Norton Rose Fulbright > Montreal, Canada > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Transport > Shipping Tier 1

Canada > Dispute resolution: Alberta Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright, a firm with an expansive international network, is extremely well-versed at all levels of court in Alberta, operating across an array of industries including government, construction, property, insurance, banking and finance, transport and manufacturing. Ray Chartier  heads up the team, honing his focus on energy and infrastructure-related disputes, meanwhile, Clarke Hunter KC runs a broad caseload which encompasses litigious joint venture, contractual, product liability, IP and professional negligence matters; the pair are based alongside Lara Mason, a class action specialist with a distinct level of expertise in aboriginal law and electricity regulation, and also Kaitlin Long , noted for her tenacity in energy, environmental compliance and indigenous law.  Elsewhere, the Montreal office is home to competition, international trade, transport and energy specialist, Jean Bertrand, in addition to Sophie Melchers  who serves as a key port of call in respect of securities litigation. Over in Vancouver, the team demonstrates a track record in forestry, healthcare, mining, insolvency and corporate governance disputes, among other forms of litigation, and hosts Daniel Bennett KC, a standout for commercial, natural resource and real estate proceedings. Orestes Pasparakis , one of the market’s foremost names for proxy disputes, is found at the Ontario office which garners particular acclaim for its management of financial institution, pharma, life science and insurance-related litigation.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Quebec Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright, a firm with an expansive international network, is extremely well-versed at all levels of court in Alberta, operating across an array of industries including government, construction, property, insurance, banking and finance, transport and manufacturing. Ray Chartier  heads up the team, honing his focus on energy and infrastructure-related disputes, meanwhile, Clarke Hunter KC runs a broad caseload which encompasses litigious joint venture, contractual, product liability, IP and professional negligence matters; the pair are based alongside Lara Mason, a class action specialist with a distinct level of expertise in aboriginal law and electricity regulation, and also Kaitlin Long , noted for her tenacity in energy, environmental compliance and indigenous law.  Elsewhere, the Montreal office is home to competition, international trade, transport and energy specialist, Jean Bertrand, in addition to Sophie Melchers  who serves as a key port of call in respect of securities litigation. Over in Vancouver, the team demonstrates a track record in forestry, healthcare, mining, insolvency and corporate governance disputes, among other forms of litigation, and hosts Daniel Bennett KC, a standout for commercial, natural resource and real estate proceedings. Orestes Pasparakis , one of the market’s foremost names for proxy disputes, is found at the Ontario office which garners particular acclaim for its management of financial institution, pharma, life science and insurance-related litigation.

Canada > Banking and finance Tier 2

‘Very practical lawyers with a deep bench‘, Norton Rose Fulbright impresses clients with its extensive international reach, cited as ‘useful when looking at cross-border transactions‘. Equally adept at advising both lenders and borrowers, the group handles the full-range of corporate leveraged loans, asset-based lending, acquisition finance, project finance and structured finance, with particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional deals. High-profile names include Calgary-based Rick Borden, who is acclaimed for project finance and energy-related matters; he recently advised Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Bank of Montreal on providing C$420m syndicated and bilateral credit facilities to the Calgary Airport Authority, as part of the latter’s debt restructuring. In Montreal, national practice coordinator Peter Wiazowski, asset-based lending co-head Arnold Cohen and corporate finance partner David Lemieux are recommended. Key names in Toronto include David Amato, who co-chairs the asset-based lending group, and Elana Hahn, who maintains a broad banking and finance practice. Vancouver’s Matthew Choi and Toronto’s Russell Dufault were both elevated to the partnership in January 2022.

Canada > Business immigration Tier 2

Canada > Capital markets Tier 2

Lawyers at Norton Rose Fulbright ‘distil complicated issues down and provide pragmatic advice‘, according to clients. The group is also frequently highlighted for its ability to plug into its global network for support on cross-border offerings, such as its recent advice to Parkland Corporation on its $800m offering of senior unsecured notes. Led from Calgary by corporate finance specialist Marcus Archer, the Parkland deal also involved teams in Montreal, Dallas, Houston, New York and London. Calgary is also the seat of Kirsty Sklar; she co-chairs the national securities practice together with Montreal-based Elliot Shapiro, Toronto-based Andrea Brewer and Kristopher Miks, who splits his time between Vancouver and Toronto.

