Mr Darrel Pearson > Bennett Jones LLP > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Bennett Jones LLP
3400 ONE FIRST CANADIAN PLACE
PO BOX 130
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Canada

Work Department

International Trade

Position

Partner, Head of International Trade

Career

Darrel is head of the firm’s international trade and investment practice. He practices all aspects of international trade and customs law, including trade remedies, customs, international trade treaty matters, export regulation, sanctions and controls, goods and services taxes, government procurement dispute settlement, and other regulatory matters concerning Canadian trade regulation. Darrel has represented Canadian and international clients in more than 200 trade remedy matters involving goods exported to Canada from all over the world and has led some of the most important customs and trade remedy cases heard by Canadian Tribunals and Courts, including two cases heard by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Darrel represents clients across a range of commercial, industrial, primary industry, consumer, agricultural and agri-food industries. He assists these clients on the range of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade faced by importers and foreign exporters. He develops and implements client cross border trade strategies, represents their interests in internal and external audits, and provides compliance advice. Darrel contributes to the customs component of the firm’s uniform approach to tax and customs Transfer Pricing practices and issues. Darrel also represents clients in dispute resolution proceedings relating to government procurement.

Education

University of Toronto, BSc, 1975 | York University, MBA, 1977 | University of Windsor, LLB, 1980 | ADR Institute of Ontario, certified as Arbitrator, 2006

Lawyer Rankings

Canada > International trade

(Leading individuals)

Darrel PearsonBennett Jones LLP

Demonstrating robust activity in trade remedy cases, Bennett Jones LLP’s full-service international trade and investment group is also well positioned to advise on treaty disputes, economic sanctions and trade controls, customs issues and anti-corruption law. Led in Toronto by veteran trade specialist Darrel Pearson, who has notably acted on more than 200 trade remedy matters, the team also includes talented up-and-coming Toronto-based partners George Reid and Sabrina Bandali, who are establishing broad trade and investment practices. Toronto-based Jessica Horwitz is also recommended. Senior counsel Valerie Hughes left to go freelance in July 2023. Alison FitzGerald, who co-headed the team at Norton Rose Fulbright, joined in October 2023, and specializes in international arbitration.