Commercial Arbitration

We resolve commercial disputes through arbitration by collaborating with you to gain an understanding of your business and its strategic objectives. 

BLG is recognized as one of the world’s leading arbitration practices by the GAR 100. We have acted:

  • in domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration
  • in international construction disputes regarding some of the world’s largest infrastructure projects
  • in investor-state arbitrations under investment protection treaties such as NAFTA and various bilateral investment treaties
  • as advisers on the implementation of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)

As a national, multidisciplinary firm, we have the resources to assemble efficient, highly-integrated legal teams to provide targeted advice and advocacy in English and French. Our clients benefit from collaborating with lean, select teams who remain closely involved with the case and can respond to inquires in a timely manner.

We provide active engagement and involvement by senior counsel in complex disputes involving claims of hundreds of millions or billions of dollars.

Our clients include:

  • banks
  • governments and government agencies
  • private corporate entities
  • funds
  • manufacturers
  • wholesalers and retailers
  • property owners
  • developers
  • athletes
  • franchising parties
  • licensees
  • shareholders
  • joint ventures
  • sporting goods manufacturers

Our arbitration lawyers have participated in international arbitrations in Canada, the U.S. and around the world involving a wide range of industries and subject matters, and administered by leading arbitral institutions.

Experience

  • Government-owned corporation in its dispute with a pulp and paper company.
  • Respondent shipowner in successfully defending charterer’s claim for damages arising from shipowner’s refusal to call at an unsafe port.
  • Claimant vendor in successfully pursuing ad hoc arbitration of claims and counterclaims following the sale of the assets of a satellite company.
  • Respondent in an ad hoc arbitration of claims under an environmental indemnity agreement.
  • Property owner in an ad hoc arbitration of claims related to parking garage repairs.
  • Respondent majority shareholder of family dollar-store company in BC International Commercial Arbitration Centre arbitration of claims and counterclaims for oppression and liquidation.
  • Investor in International Film and Television Alliance arbitration of claims and counterclaims with other investors about distribution of film proceeds.
  • Respondent business directory publisher in BC International Commercial Arbitration Centre arbitration of claims and counterclaims for breaches of asset purchase and services agreements.
  • Landlord in two ad hoc arbitrations of lease renewal term rent for convenience stores/gas bars.
  • Claimant in ad hoc arbitration under share purchase agreement related to the purchase price for respondent’s shares in closely held tile distribution and retail companies. 
  • Claimant in BC International Commercial Arbitration Centre arbitration relating to whether shareholder breached a shareholders’ agreement by exercising put option but not surrendering share certificates.
  • Claimant in BC International Commercial Arbitration Centre arbitration relating to whether parties defaulted under warehousing agreements by subcontracting janitorial services and failing to pay invoices.
  • Respondent in ad hoc arbitration of issues arising from cancellation of law society funding contract with native community law centre.

Testimonials

Tribunal remark regarding BLG’s representation of a respondent

“As regards the amount of the legal fees, there is a real discrepancy between the Parties. The Claimant’s legal fees are twice that of the Respondent. In large part, the Tribunal attributes this to a particularly cost-effective organization by the Respondent’s legal team of their efforts. It is rare that the members of the Tribunal have seen a party be able to conduct a case of this complexity so efficiently.”

Chambers Canada 2024

"Borden Ladner Gervais LLP offers clients a deep bench of skilled arbitrators and dispute resolution lawyers with the ability to handle complex domestic and international arbitrations. The firm regularly takes on natural resource and energy-related contests and is perhaps best known for its leading expertise in construction arbitrations."
- Dispute Resolution: Arbitration - Nationwide - Canada

"A fantastic group of folks with capable resources - the expectation of prompt and diligent communication runs deep in their organisation."
- Dispute Resolution: Arbitration client Canada

Key Contacts

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