Borden Ladner Gervais LLP > Toronto, Canada > Firm Profile

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Construction Tier 1

A destination practice for construction law in Canada, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is a first port of call for the full range of stakeholders on construction projects, including sponsors, governmental entities, developers, lenders and equity investors. The sizeable group demonstrates adept handling of projects across all key industry sectors, with its recent work spanning a mix of transport, healthcare, energy and social infrastructure projects. It additionally stands out for its ability to support clients across the full chain of project matters, from planning and engineering issues, through to high-stakes construction disputes, including arbitrations. Calgary-based department head Patricia Morrison KC specializes in advising project owners, developers, contractors — and other parties — on managing their risks, from project initiation through to finish. In Toronto, senior counsel Richard Shaban is widely regarded as a market leader; his practice combines strength in construction, surety and procurement law. In Montreal, Simon Grégoire is recommended for complex construction litigation, while Michael Skene is noted for construction disputes in Vancouver. The group also draws on up-and-coming construction litigator Rodney Smith (Calgary) and Gabriel Lefebvre (Montreal), who has a focus on contractor claims.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 1

The full-spectrum power practice at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP combines a dominant regulatory offering with strong skill sets in transactional and contentious energy work. Drawing on specialists across the country, the national group acts for a comprehensive mix of government entities, electrical utilities, power developers, lenders and equity investors across conventional, renewable and nuclear power matters. Toronto-based John Vellone fronts the energy, resources and renewables department and strikes a balance between regulatory and transactional work; he recently acted alongside transactional partner Rob Blackstein (Toronto) to advise Northland Power on the acquisition, development, construction and financing of the C$750m Oneida battery storage project. Other key contacts in Toronto include Shane Freitag, who chairs the power area and is recommended for transactional work, and regulatory specialist Mark Rodger. In Calgary, Jonathan Liteplo is a go-to power regulation practitioner, while regional managing partner Alan Ross KC is sought after for his broad energy regulation expertise, which spans electricity, renewables, and oil and gas.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 1

The practice group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is regularly instructed by corporate clients in the construction, energy, transportation, financial services, pharmaceutical and tech segments for its labour and employment expertise. Litigation and arbitration, collective bargaining, labour relations, pensions and benefits and workplace investigations constitute core areas of focus for the team. Vancouver-based Shelley-Mae Mitchell directs the national department and specializes in preventive advice, employment policies and employment litigation. Key contacts at the Toronto office include litigator Matthew Certosimo and labour and employment all-rounder Clifford Hart. At the Montreal office, senior counsel Danny Kaufer and labour relations specialist André Royer are noted. Laura Mensch (labour, employment, occupational health and safety) and Duncan Marsden are key contacts in Calgary.

Transport > Shipping Tier 1

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's shipping law capabilities take in both advisory and contentious aspects, namely the drafting of logistics and warehousing agreements, transactions involving the sale and purchase of ships, permitting mandates, customs and cargo claims, limitation actions and litigation following collisions and spills. The group’s client roster regularly features shipowners, operators, builders, charterers and marine terminal operators. The practice is jointly directed by Montreal-based Jean-Marie Fontaine, who handles a full range of advisory, transactional and contentious shipping matters; Vancouver-based Dionysios Rossi, who routinely represents clients involved in shipping, transportation, environmental and energy-related disputes; and Toronto-based Robin Squires, who has focused his practice on aviation, maritime and land transportation-related litigation.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Alberta Tier 2

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's disputes capabilities in Alberta take in litigation and arbitration for disputes involving the construction, energy, transportation, financial services and real estate segments. A recent work highlight saw the group represent Alberta Health Services in litigation in connection with the award of a contract for fixed wing air ambulance services in the province of Alberta. Practice head Rodney Smith specializes in commercial litigation, contractual disputes and negligence claims. Additional key contacts include Patricia Morrison KC (commercial, industrial and infrastructure disputes); Randall Block KC (energy and oil and gas litigation); and Loni da Costa (securities defence, oil and gas and intellectual property disputes).

