Claire Hildebrand Partner | Vancouver

About Claire

Claire is a Partner in the Blakes Restructuring & Insolvency group, which is widely recognized as one of Canada's leading restructuring practices.

Claire is an experienced commercial litigator specializing in restructuring and insolvency law. She provides strategic advice to a cross section of clients, including debtor companies, court-appointed officers, secured creditors, purchasers of distressed assets, and other stakeholders facing both domestic and cross-border insolvency challenges.

With significant experience in navigating complex, multi-party restructurings across various industries, Claire is adept at finding practical, business-oriented solutions to help clients achieve their goals.

Claire also maintains a broad commercial litigation practice. She has experience representing financial institutions and accounting firms, as well as mining, resource and construction companies in high-stakes litigation.

Claire joined Blakes after clerking for six Justices of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as the Court of King's Bench of Alberta.

Select Experience

Restructuring and Insolvency

Counsel to the Monitor in respect of the CCAA filing and ongoing reorganization of the San Group, a multifaceted forest products enterprise, and its C$150-million in secured debt.
Counsel to the Monitor of Myra Falls Mines, which operates a mine on Vancouver Island.
Counsel to the Receiver of Haro-Thurlow Limited Partnership in its sale of a mixed-use development property in downtown Vancouver.
Counsel to Trevali Mining Corporation, a public company with operating mines in Canada, Namibia and Burkina Faso, in all aspects of its CCAA filing.
Counsel to Pure Gold Mining, a public company with an operating mine in Ontario, in all aspects of its CCAA filing.
Counsel to Dominion Diamond Mines in respect of its filing under the CCAA and the reorganization of its C$1-billion in debt.
Counsel to the Canadian subsidiary of Carillion plc, Carillion Canada, one of the country’s largest integrated construction support services and facilities management enterprises based in Ontario, which employed approximately 7,500 individuals across Canada when its CCAA proceedings commenced.
Counsel to a helicopter transportation company under CCAA protection in a successful application regarding the purchase of industrial equipment.

Commercial Litigation

Counsel to the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in its successful application for an injunction exempting legal professionals from requirements to report on their clients under the Income Tax Act, which the Federation is challenging as unconstitutional.
Arbitration counsel to an international construction company in a dispute involving delay and disruption claims in connection with the construction of significant energy infrastructure.
Counsel to an international mining company in a contractual dispute regarding the purchase of mineral tenure claims.
Counsel to a multinational automobile manufacturer in defence of a product liability claim alleging unintended acceleration.
Counsel to an actuarial services firm in a professional liability dispute.
Counsel to an international manufacturing company in a commercial leasing dispute.

Professional Appearances

Presenter : Restructuring and Insolvency: A Cross-Country Year in Review
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, January 21, 2025.
Presenter : Navigating Real Estate Joint Ventures in a Dynamic Market
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Online, November 13, 2024.
Presenter : Commercial Litigation: Exclusions and Limitations on Liability
Blakes Business Class Seminar, Online, November 6, 2024.
Author : New Tax Mandatory Disclosure Rules – What Businesses and their Clients Need to Know
Canadian Bar Association Webcast, November 30, 2023.
Presenter : Diminished Discretion or Just a Sign of the Times? What’s Driving the Increase in Appellate Level Decisions in Insolvency Matters
Annual Review of Insolvency Law Conference, Calgary, February 3, 2023.