Matthew Liben > Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP > Montreal, Canada > Lawyer Profile

The construction dispute specialists at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP bring expertise to representing domestic and multinational developers, owners, contractors, engineers, architects, suppliers, lenders and insurers, involved in complex, high-value litigation and arbitration. The firm displays particular strength in the energy, transport, government, real estate and infrastructure sectors. The practice is led by David Tupper in Toronto, whose experience includes appearing before the courts of Alberta (at all levels) and in the Federal Court of Appeal. Other key figures include seasoned arbitrators Laura Cundari in Vancouver and Matthew Liben in Montréal, and Alyssa Duke in Calgary, who focuses on multi-party commercial disputes involving such matters as contractor delays, failure to properly maintain facilities, deficient work and construction product liability issues.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP‘s Quebec team is well-versed in supporting automotive, banking, construction, energy, healthcare, financial services, retail and tech-sector clients involved in disputes. Practice head Francis Rouleau‘s broad litigation practice covers product liability, contract law, corporate litigation and shareholder disputes, securities, construction and real estate. Additional key contacts include litigator Claude Marseille, who has focused his practice on class actions, product liability, construction law and shareholder remedies; Simon Seida, who advises corporations and high-profile individuals on regulatory and securities matters; restructuring, real estate, construction and reinsurance litigator Matthew Liben; and Ariane Bisaillon, who brings strength to advising clients in pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and transport. Former Woods LLP managing partner Caroline Biron joined the firm in August 2023.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP possesses an impressively well-rounded insurance practice that is well positioned to handle high-level litigation as well as transactional and regulatory matters. A popular choice for major domestic and international insurers and reinsurers, the group is frequently involved in the most headline-grabbing matters to hit the market. Among the names to note, Calgary-based David Tupper is highly regarded for contentious insurance work; he is representing a nuclear power mutual insurance company in a C$50m dispute with its reinsurer. Montreal-based Matthew Liben is also recommended for insurance litigation. On the regulatory side, Toronto-based department co-head Paul Belanger is sought after for his broad financial services expertise. Other key names on the non-contentious front include financial regulation specialist Bonny Murray as well as transactional-focused partners Jake Gilbert and Michael Elder – all operate from Toronto.