Benedict is a multilingual disputes lawyer who helps clients navigate complex international and commercial challenges with clarity and confidence. Qualified in both England and Ontario, he works with businesses and governments on matters that cross borders, legal systems, and industries.
Much of Benedict’s practice focuses on international trade and investment. He guides clients through investor state disputes, trade and investment agreement negotiations, sanctions issues, and import-export questions. He has acted in cases under NAFTA, CPTPP, and numerous bilateral investment treaties, and is experienced with a wide range of arbitration rules, including UNCITRAL, ICSID, ICC, LCIA, ICDR, VanIAC, and ADRIC. Clients value his ability to translate technical trade obligations into practical, strategic advice.
Benedict is also widely recognized for his work in business and human rights and ESG. Rated Band 2 in Chambers Canada, he brings both academic depth — through a doctorate on transnational liability and human rights — and hands on experience, advising companies on supply chain compliance in Canada and around the world. He leads BLG’s team supporting clients with forced and child labour reporting obligations, and serves on the Canadian Government’s Legal Advisory Panel under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.
In commercial and regulatory disputes, Benedict represents clients in contractual, procurement, fraud, shareholder, and economic loss matters, as well as disputes involving transport and healthcare organizations. He appears before courts, arbitrators, and specialized administrative bodies, offering clear guidance at every stage of a dispute.
Benedict speaks English, French, Spanish, and Italian, and works comfortably with clients across jurisdictions and cultures.
International, Trade & Investment Law
- Advising the UK Government on various free trade agreements and negotiations, including the the UK’s free trade agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- Advising multiple clients in relation to Canadian economic sanctions.
- Advising and representing a Canadian distributor in relation to tariffs and applicable exemptions.
- Advising a Canadian manufacturer in relation to Canadian steel tariffs.
- Counsel for Aecon in an investor-state claim against Ecuador under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules relating to the Quito international airport (See PCA Case 2020-19).
- Advising Canadian mining company on applicable treaty law in relation to investments in Latin American State.
- Advising an international precious metals investor on structuring investments in the context of applicable investment treaties.
- Advising a Canadian mining company in respect of mining investments in a sub-Saharan African state and applicable treaty law.
- Advising a Canadian Province on a proposes subsidy and investment framework for renewable energy.
- Advising a state with respect to potential state-to-state claim on behalf of one of its state-owned entities.
- Advising an energy company regarding its production sharing and joint operating agreements.
- Advising the UK Government on various free trade agreements and negotiations, including the the UK’s free trade agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- Advising multiple clients in relation to Canadian economic sanctions.
- Advising and representing a Canadian distributor in relation to tariffs and applicable exemptions.
- Advising a Canadian manufacturer in relation to Canadian steel tariffs.
- Counsel for Aecon in an investor-state claim against Ecuador under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules relating to the Quito international airport (See PCA Case 2020-19).
- Advising Canadian mining company on applicable treaty law in relation to investments in Latin American State.
- Advising an international precious metals investor on structuring investments in the context of applicable investment treaties.
- Advising a Canadian mining company in respect of mining investments in a sub-Saharan African state and applicable treaty law.
- Advising a Canadian Province on a proposes subsidy and investment framework for renewable energy.
- Advising a state with respect to potential state-to-state claim on behalf of one of its state-owned entities.
- Advising an energy company regarding its production sharing and joint operating agreements.
ESG and Business & Human Rights
- Legal counsel for the Honourable Louise Arbour appointed to carry out a review into the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence, in response to reports of harassment and sexual misconduct within Canada’s military (See the Report of the Independent External Comprehensive Review).
- Advising numerous Canadian and multinational organizations on their reporting obligations under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.
- Advising a Canadian Crown Corporation in respect of its human rights, trade and ESG compliance framework.
- Advising a Canadian Crown Corporation on environmental compliance in respect of an international energy transaction.
- Advising a Canadian shipping industry client on its third party and supply-chain compliance framework.
- Counsel for a garment industry client in proceedings before the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.
- Legal counsel for the Honourable Louise Arbour appointed to carry out a review into the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence, in response to reports of harassment and sexual misconduct within Canada’s military (See the Report of the Independent External Comprehensive Review).
- Advising numerous Canadian and multinational organizations on their reporting obligations under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.
- Advising a Canadian Crown Corporation in respect of its human rights, trade and ESG compliance framework.
- Advising a Canadian Crown Corporation on environmental compliance in respect of an international energy transaction.
- Advising a Canadian shipping industry client on its third party and supply-chain compliance framework.
- Counsel for a garment industry client in proceedings before the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.
Commercial Litigation & Arbitration
- Counsel before the Federal Court of Appeal for Canadian National Railway Company in various challenges of decisions of the Canadian Transportation Agency involving the regulation of western grain transportation (see CN v Canada (Transportation Agency), 2023 FCA 245 and 2025 FCA 234).
- Counsel before the Ontario Superior Court and Ontario Court of Appeal for Alstom in proceedings against Bombardier Inc. seeking a stay in favour of concurrent international arbitration proceedings (see Bombardier Inc. v. Alstom Rail Sweden AB, 2025 ONSC 3679 and 2025 ONCA 779).
- Counsel before the Ontario Superior Court for The Ottawa Hospital in a commercial dispute over a long-term contract for the provision of patient telephone and television services (see The Ottawa Hospital v. Hôpitel Inc., 2025 ONSC 4364).
- Counsel for a large hospitality sector client in arbitration related to one of its managed properties.
- Counsel for a fresh produce importer in international arbitration proceedings under the Arbitration Rules of the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation.
- Counsel for an international engineering firm in an ICC arbitration arising out a large industrial project located in the Saudi Arabia.
- Counsel before the Federal Court in proceedings against the Government of Canada involving international law, diplomatic protection and human rights (see Tepper v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 FC 1046).
- Counsel before the Federal Court in proceedings involving the regulation of pesticide products (See David Suzuki Foundation v. Canada (Health), 2019 FC 1637).
- Counsel for the purchaser in arbitration arising out of an M&A dispute.
- Counsel before the Federal Court of Appeal for Canadian National Railway Company in various challenges of decisions of the Canadian Transportation Agency involving the regulation of western grain transportation (see CN v Canada (Transportation Agency), 2023 FCA 245 and 2025 FCA 234).
- Counsel before the Ontario Superior Court and Ontario Court of Appeal for Alstom in proceedings against Bombardier Inc. seeking a stay in favour of concurrent international arbitration proceedings (see Bombardier Inc. v. Alstom Rail Sweden AB, 2025 ONSC 3679 and 2025 ONCA 779).
- Counsel before the Ontario Superior Court for The Ottawa Hospital in a commercial dispute over a long-term contract for the provision of patient telephone and television services (see The Ottawa Hospital v. Hôpitel Inc., 2025 ONSC 4364).
- Counsel for a large hospitality sector client in arbitration related to one of its managed properties.
- Counsel for a fresh produce importer in international arbitration proceedings under the Arbitration Rules of the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation.
- Counsel for an international engineering firm in an ICC arbitration arising out a large industrial project located in the Saudi Arabia.
- Counsel before the Federal Court in proceedings against the Government of Canada involving international law, diplomatic protection and human rights (see Tepper v. Canada (Attorney General), 2020 FC 1046).
- Counsel before the Federal Court in proceedings involving the regulation of pesticide products (See David Suzuki Foundation v. Canada (Health), 2019 FC 1637).
- Counsel for the purchaser in arbitration arising out of an M&A dispute.
