Alberta

Firm overview

Peacock Linder Halt & Mack legal team provides highly skilled and effective litigation and dispute resolution services to its clients. We have built a strong reputation for successful advocacy and achieve superior, effective results. Our firm is comprised of a dedicated team of lawyers from diverse backgrounds who provide litigation advice and associated services to individuals, corporations and institutions from Alberta, throughout Canada, and around the world.

Founded in 1994 to service the litigation needs of the Calgary legal and business communities, a significant part of the work we do originates from other law firms who recognize that our highly-skilled and litigation-focused team will serve their clients’ litigation needs in circumstances (such as conflicts of interest) where they cannot act themselves.

The confidence in our team shown by our legal peers has always been a source of great pride for our firm.

Our partners are experienced trial and appellate lawyers who have appeared in all levels of court in Alberta, as well as at the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. They have represented clients in mediations and arbitrations both domestic and international, and many of our partners have acted as mediators and arbitrators in complex commercial disputes.

Updated April 2022

Firm overview

Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP (known as “JSS Barristers”) is a distinguished litigation firm known for providing high-quality trial representation and advocacy across multiple industries and practice areas, including general corporate & commercial litigation matters, construction claims, oil & gas disputes, data & privacy protection, arbitration & mediations, and class-action suits on both the plaintiff and defendant sides. 

JSS Barristers is consistently recognized by peers and clients alike for our bench strength and experience in handling complex litigation matters. Of particular note is the wide variety of files that are handled by our lawyers. From class actions arising out of privacy and data breaches to restructuring and insolvency litigation, our lawyers can draw upon a broad experience base to find the best solution for our clients in all industries. 

Our lawyers have appeared at all levels of court in Alberta and Canada, as well as before various regulatory bodies such as the Alberta Securities Commission and the Law Society of Alberta. 

In addition to litigation, the firm also boasts extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution. Multiple partners within the firm are admitted fellows to the UK-based Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and are consistently called upon to adjudicate as sole arbitrator, panel member and panel chair.

The office of JSS Barrister is home to a state-of-the-art arbitration room, complete with video recording capabilities and private breakout rooms, providing the necessary amenities and services to accommodate the needs of all parties involved. JSS Barristers takes great pride in the reputation that we have earned in the legal community in the form of work referrals. Our referrals come from a variety of sources: former clients have been valuable advocates for us when they know someone in need, as well as conflicted-out lawyers who entrust us with the well-being of their clients.

Firm overview

Lawson Lundell’s Litigation Group has a focus on commercial litigation and a number of associated specialty areas all supported by the largest dedicated research team in Vancouver. We exclusively assist business clients and maintain a clear objective of achieving the best outcome for our clients either by agreement or through the courts. Our offices are in Vancouver, Calgary, Yellowknife and Kelowna.

Our group is distinguished with rankings from Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Best Lawyers in Canada. Our team has represented clients at all levels of Court in Canada and before most regulatory tribunals, has appeared before a wide range of administrative panels and in national and international arbitrations. Details concerning key practice areas are set out below.

Commercial Litigation – We have extensive experience with all kinds of commercial disputes, including banking, competition and anti-trust, forestry, mining, oil and gas and other natural resources disputes, franchising, transportation and shipping. We have particular expertise acting for major industrial manufacturers, such as leading engineering, mining, energy and forest products companies, including with respect to liability for products and services.

Corporate and Securities − We act for a wide variety of securities market participants in take-over bid litigation, shareholders rights claims, fiduciary duty and other disputes and securities commission investigations. We regularly represent clients in the following areas: dealer-client litigation, takeover bids, poison pills and related litigation, investigations and enforcement, corporate governance, and oppression and shareholder rights litigation. We have extensive experience in disputes within closely-held corporations.

Class Actions − We primarily represent corporate defendants, assisting our clients in resolving class actions expeditiously, by preliminary motions where possible. We frequently provide advice to our corporate and institutional clients to help minimize exposure to class actions.

Administrative, Constitutional and Public Law − We assist clients in developing legal strategies for complying with complex regulatory requirements and provide advice on the legal and public policy implications of changes in legislation and other government initiatives. We act as counsel in significant administrative and constitutional law cases, involving both Charter of Rights and division of powers issues.

Indigenous and Environmental Law − We represent resource-sector clients in project permitting and the defence of subsequent challenges brought by Indigenous and environmental groups. We have represented clients in precedent-setting Indigenous rights litigation and other Indigenous law matters before all levels of Court, and have handled permitting of major projects before regulatory tribunals and in subsequent litigation. We work with resource sector clients to defend their interests in disputes between Indigenous communities and governments related to the Crown’s duty to consult. We advise and represent clients in civil and criminal claims related to contaminated site and other environmental matters.

Public Utility and Regulatory − We act for utilities, major customers and regulators, with extensive experience in the power and energy sectors, acting for applicants and intervenors before administrative tribunals and on subsequent Court proceedings. We have also provided regulatory advice in the transportation, telecommunications and water utility sectors.

Labour, Employment & Human Rights − We advise employers in all aspects of workplace law in both the provincial and federal sectors, including labour relations, employment law, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, human rights, employment standards, pension and benefits litigation, employment equity, workers’ compensation, privacy issues and business immigration. We have extensive experience in acting as counsel before judicial and decision making tribunals such as provincial and federal labour relations boards, arbitration boards, employment standards tribunals, human rights tribunals, workers’ compensation boards as well as all levels of court. We regularly provide collective bargaining advice and act as chief spokespersons for companies.

