QUÉBEC
The Montréal office of Borden Ladner Gervais is identified by peers as “one of the strongest of a national firm in this city in what they do.” The “what they do” particularly references class actions, construction and insurance, all areas in which this office is said to have excelled. “BLG just has the sheer strength in numbers,” observes one Montréal peer. “They just have so many litigators that they can take on anything.
Karine Chenevert just got her Ad. E [lawyer emeritus of the Québec bar] two weeks ago [in October 2023]. She’s a young class action practitioner, she and [fellow class-action practitioner]
Anne Merminod are a formidable duo.” Another concurs, “BLG has done exceptionally well in class actions, with a new generation of people. Karine Chenevert and Anne Merminod are now lead counsel on these class actions. Anne is working on cases concerning opioids, and we also see Stephane Pitre working with Anne a lot.” Still another insists, “I have a case against Anne right now, so we’re fighting all the time, but I recognize talent when I see it.” Beyond these primary practice calling cards, Borden Ladner demonstrates strength in other areas. All-purpose trial lawyer
Mathieu Piché-Messier continues to be a perennial favorite among peers. A noted “fixer” and 2018 entrant into the American College of Trial Lawyers, Piché-Messier’s litigation palette covers a broad spectrum, with many of his most recent high-profile cases touching on “extraordinary remedies,” which have gained media interest. “Mathieu is still ‘the man’ over there,” asserts one peer, “which is extraordinary, as he’s still quite young! He can do it all, but especially injunctions, he’s the ‘the guy.’” The Montréal office also demonstrates talent development at an even younger scale. One peer testifies, “I’m having cases against all lawyers of BLG, and I would refer you specifically to
Hugo Saint Laurent. He was recently called to partner, and I think he deserves it. We’re involved in a case concerning the Montreal transit, related to a major project at the Societe Transport of Montreal involving the integration of a talent-management software. Hugo represents Bell Canada in this, and I think he’s doing a great job and is on the right path to victory.”
ONTARIO
Borden Ladner boasts twin-pillar coverage in Ontario, with offices in Toronto and Ottawa housing litigators attending to a number of specialty areas, including defamation and public law, municipal law and health law, in addition to its other key practices. “They restructured the group,” offers one peer, speaking to Borden Ladner’s Toronto office, “and have done a great job cornering the market on some niche areas.” In the health group,
Mary Lynn Gleason is praised as “really strategic and smart,” by peers, one of whom notes, “She defends hospitals in malpractice claims and brings immediate credibility that she really wants to do the right thing.”
Nadia Effendi is routinely cheered as “such a versatile and dynamic court presence” by her contemporaries. “She came up under [celebrated Ottawa-based BLG senior partner] Guy Pratte and got great experience to the point where she is now leading the charge.” Effendi’s practice touches on multiple capacities, with public law noted as the most prominent standout. “Nadia is bilingual and very convincing, which is extremely helpful in the constitutional and human rights cases she gets involved in and wins!” Hugh Meighen is identified as “someone who hits that ‘BLG sweet spot’ of arbitration and construction, and he has made his mark in this area at a fairly young age.” The firm’s insurance practice is on display in both of its Ontario offices. “We see them when we’re doing bond claims because they act for sureties,” confirms one peer. “I see
Andrew Punzo in this surety space and I also see James MacLellan quite often and think very highly of him.”
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Borden Ladner’s Vancouver office continues to generate acclaim from local peers, primarily in practice areas concerning class actions and arbitration. “BLG is really strong on the arbitration side of things,” declares a peer. “I think they’ve done something like 50,000 hours of international arbitration just across the firm, and that doesn’t count domestic, which I think they do even more of than international.” Speaking to individual practitioners, peers note “Rob Deane is doing a lot of high-level arbitration and appellate work. I also see a lot of
Craig Chiasson.” In the class-actions capacity, Brad Dixon remains “a force,” although peers also note that “Michelle Maniago is ready to step up, and I think we’ll see her on more lead counsel roles.” The class actions group attends to matters involving product liability, competition, banking and, increasingly, privacy. “BLG was involved in a case concerning a company that was subject to a cyber-attack in 2020, and they won a big case for Electronic Arts concerning ‘loot boxes’ (games of chance within video games)!” Sarah McEachern, the regional head of commercial and construction litigation, is also identified as “another player who hits that key intersection of arbitration and construction that BLG is so well known for.”
ALBERTA
Borden Ladner’s Calgary office is yet another example of the firm’s muscle in the construction practice, unsurprisingly largely dedicated to the oil-and-gas industry that has long defined the city’s economy.
Trish Morrison is the torch bearer in this area in light of the recent retirement of construction luminary Jeff Vallis. “They are doing a lot of renewable energy cases,” observes a peer. “Contractors are claiming for extras, and owners are fighting back with millions of dollars of liquidated values.” One example is the firm’s case for LNG concerning a pipeline pumping gas to British Columbia, in which the client has a vested interest in the costs of the project, which went from $5 billion to $14 billion. Andrew Pozzobon makes his debut as a future star in this edition. “He’s someone you should keep your eye on,” advises a peer. “He is working [with fellow Calgary partner
Karen Salmon] on a case for Shoal Point Energy on a $550 million claim where the government of Newfoundland allegedly expropriated the client’s rights.”
