Commercial Litigation

Blakes has one of the largest commercial litigation practices in Canada, with an extraordinary depth of local industry knowledge, practice expertise and litigation experience. We understand that disputes drain time, money and energy away from the core focus of business and often present other risks, including reputational risks. Blakes litigators develop strategies that consider our clients’ strategic imperatives and the commercial realities.

Our national team has an exceptional track record litigating all kinds of commercial disputes, including those relating to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, shareholder issues, directors and officers liability, commercial fraud and asset recovery, outsourcing and licensing agreements, procurement arrangements, construction, supply chain and distribution issues, insurance, and other contractual disputes.

At every stage, we focus on our client’s objectives ― from fact-finding and risk evaluation, through strategic advancement or defence of litigation, to final determination or resolution. Our lawyers are highly experienced at the trial and appellate levels in court, at the negotiating table, and before tribunals and government agencies. Clients benefit from our extensive experience in commercial arbitration and mediation, as we explore every opportunity to resolve disputes by the best available means.

Working closely with our inSource team, we use advanced legal technology tools to efficiently handle large, document-intensive cases, e-discovery and investigations. This allows Blakes litigators to work seamlessly with our reviewers in-house to produce the highest quality work and advance our clients’ cases.

Our commercial litigators have a well-deserved reputation for efficient, effective and practical advice in helping clients assess risk and address their disputes.

Awards & Recognition

Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
The Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada
Who's Who Legal: Canada
The Best Lawyers in Canada

Recent Experience

Torstar Corporation in obtaining court approval of its acquisition by NordStar Capital LP and defeating the challenge by an unsuccessful bidder and its attempt to stay the transaction.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business in its intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada in CM Callow v. Zollinger, a landmark case clarifying the common law duty of honest contractual performance.
Dow Chemical in its C$1-billion-plus litigation with NOVA Chemicals Corporation with respect to operation of facilities under a joint venture.
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in relation to a proposal from a group of HBC shareholders for the privatization of the company.
The City of Greater Sudbury in the first reported case in Ontario to address the judicial review of a public procuring entity’s decision to debar a bidder under a city procurement bylaw.
Bell Canada in obtaining an injunction compelling Québecor Inc. to restore the broadcast signal that Groupe TVA had unlawfully interrupted during the Stanley Cup playoffs, impacting more than 425,000 Bell subscribers.
Hydro-Québec in successfully securing its rights to develop and modernize its power transmission network, the largest in North America, in front of the Supreme Court of Canada.
ADAG Corporation Canada Ltd. in an appeal to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal to challenge a trial verdict requiring it to transfer ownership of the SaskOil Tower in Regina, Saskatchewan, to long-term tenant SaskEnergy.
Coast Capital Savings Credit Union in defending challenges before the Supreme Court of British Columbia and Court of Appeal to complete their continuance from provincial to federal regulation.
Suncor in the Alberta Securities Commission in an application to set aside or limit a shareholders rights plan adopted by Canadian Oil Sands, in which the ASC granted Suncor’s application and significantly limited the rights plan.
Station Mont-Tremblant (formerly Intrawest, now Alterra) in challenging the termination of rental pool agreements for more than 1,000 condominium units managed by Station Mont-Tremblant for the benefit of the unit owners. Success for Station Mont-Tremblant meant that it preserved tens of millions of dollars of rental revenues.
Several of the largest international insurers in a C$20-million subrogated action against CIMA+ and Garda, stemming from a fatal explosion in Quebec.
Cannabis clients in a judicial review process before the Ontario Divisional Court with respect to obtaining their licences.