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 2

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's British Columbia practice group handles domestic and international litigation and arbitration involving the energy, construction, real estate, tech and transport sectors. The group’s client roster regularly features government bodies, energy, automotive and mining companies. The department is jointly directed by Robert Deane, whose experience includes mining disputes, construction and infrastructure disputes and intellectual property litigation; and Sarah McEachern, who has particular knowledge of the construction, mining, healthcare and energy segments. Matthew Swanson (corporate and commercial litigation, contractual disputes) and Michelle Maniago (commercial, banking and corporate litigation) are additional key contacts.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Quebec Tier 2

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP‘s disputes capabilities in Quebec cover class actions, white collar crime, cybersecurity, IP and banking and financial services-related litigation and arbitration. The group is frequently sought out by companies in the telecoms, aerospace, automotive and consumer goods segments. The practice is jointly directed by Mathieu Piché-Messier and Gabriel Lefebvre, both of whom are based in Montreal. Piché-Messier specializes in commercial fraud, industrial espionage, competition and IP litigation; Lefebvre focuses on construction law, with particular focus on engineers’ liability and contractors’ claims. François Grondin (civil and commercial litigation); Alexander De Zordo (litigation, investigations, arbitration); and Karine Chênevert (class actions, securities litigation) are additional names to note. Anne Merminod left the firm in July 2024.

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 2

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's practice group assists Indigenous governments, governmental agencies and private companies with environmental assessments, procurement matters, the financing of projects on Indigenous lands and litigation. The national department is directed by Toronto-based Cherie Brant, who specializes in energy and transmission, land development on First Nations lands and infrastructure and construction mandates. Also noted are Vancouver-based counsel Chris Roine, who frequently assists First Nations organizations with a range of partnerships, commercial arrangements and governance matters; and Montreal-based Nadir André, who handles land claims’ negotiations, litigation and natural resources development matters involving Aboriginal communities and businesses.

Canada > Infrastructure projects Tier 2

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s projects team interacts with the wider firm’s top-tier construction offering to excel in representing developers in infrastructure projects. The group also acts for project owners, including public authorities, while it additionally utilizes its project finance practice to support borrowers and lenders on major projects. Vancouver-based Douglas Sanders heads the department and is advising Alstom Canada, as part of ONxpress Transportation Partners, on the Metrolinx Regional Express Railway GO Rail expansion project. Also noted are Montreal-based project finance specialist Pascale Dionne and Vancouver-based infrastructure partner Sarah Bird.

Canada > Insurance Tier 2

In August 2023, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP strengthened its non-contentious insurance offering with the arrival of new corporate and regulatory insurance lead Rick Da Costa (Toronto) from Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. The practice continues to be weighted towards contentious work, with its broad claims expertise spanning a range of product liability, personal injury, D&O and municipal liability cases, among others. Rebecca Bush (Toronto) leads the insurance and tort liability group and specializes in public authority litigation and tort litigation. Other recommended litigators include Kevin McGivney (Toronto), who defends police services and municipalities in claims; specialized disputes head Graham Walker (Vancouver); and Patrick Heinsen (Calgary), who focuses on professional liability.

Canada > International trade Tier 2

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s international trade practice brings to bear a diverse record in trade-related disputes, investigations and regulatory matters. The practice is now led by Toronto-based white-collar crime and regulatory partner Graeme Hamilton, who handles anti-corruption compliance, economic sanctions, import and export controls and customs laws enforcement. In May 2024, Ottawa-based senior counsel Rambod Behboodi joined the firm from GenevaTradeLaw.com. In October 2023, former department co-heads Jesse Goldman and Matthew Kronby left the firm together with associate Jacob Mantle.