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright, a firm with a far-reaching international network, is routinely involved in colossal M&A and corporate transactions, including proxy battles and hostile situations. The practice is co-led by Troy Ungerman , a lawyer especially accomplished within the aviation, technology and consumer market sectors, alongside Mathieu Deschamps who, in addition to catering to start-ups, counts some of Quebec’s largest corporates among his client list. Canada chair Walied Soliman continues to make waves in this space, supporting on M&A, corporate finance, restructurings, structured products and governance matters, meanwhile Terence Dobbin serves as a go-to for multijurisdictional deals, including both acquisitions and financings. The practice is also famed for its capabilities in debt and equity financings, as well as securities law, owing to the dedicated expertise provided by Paul Raymond. Named lawyers are based in Toronto except for Deschamps and Raymond who work from Montreal.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 2

A popular choice for cross-border energy M&A, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s Calgary office frequently teams up with its partners across the globe to staff multi-jurisdictional oil and gas matters. Closer to home, the firm is a key participant in work involving Canada’s LNG sphere, the Alberta oil sands and midstream infrastructure transactions, among other areas. Robert Froehlich, who leads the business group in Calgary, is highly regarded for oil and gas transactions; oil and gas head Ryan Keays and experienced partner Wayne Fedun are also key names for energy deals. On the regulatory front, Don Davies KC is a sector specialist.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 2

Commended for its ‘strong industry expertise in energy‘, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s power group ‘offers creative solutions to address new problems’, according to sources. The practice also sets itself apart through its ability to draw on the wider global firm’s extensive energy offering. Led from Vancouver by energy regulation partner Matthew Keen, the national group also benefits from the experience of Calgary-based projects specialist, David Eeles, and Ottawa-based transactional energy partner, Alison Babbitt. Among its recent sector highlights, Keen is spearheading a cross-office team representing the Alberta Electric System Operator in a range of proceedings before the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Alberta Court of Appeal.

Canada > Infrastructure projects Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s infrastructure group is held up by clients for its ability to provide ‘creative, in-depth and tailored legal solutions’. A strong performer in the rail sector, the team also advises on a steady stream of projects in the energy, maritime and healthcare spheres. Vancouver-based Canadian infrastructure head Jay LeMoine specializes in the commercial aspects of infrastructure work. Global infrastructure and resources lead Douglas Buchanan splits his time between New York and Vancouver and focuses on project development, project finance and M&A. Toronto-based project finance partner Sandra Nissan is also recommended.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright deploys an expansive national and international footprint to support on a wealth of trademark, patent, dispute, IP strategy and data strategy affairs, demonstrating particularly notable capabilities within the life sciences sector. In Toronto, Jung-Kay Chiu  is an acquisition, exploitation and protection specialist with a focus on medical devices and biotechnology meanwhile, over in Vancouver, Karen MacDonald is a leading trademark agent who operates across portfolio, infringement and anti-counterfeiting matters. Calgary-based Elizabeth Williams provides the practice with accomplishment in licensing, commercialization and monetization endeavours and this is supplemented by Sébastien Clark ’s work from Montreal which includes the drafting and prosecution of US original patent applications.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 2

It was a year of transition for Norton Rose Fulbright‘s labour and employment practice, which saw high-profile senior partner Richard Charney step down as department head in 2021, though he still remains practising in Toronto. The team is now led nationally by partners from across all six of the group’s Canadian platforms, including regulatory partner Lindsay Mullen in Calgary and Taryn Mackie in Vancouver. The robust national group, which is particularly prominent in Ontario and Quebec, also draws on the experience of Montreal-based François Côté, who has a focus on grievance arbitration, occupational health and safety and labour relations, and Toronto-based litigator John Mastoras. Up-and-coming litigator Daniel Mcdonald is also noted in Toronto.

