Jeffrey Vallis QC, FCIArb.

Jeffrey Vallis is National Litigation Department Leader as well as a partner in both our Construction & Engineering Group and International Construction Projects Focus Group. Based in Calgary, Jeff practises construction litigation and arbitration, and is recognized as one of the leading lawyers in Canada for construction law by the foremost legal rankings publications. He acts on behalf of owners, contractors, subcontractors, lenders and sureties regarding everything from commercial disputes to oil & gas production and distribution, oil & gas facilities, heavy oil extraction, telecommunications, licensing, gas supply contracts, stock manipulation, tort litigation including product liability claims, and claims including significant property losses or personal injury arising out of alleged negligence or breach of contract, primarily in the industrial sector.

Jeff has experience before the superior courts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Supreme Court of Canada, but primarily before the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Appeal. He has also acted as counsel in many arbitration proceedings, and has served as an arbitrator and as a mediator.

• Tulsa Heaters Inc. v. Syncrude Canada Limited (2009), 86 CLR (3d) 245 (Alta. CA); upheld trial decision relating to changes in specifications.
• Tulsa Heaters Inc. v. Syncrude Canada Limited (2008), 2 Alta L.R. (5th) 296 (Alta. QB); successfully prosecuted claim arising out of changes to piping specifications in heavy oil upgrader project.
• Agrium Inc. v. Chubb Insurance Co. of Canada (2007), 5 WWR 530 (Alta. QB); successfully defended at trial a large claim against a fidelity bond.
• Graham Construction and Engineering (1985) Ltd. v. LaCaille Developments Inc. (2006), 154 A.C.W.S. (3d) 1079 (Alta. QB); six-week trial dealing with delay claims, allegations of deficiencies, and changes in scope of work.
• NAC Constructors Ltd. v. Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission (2005), 144 A.C.W.S. (3d) 469 (Alta. CA); upheld decision limiting effect of discretion clauses in tender documents.
• Westco Storage Ltd. v. BICC Canada Inc. (2005), 192 Man. R. (2d) 166 (CA); upheld summary dismissal of environmental claim based on Manitoba limitations legislation.
• Bell ExpressVu Limited Partnership v. Rex et al (2002), 212 D.L.R. (4th) 1 (SCC); acted for intervenor in successfully challenging BCAA interpretation of Radio Communications Act.
• Canada Post v. Goodfellas Delivery Inc. (2002), 322 A.R. 13 (QB); application to strike portions of a defence.
• WIC Premium Television Ltd. v. General Instrument Corp. et al (2001), 2 WWR 431 (Alta. CA); leading decision on the jurisdiction of the Alberta courts.
• IMC Canada Ltd. v. Enron Canada Corp. (2001), 318 A.R. 62 (QB); application for interlocutory injunction.
• National Bank of Canada v. Merit Energy Ltd. (2001), 294 A.R. 36 (QB); determination of rights in a bankruptcy proceeding.

• Speaker, “Better Understanding the Arbitration Process,” Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Commercial Real Property Section, February 2012.
• Speaker, “Leading Types of Claims in the Construction Industry,” 4th Construction Claims Conference, April 2011.
• Contributor, PLC Cross-Border Construction and Projects Handbook, 2011-12.
• Speaker, “Exclusion Clauses in the Construction Context,” Tercon: Changing the Face of Tendering Law in Canada, June 2010.
• Speaker, “Drafting Key Provisions in Procurement Documents,” Tendering and Procurement Conference, May 2010.
• Speaker, “Best Practices for Minimizing Financial Risk During a Construction Project,” 18th Annual Western Canadian Construction Superconference, January 2010.
• Author, “In Defence of Yugraneft,” News and Notes from The Institute of Transnational Arbitration, May 2009.
• Author, “Welcome to Alberta … But Don’t be Late,” Lexpert®, December 2008.
• Co-Chair, Managing Risks in Construction Contracts Conference, November 2008 (with Scott J. Hammel).
• Speaker, “Construction Delay: A Couple of Current Legal Issues,” Managing Risks in Construction Contracts Conference, November 2008.
• Author, “Resolving Construction Disputes: Is Arbitration Today’s Answer?,” Calgary Construction Association’s magazine, The Constructor, November 2008 (with Patricia L. Morrison).

• Recognized by the 2013 Lexology Client Choice Awards as the exclusive winner in Construction in Alberta.
• Recognized in the 2013 and 2012 editions of the Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Construction Law), Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who of ConstructionLawyers  and Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Construction Law).
• Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2013 edition (and since 2006) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Construction Law).
• Recognized in the 2012 editions of Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Construction) and PLC Which lawyer? (Construction).
• Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5 Peer Review Rated.