration.

William Horton of William G Horton Corporation is “among the most prolific arbitrators in Canada” and is considered to be an “absolute pioneer and educator with a fantastic domestic practice”.

John Marshall QC of John J Marshall QC Professional Corporation is a “senior statesman with extensive experience as an arbitrator”. His well-established practice spans domestic and international oil and gas, electricity and mining disputes.

At Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin, the “excellent” Ian Binnie CC QC is a “highly sought-after arbitrator” with extensive experience as a Supreme Court judge.
At Glaholt Bowles, Duncan Glaholt is hailed as “the go-to construction guy”, renowned as “excellent arbitration counsel” in sector-related disputes.

At Torys, John Terry is “excellent counsel” and “incredibly smart” according to impressed sources who applaud his expert handling of high-value investment disputes.