Canada > Banking and finance

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is distinguished by its extensive national footprint, with the banking and finance team represented across all five of its offices in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. In Toronto, Gus Karantzoulis is highly regarded for his full-service banking and finance practice, which encompasses advice to financial institutions, alternative lenders and borrowers on corporate, real estate and project finance. Also noted in Toronto are Stephen Redican, who heads the national regulatory practice, and transactional banking partner Howard Silverman. In Montreal, national financial services lead Claudine Millette is recommended for her robust lender-side practice. Olivier Tardif and regional managing partner Vincent Frenette also handle transactional matters from Montreal.

Canada > Business immigration Tier 3

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's antitrust capabilities take in contentious and advisory work, including class action defence, merger and foreign investment review and advising on federal regulatory regimes. The practice has particular experience advising companies in the tech and e-commerce sectors, and counts household names Amazon, Meta, Samsung and Netflix among its key clients. The group is directed by Toronto-based Subrata Bhattacharjee, who routinely advises tech companies on competition and regulatory matters. Also noted is Toronto-based Denes Rothschild, who specializes in merger and foreign investment review matters.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's Ontario disputes practice specializes in diverse contentious mandates that include class actions and white collar defence, commercial fraud investigations, competition litigation and banking and securities litigation. Companies from the retail, mining, financial services and automotive sectors routinely feature on the group’s client roster. Three partners share leadership: David Di Paolo and Nadia Effendi are based at the Toronto office, while Kathleen McDormand is based in Ottawa. Di Paolo specializes in securities litigation, class actions and shareholder disputes; Effendi majors on class actions, and administrative, regulatory and constitutional law; McDormand covers breach of contract cases, professional negligence matters and banking litigation matters.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP draws on the full bench strength of over 800 lawyers across 5 national locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, to provide major domestic and international mining companies, public and private issuers, underwriters and institutional investors, with a comprehensive range of services across the practice area. They cover M&A, joint ventures, streaming, project finance, due diligence, in addition to environmental, tax and Indigenous matters. The national team is led by Fred Pletcher in Vancouver, who brings over 30 years of mining industry experience to assisting clients with development projects, acquisitions and dispositions, exploration properties and option agreements. Other key figures include Graeme Martindale also in Vancouver) who specializes in initial public offerings, public and private equity and debt financings, and compliance and corporate governance matters; and M&A and corporate finance expert Timothy McCormick in Toronto.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3

Oriented towards the midstream sector, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s oil and gas practice is recognized for its dominant regulatory offering, where it handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious administrative proceedings, environmental law work and Indigenous law matters. The sizeable national team also brings to bear significant transactional capability. Calgary managing partner Alan Ross KC is highly regarded for his regulatory prowess. Other regulatory contacts include Calgary-based senior counsel Randall Block KC; Calgary-based oil and gas head Peter Bryan; and Vancouver-based environmental, municipal, expropriation and regulatory head Rick Williams, who also handles commercial work.

Canada > Environment Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s environmental law group draws on transactional lawyers, regulatory practitioners and litigators to advise on a broad scope of regulatory compliance and approvals, corporate support issues, and civil and regulatory disputes. The team acts for mix of private and public sector entities, with an emphasis on the energy, shipping and municipal sectors. Vancouver-based Rick Williams heads the national practice and is recommended for his experience in both regulatory and contentious work. Gabrielle Kramer leads the area in Toronto and also handles litigation and advisory matters.

Canada > Public procurement Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's practice has a track record representing government authorities such as Crown corporations and municipalities, as well as private sector developers and contractors, in a range of public procurements. The practice is jointly directed by in Toronto by Richard Shaban, who brings strength to advising hospitals, public authorities, developers and contractors on construction projects; and infrastructure specialist Mark Fecenko; and by Vancouver-based partner Douglas Sanders (who manages PPPs and the drafting of construction contracts).

