Geoff Adair, Calgary

About Geoff

Geoff specializes in corporate and commercial litigation. He has experience advising clients from a wide range of industries, with a special focus on complex construction disputes, negligent design and manufacture litigation, financial services litigation, and oil and gas litigation.

Geoff has significant trial, appellate, and arbitration experience. He has served as counsel before the Alberta Court of Justice, the Court of King's Bench of Alberta, the Court of Appeal of Alberta, the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal. Geoff also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation, and judicial dispute resolution.

Prior to joining Blakes, Geoff completed articles of clerkship with the Court of Appeal of Alberta in Calgary, where he was articled to the Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Martin.

Select Experience

Recent matters in which Geoff has been involved include:

Defending a large multinational company against a significant claim related to the design and construction of a steam methane reformer
Acting for a large multinational company in a negligent design and manufacture claim related to the failure of a significant piece of industrial equipment
Successfully representing an Alberta energy company in a C$65-million expedited arbitration that progressed from notice of arbitration to final award within 2.5 months
Acting for an Alberta energy company against former contractors related to claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, and fraud
Successfully defending a large financial institution against multiple claims brought by former clients and employees
Successfully defending a large financial institution against multiple claims brought by a vexatious litigant, including obtaining a vexatious litigant order and restricted court access order
Successfully defending an Alberta pipeline company from an application by a First Nation to stay regulatory proceedings
Successfully representing an Alberta pipeline company related to a challenge of the license authorizing its construction and operation of two pipelines
Representing a Canadian energy company and its insurers with respect to a pipeline failure and spill in Manitoba

Recent reported decisions in which Geoff has been involved include:

Liliana Kostic v His Majesty the King in Right of Canada et al, 2023 FC 306
Joshi v Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce et al, 2021 ABQB 240, 2021 ABQB 317, 2021 ABQB 607, 2021 ABCA 384, 2022 ABQB 66, 2022 ABCA 137, 2022 ABCA 37
Aircraft Finance Services Inc. v Miller, 2018 ABQB 1005
Alberta (Attorney General) v Alberta Power (2000) Ltd, 2018 ABQB 100
Imperial Oil v Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited, 2017 ABCA 102
Alberta (Attorney General) v Alberta Power (2000) Ltd., 2017 ABQB 195
Bokenfohr v Pembina Pipeline Corporation, 2017 ABCA 40
Bokenfohr v Pembina Pipeline Corporation, 2016 ABCA 382

Professional Appearances

Co-speaker : A Refresher and Update on Limitations Law in Alberta
CBA Alberta Section, The Canadian Bar Association, Edmonton, Alberta, November 5, 2024.
Co-speaker : Recent Judicial Decisions of Interest to Energy Lawyers
Canadian Energy Law Foundation, Jasper, Alberta, June 15, 2023.
Co-speaker : Construction Dispute Resolution Seminar Series: Preserving Privilege
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Calgary, Alberta, June 8, 2023.
Co-speaker : Construction Dispute Resolution Seminar Series: Change Order Management and De-Scoping
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Calgary, Alberta, May 1, 2023.
Co-speaker : Construction Dispute Resolution Seminar Series: Key Construction Contract Terms
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Calgary, Alberta, December 15, 2021.