Canada > Public procurement Tier 2

The procurement team at Norton Rose Fulbright forms part of its wider infrastructure group. Its vast procurement expertise covers bid preparation including security clearance issues and the creation of procurement policies for both governmental and private sector clients. The team often oversees the full lifespan of projects, including procurement strategy, project structuring, preparation of contracts and post-contract advice. Jay LeMoine  and Martin Masse  co-lead the team from Vancouver and Ottawa respectively.

Transport > Aviation Tier 2

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright, a firm with an expansive international network, is extremely well-versed at all levels of court in Alberta, operating across an array of industries including government, construction, property, insurance, banking and finance, transport and manufacturing. Ray Chartier  heads up the team, honing his focus on energy and infrastructure-related disputes, meanwhile, Clarke Hunter KC runs a broad caseload which encompasses litigious joint venture, contractual, product liability, IP and professional negligence matters; the pair are based alongside Lara Mason, a class action specialist with a distinct level of expertise in aboriginal law and electricity regulation, and also Kaitlin Long , noted for her tenacity in energy, environmental compliance and indigenous law.  Elsewhere, the Montreal office is home to competition, international trade, transport and energy specialist, Jean Bertrand, in addition to Sophie Melchers  who serves as a key port of call in respect of securities litigation. Over in Vancouver, the team demonstrates a track record in forestry, healthcare, mining, insolvency and corporate governance disputes, among other forms of litigation, and hosts Daniel Bennett KC, a standout for commercial, natural resource and real estate proceedings. Orestes Pasparakis , one of the market’s foremost names for proxy disputes, is found at the Ontario office which garners particular acclaim for its management of financial institution, pharma, life science and insurance-related litigation.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright, a firm with an expansive international network, is extremely well-versed at all levels of court in Alberta, operating across an array of industries including government, construction, property, insurance, banking and finance, transport and manufacturing. Ray Chartier  heads up the team, honing his focus on energy and infrastructure-related disputes, meanwhile, Clarke Hunter KC runs a broad caseload which encompasses litigious joint venture, contractual, product liability, IP and professional negligence matters; the pair are based alongside Lara Mason, a class action specialist with a distinct level of expertise in aboriginal law and electricity regulation, and also Kaitlin Long , noted for her tenacity in energy, environmental compliance and indigenous law.  Elsewhere, the Montreal office is home to competition, international trade, transport and energy specialist, Jean Bertrand, in addition to Sophie Melchers  who serves as a key port of call in respect of securities litigation. Over in Vancouver, the team demonstrates a track record in forestry, healthcare, mining, insolvency and corporate governance disputes, among other forms of litigation, and hosts Daniel Bennett KC, a standout for commercial, natural resource and real estate proceedings. Orestes Pasparakis , one of the market’s foremost names for proxy disputes, is found at the Ontario office which garners particular acclaim for its management of financial institution, pharma, life science and insurance-related litigation.

Canada > Cannabis Tier 3

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

The practice at Norton Rose Fulbright utilizes its global office network to provide clients with seamless cross-border advice, and is often sought by clients to oversee both domestic and cross-border merger control matters. Aside from non-contentious expertise, the team is knowledgeable of contentious issues, having represented clients before the Competition Tribunal, Competition Bureau and courts. The practice is led by Chris Hersh, who joined the team from Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP in October 2021, and possesses expertise in abuse of dominance cases, pricing and distribution issues and criminal matters.

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 3

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright has particular expertise in project and land development matters that affect Aboriginal or treaty rights protected by the Canadian Constitution. It deploys its broad knowledge of Aboriginal law to guide clients across an array of sectors such as energy, mining, dispute resolution, environment and litigation. Calgary-based Ray Chartier and Vancouver-based Emily Chan co-lead the practice. Chartier has particular expertise in ESG compliance while Chan, who recently made partner, possesses experience in Indigenous consultation and negotiation.

Canada > Real estate Tier 3

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright is entrusted by an array of clients to oversee restructuring and insolvency matters, including receivers, creditors, boards of directors, lenders, bondholders, trustees and monitors. The team handles all overlapping issues that arise through its multi-disciplinary approach with support extending into its M&A, employment and tax groups. Montreal-based Luc Morin leads the practice, and his track record includes reverse vesting orders and bridge financings. Howard A. Gorman KC is the practice’s key Calgary contact.