Pension and Employee Benefits −We have been involved in many of the leading Canadian pension and benefits cases, including successful defence of a number of class actions. Cases have involved post-retirement benefits, surplus entitlement and expense claims, fiduciary duties, including claims relating to investment policy and plan immunization and contribution holiday and benefit entitlement litigation.

Real Estate and Construction − We advise and represent international, national and local corporations, financial institutions, tenants, commercial landlords, creditors, debtors and others in real estate matters. We provide advice and representations on complex disputes including delay claims, enforcing and defending builders’ liens, tendering disputes and leaky condominium and leaky school actions, as well as property tax planning and dispute resolution. The group is also well versed in strata corporation windups.

Insolvency and Restructuring − We routinely act as counsel to the various stakeholders involved in corporate insolvency proceedings, including bankruptcies and proposals under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, winding up and liquidations, receiverships, mortgage recovery, security realization under the Personal Property Security Act, arrangements under the Companies Creditors’ Arrangement Act, and preservation and recovery proceedings relating to professional fraud, including securities fraud.

Defamation and Media − We pursue and defend claims for defamation and are frequently consulted for advice in connection with libel and slander, Privacy Act, copyright and other issues that involve the activities of the print or electronic media and, increasingly, the internet.

Privacy & Data Management − We help clients navigate privacy and data governance considerations resulting from the collection, use, disclosure and maintenance of personal information. We provide advice to both private and public-sector clients regarding access to personal information requests, requests that arise in the course of corporate  transactions or employee matters.

Estate Litigation – We assist clients in navigating the highly sensitive and complex issues involved when an estate plan is challenged. This includes challenges to the validity of wills or trusts, claim arising from the administration of wills or trusts, claims against executors, court applications, proceedings to change trustees or guardians, and matters involving charities.

Updated March 2022

Firm overview

The world is changing, and it’s happening faster than ever. Businesses and people are adapting, but nobody can do it alone. Maybe it’s easier for us to keep up because we’ve always been nimble and brought creative thinking to the way we practise law.

BD&P is a full-service boutique law firm headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Our approximately 120 lawyers are bright, deeply talented legal minds who work on a broad spectrum of corporate and litigation matters, sitting across the table from national and international firms. Our clients live a variety of sectors, including energy, renewables, agribusiness, technology and life sciences.

We are not just legal advisors, we are true partners. We've been called unconventional, and we think that makes us better partners to our clients for now — and for the future.

Key areas of service include:

Commercial Litigation: their litigators have a wealth of experience handling complex commercial litigation in a wide range of business disputes. The team regularly appears before all levels of Alberta’s Courts, the courts of other provincial jurisdictions, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. Mindful of the cost and time involved in litigation, they seek to find efficient and negotiated solutions to their clients’ disputes.

Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution: the lawyers are seasoned in alternative dispute resolution practices, regularly appearing as counsel in international and domestic arbitrations and judicial dispute resolutions. When their clients’ require dispute resolution outside of the traditional court process, BD&P lawyers draw upon their experience to assist them in determining the best course of action to resolve their issues.

Energy Litigation: BD&P has extensive experience in all oil and gas related matters giving rise to litigation. The dispute resolution team complements and is complemented by the strength of the firm’s energy law practice, enabling the litigators to work closely with colleagues to provide all the resources that are key to resolving clients’ oil and gas disputes.

Securities Litigation: the team provides advice and representation in all areas of securities and corporate litigation before the provincial securities commissions, the major Canadian stock exchanges and the Courts. They are experienced in representing public and private companies, minor and major shareholders, boards of directors, investment dealers, brokers and senior management, providing them with strategic advice on securities law and other related matters.

Construction Litigation: BD&P assists clients in all aspects of industrial, commercial and institutional construction project disputes, which often involve complex, multifaceted issues with multiple parties. The team is skilled in effectively and efficiently advising on disputes of varying size and complexity, whilst maintaining a focused, results-oriented approach.

IP and Technology Litigation: the litigators protect and assert their clients’ best interests when disputes arise from the misuse or misappropriation of their intellectual property. Whether through litigation, arbitration or mediation of these disputes, they provide an innovative service to meet their clients’ objectives.

Tax Litigation: the tax litigators cover all stages of the tax litigation process, including negotiations with appropriate authorities, the provision of opinions, dealing with compliance issues, and appearances before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. They also appear in the Court of Queen’s Bench on provincial income tax matters, for rectification orders and other declaratory judgements.

Class Actions: BD&P has considerable experience in all aspects of Canadian and U.S. class actions, representing clients in a broad range of commercial class actions. The lawyers have the ability to navigate the procedural complexities unique to class action litigation, and guide clients expertly through the process, from early negotiated settlement to trial.

Estate Litigation: the estate litigation team focuses on the resolution of contentious matters relating to wills, trusts and the administration of complex estates, handling matters in a way that is mindful of the impact that litigation can have on family relationships. The lawyers understand the challenges unique to estate litigation, and strive to assist beneficiaries and trustees in avoiding and resolving claims through effective guidance and advice.

Updated March 2022