Gilbert Hourani

Partner

Montréal
[email protected]
514.954.3101

Gilbert Hourani provides litigation defence services to Canadian and foreign insurers carrying on business in Canada and in the U.S. With an extensive background in insurance and construction law and civil litigation, his practice focuses on professional liability of general and specialized contractors and engineering firms. This extends to providing clients strategic legal advisory services with respect to risk management and insurance coverage.

With over 30 years of experience, Gilbert represents public and private entities of all sizes, and brings specialized knowledge with respect to insurance defence and risk management for professional and financial indemnity and general line programs underwritten in Canada.

His clients include several Lloyds of London Syndicates holding a Canadian book of business, managing general agencies and Canadian cover holders, and most of the Canadian TPA outfits leading casualty and property programs in Canada for Underwriters, Société mutuelle d’assurance, Groupe Promutuel Fédération des sociétés mutuelles d’assurance générale, HUB International, Arthur J. Gallagher, April Canada, GPL Assurances, RSA, Economical Insurance Group, Allianz and others. Gilbert is also regularly appointed by large insureds in COC claims, notably WSP Canada Inc. and SNC-Lavalin Inc.

Gilbert is often called upon to speak at conferences and actively engages within the industry, particularly as a member of the Barreau du Québec. His ongoing involvement includes roles on various committees such as the one for continuing education, and as chair of the annual insurance law seminar.

Experience

  • Insurance Coverage and Defense

    • Large complex environmental pollution first party $55 million claim involving coverage denial under the absolute exclusion clauses. The owner of the industrial aluminium smelters claimed over 45 years of contamination costs, clean up and future remedy costs.
    • Ecoli bacteria outbreak found in romaine lettuce produced in USA for Canada. Largest producer in Canada (Québec) was denied coverage on a $3 million product recall claim. Insurer settled after evidence on contamination proven and rebuttal coverage arguments raised by insured manufacturer/producer.
    • Defending a manufacturer of highly specialised diesel rotary compressors and cooling systems for IBM data centers; product liability raised as flawed engineering and manufacturing found after building delivery. Defending the manufacturer against the design engineers and the project managers.
  • Professional Liability

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Academic Associate, Insurance Law course, McGill University Faculty of Law, Fall Term 2020
  • Continuing Education Committee, Barreau du Québec
  • Annual Insurance Law Conference, Barreau du Québec
  • Legal Advisor in Canada for the London Market Association Canadian Sub-group (LMA - BASCG)

Community Involvement

  • Member, Fondation Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau at the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
  • Member, Board of Directors, Collège Beaubois, elementary and secondary sectors

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2013) of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Insurance Law)
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2023) of Benchmark Litigation Canada as a Litigation Star (Insurance)
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2021) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Litigation - Commercial Insurance) and in the 2024 edition (Litigation - Product Liability).
  • Recognized as a 2023 Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2022) of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation.
  • Winner at the Client Choice Awards 2019 and recognized for exceptional service and prowess in the Insurance category in Québec
  • Laureate of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Canada-Liban 2019 annual gala in the Professional Services category

Bar Admission & Education

  • Québec, 1994
  • LLB, Université de Montréal
  • Specialized Graduate Diploma in Commercial Law (DESS), Université de Montréal
  • Private International Law, student program, The Hague Academy of International Law