Canada > Tax Tier 3

Drawing strength from its extensive national and global platform, Norton Rose Fulbright’s tax practice acts for a mix of public and private companies, private equity players and individuals on contentious and non-contentious tax matters. The national group includes well-staffed teams in Canada’s four key commercial centres and is led jointly by Montreal-based litigator Dominic Belley, who has argued over 200 cases, and Dion Legge, who has a focus on transactional tax matters. Other key contacts include Toronto-based Adrienne Oliver and Jules Charette in Montreal, both have an emphasis on corporate tax planning.

Canada > Technology Tier 3

The nationwide practice at Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Toronto, Quebec City and Ottawa; its national presence and multidisciplinary approach enables the team to oversee technology issues arising in M&A, litigation and tax matters across Canada. Cybersecurity expert Imran Ahmad heads the practice, splitting his time between the Montreal and Toronto office. Nikita Stepin, Véronique Barry, Brian Chau and Brigitte LeBlanc-Lapointe were all promoted to partner in January 2022.

Transport > Other transport Tier 3

Canada > Construction Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright, one of the largest international firms, delivers a comprehensive service across the full lifecycle of projects, from initial procurement and project structuring through to claims and disputes. Daniel Leduc co-leads the team from Ottawa alongside Claudia Déry, a Montreal-based specialist in P3 who excels in tender document drafting. Key points of the differentiation for the practice include the emphasis it places on ethics and anti-corruption practice standards, as well as its track record in energy, water, healthcare, transport and education schemes.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s mining practice benefits from its ability to plug into the wider firm’s thriving global energy, infrastructure and resources group. In Canada, the group’s mining work is handled by a mix of M&A, corporate finance and infrastructure lawyers, including project finance partner Alison Babbitt and infrastructure-focused Geoffrey Gilbert, both are in Ottawa. Quebec’s Jean-Philippe Buteau is noted for corporate, M&A and securities-related matters.

Canada > Environment Tier 4

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright has extensive decarbonization and contamination expertise and is well-equipped to oversee wind power projects. Both Alan Harvie and Max Collett lead the practice from Calgary and Vancouver respectively. Joshua Sprague was promoted to partner in January 2022.

Canada > Insurance Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s multi-disciplinary insurance department draws on the wider full-service firm to provide advice on both contentious and non-contentious insurance matters. That being said, insurance litigation provides the bulk of work, with its recent cases spanning a range of professional, D&O and general liability cases. Led from Ottawa by insurance litigator Jamie Macdonald, the group also includes ‘extremely professional‘ contentious insurance specialist André Legrand and insurance and class actions partner Paul Prosterman — both are in Montreal. Calgary-based Lara Mason is also an increasingly active litigator in this space.

Canada > International trade Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s record in international trade spans a mix of contentious and compliance work, with notable recent experience in trade remedies, customs issues, economic sanctions and export controls, among other matters. Following the March 2022 retirement of department co-head Richard Wagner, the team is now co-led by international arbitration and trade specialist Alison FitzGerald (who was promoted from counsel to partner in January 2022) alongside Martin Masse, whose practice spans competition, international trade and procurement law.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Norton Rose Fulbright draws on resources from across its global international arbitration team – including lawyers in Sao Paulo, Brazil – to cover the entire Latin American region, providing support to clients from the onset of a dispute through to the enforcement of awards. The team is especially well-known for acting on international commercial arbitrations but also handles noteworthy investment treaty cases, with energy a particularly strong industry sector. Highly respected arbitration veteran Mark Baker co-leads the practice out of Houston alongside fellow global practice co-chair, Montreal-based Pierre Bienvenu. Other key names include Montreal-based international arbitration specialist Martin Valasek, and Matthew Kirtland, who heads the firm’s Washington DC arbitration team. In Houston, Kevin O’Gorman handles international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations and is known for his extensive energy expertise, particularly as regards Latin America. The practice strengthened its senior ranks at the start of 2022 with the promotions of Denton Nichols (in Houston) and dual-qualified (Ontario/New York) Alison FitzGerald (in Ottawa) to the partnership.