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Jeffrey Vallis

Associé

Calgary

Expertise

Norine Maaswinkel

Adjointe à la pratique

Calgary
[email protected]
403.266.1395
403.232.9405

Jeff 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 in disputes arising from large-scale construction and engineering projects in the infrastructure, industrial and commercial sectors.

Jeff has extensive experience before the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the Alberta Court of Appeal. He has also appeared before the superior courts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Jeff acts extensively as counsel in both domestic and international arbitrations, and has served as both an arbitrator and a mediator.

Jeff provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Testimonials

Benchmark Canada

Recognized as the Construction Litigator of the Year

Chambers Global

Jeffrey Vallis QC is highlighted for his strong construction litigation practice and also comes recommended for his work in construction arbitration. His client roster includes contractors, subcontractors, owners and lenders.

Who's Who Legal: Construction 2022

"Jeffrey is a true leader in the construction field" & "He is very well known for his deep expertise in construction disputes"

Who's Who Legal: Construction 2022

"An extremely sharp attorney who has an excellent handle on the particulars of a matter...well respected by peers in the industry"

Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2021

“Jeffrey is heralded as "a leader in the field" who is "very well known in the construction arbitration space"

Experience

  • Counsel in a multi-party arbitration, acting for a Construction Manager in a dispute arising out of the construction of a large hospital project in northern Alberta, with claims and cross-claims involving the public owner and a number of subcontractors.
  • Counsel in an arbitration, acting for a contractor engaged in the design and delivery of a highly complex signalling infrastructure for a railway project in Ontario, in a dispute with a consortium partner arising out of a disagreement over scope of work and contractual performance.
  • Counsel in an arbitration involving two joint ventures engaged in disputes arising out of the design and construction of a major ring road project in southern Alberta.
  • Counsel in an arbitration, for an international engineering firm defending a $125 million claim arising out of the design of a series of pumping stations on a large international oil pipeline. The arbitration was commenced as an ICC arbitration, but was converted to ad hoc rules by agreement between the parties.
  • Counsel in an arbitration, for an owner of a $1 billion sour gas processing plant in northern Canada claiming damages against two contractors and a fabricator. This arbitration was commenced under UNCITRAL rules, and is a multi-party proceeding.
  • Counsel in an arbitration, for a general contractor involved in disputes with the owner and with a number of subcontractors arising out of the construction of an international airport in a major city in Canada.
  • Counsel in an arbitration, for a design build contractor, arising out of the design and construction of a highway infrastructure project in southern Manitoba.
  • Counsel in an arbitration, for an EPC contractor involved in a dispute with the owner and operator of a carbon capture facility.
  • Graham Building Services v. Saskatoon (City) (2018), SKQB336; successfully sought leave to appeal from an arbitration award.
  • Whissell Contracting Ltd. v. Calgary (City) et al. (2017), ABQB 644; successfully acted for a general contractor in resisting an application for summary judgment by a subcontractor.
  • JTI v. Alberta (2016), ABCA 28 (Alta. CA); successfully set aside an adverse interpretation of the Tobacco Tax Act of Alberta.

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers
  • Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
  • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  • Member, Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association and Calgary Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Former Board Chair and Director, Hospice Calgary Society
  • Former Trustee and Vice-President, Canadian Athletic Foundation
  • Former Director and Vice-Chair, Recreation for Life Foundation
  • Former Co-Chair, Hospice Calgary's Community Campaign

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2006) edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Construction Law).
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 Canada Hall of Fame (Construction) 
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2016) of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Construction - Nationwide and Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Nationwide).
    • Construction - Calgary-based Jeffrey Vallis KC specialises in the handling of large-scale construction disputes. He is frequently sought after by engineering and architecture companies to advise on contentious mandates.
    • Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Jeffrey Vallis KC is renowned for his longstanding experience in domestic and international construction disputes. Based in the Calgary office of Borden Ladner Gervais, he is widely regarded as one of Canada's leading construction arbitration lawyers. His wide-ranging practice also sees him handle commercial arbitration cases conducted under ad hoc and ICC rules.
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and 2020) of Chambers Global – The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration).
  • Recognized as the 2023 'Lawyer of the Year' in Calgary by The Best Lawyers in Canada (Construction Law)
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and previous editions) of the Lexpert® / American Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Construction Law).
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and since 2012) edition of Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Commercial Arbitration, Construction Law; Infrastructure Law).
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and since 2020) edition of Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star” (Arbitration, Commercial, Insurance, Product Liability).
  • Shortlisted for "Construction Litigator of the Year" at the 2023 Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders: Construction
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Arbitration and Construction).
    • Jeffrey D Vallis KC is a clear leader in the field when it comes to construction law and regularly handles disputes arising from large-scale construction and engineering projects.
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal: Construction
    • "Jeffrey is a true leader in the construction field."
    • "He is very well known for his deep expertise in construction disputes."
    • "Mr Vallis QC is an extremely sharp attorney who has an excellent handle on the particulars of a matter. He is well respected by peers in the industry."
    • "Jeff Vallis is professional, courteous, capable and ethical. He is deserving of recognition by WWL."
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and 2013-2018-2020-2022) edition of the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
  • Recognized in the 2021 edition (and since 2020) of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2022) of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy
  • Recognized as Construction Lawyer of the Year at the 2019 (and 2018) Benchmark Canada Awards.
  • Inducted as Fellow to the American College of Construction Lawyers in 2019, only the 6th Canadian to be given this honour.
  • Recognized in the 2018 (and since 2012) edition of Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Construction).
  • Recognized in the 2015 edition of Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Construction).
  • Recognized in the 2015 edition of the Legal 500 Canada (Dispute Resolution).
  • Recognized in the 2018 and 2017 editions of the Lexpert®/ROB Special Edition – Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers.
  • Recognized by the 2014 Lexology Client Choice Awards as the exclusive winner in Construction in both Canada and Alberta. Also recognized in 2013 as the exclusive winner in Construction in Alberta.
  • Recognized by the 2013 Lexology Client Choice Awards as the exclusive winner in Construction in Alberta.
  • Recognized in the 2012 edition of the PLC Which lawyer? (Construction).
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rated.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Alberta, 1982
  • LLB, Université de Toronto, 1981
  • Leadership in Law Firms Certificate, Executive Program, faculté de droit de Harvard, 2011