Canada > Real estate Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP employs the full bench strength of over 800 lawyers in 5 national locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, to advise pension funds, life insurance companies, utility companies, institutional investors, family offices, public sector clients, developers, commercial landlords, tenants and REITs, on wide range of matters across the practice area. Aaron Bowler heads the team in Calgary and brings experience to high-value acquisitions and dispositions, financings, developments and restructurings, across such asset classes as office towers, hotels, shopping centres, railways and resorts. Other figures of note include senior partner Sylvie Bouvette in Montreal, who represents sellers and purchasers in joint ventures; Frank Arnone in Toronto, a specialist in complex investment structures; and David Longcroft in Vancouver, an experienced specialist in high-value, mixed-use projects. Associate Peyman Ghaemi provides key support in Toronto.

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

The practice at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP regularly handles insolvency, bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings, including liquidations in the financial services, construction, mining and energy sectors. The group is routinely instructed by senior secured lenders, insolvency professionals acting as monitor, and debtors alike. Toronto-based Alex MacFarlane leads the national department and specializes in cross-border restructurings and insolvency proceedings under the CCAA. Also noted is Montreal-based litigator Isabelle Desharnais. Ex-practice co-head Marc Duchesne recently retired.

Canada > Tax Tier 3

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's tax capabilities take in corporate tax matters, estate planning, commodity tax and domestic and international transactions, as well as disputes involving federal and provincial taxes such as income tax, commodity taxes and GST and HST. The practice is jointly directed by Ottawa-based Pamela Cross, who handles advisory tax matters and estate planning, and Calgary-based Laurie Goldbach, who specializes in tax litigation and audits. Natasha Miklaucic and Steve Suarez, both of whom are based at the Toronto office, are additional key contacts for advisory and transactional mandates.

Canada > Technology Tier 3

The technology group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is equipped to advise on a range of matters that include commercial agreements, M&A and fundraising, cybersecurity, IP and technology-related disputes. Vancouver-based Andrew Hennigar heads up the practice and focuses on assisting private companies with technology-related M&A, venture capital and private equity transactions. Also noted are Montreal-based Patrice Martin (M&A, private equity and corporate law); and Toronto-based Mark Fecenko (innovation procurement, outsourcing and technology) and Eric Boehm (technology and business process outsourcings and acquisitions).

Transport > Other transport Tier 3

The practice group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is equipped to handle financing, regulatory matters, transactions and litigation involving road and rail transportation, for which it is frequently instructed by national and regional railway companies, urban transit authorities, contractors and operators. The department is directed by Toronto-based litigators Robin Squires and Robert Love, along with Vancouver-based Dionysios Rossi, who specializes in transportation and shipping matters, as well as environmental and energy law.

Canada > Capital markets Tier 4

Noted for its focus on mid-market deals, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s capital markets practice interacts with the firm’s M&A and investment management teams to handle a diverse spread of debt, equity and event-driven transactions. It also frequently handles regulatory work. The national group is led jointly by Kent Kufeldt in Vancouver and Timothy McCormick in Toronto. Mining head Fred Pletcher (Vancouver) and sports and gaming law co-head Cameron MacDonald (Toronto) are also recommended.

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP leverages the full bench strength of over 800 lawyers across 5 national locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, to advise national and international corporates and financial institutions involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. The group's active client base spans such sectors as media, tech, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and mining, financial services, retail and transport. The group’s comprehensive service covers complex M&A, joint venture agreements, corporate finance, corporate governance and shareholder activism. The practice is headed by national group head of corporate and capital markets Prema Thiele in Toronto, who draws on over 30 years assisting international fund managers, portfolio managers and dealers with legal and compliance issues; corporate and commercial national business leader Subrata Bhattacharjee (also Toronto); and national business leader of securities and capital markets leader Kent Kufeldt in Vancouver and Calgary. Frazer House joined the Toronto office from Torys in March 2023.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 4

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s IP offering is oriented towards non-contentious work, with strong activity in the prosecution and protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs. The practice also handles IP litigation, including recent cases in the trademark infringement area. Calgary-based Jason Howg heads the national IP department and specializes in IP and technology work. The team also includes trademark expert Justine Wiebe, who leads the group in Toronto; and Ottawa-based Beverley Moore, who fronts the IP litigation area.