Joe McArthur, KC, FCIArb, CArb Partner | Vancouver

Recent representative matters include:

Counsel Work

• Counsel to the Owner in defending a C$1.25-billion ICC arbitration claim regarding construction of energy infrastructure, including defending an ICC Emergency Measures Application

• Counsel to a global mining company in an ad hoc international arbitration regarding royalty interests over certain mining properties

• Counsel to a Canadian clean energy company in an ad hoc international arbitration regarding development rights of a US counter-party in Australia

• Counsel to a forest products company in an ad hoc arbitration regarding wood product pricing

• Counsel to a contractor in a VanIAC arbitration relating to an approximately C$2-billion infrastructure contract

• Counsel for an active pharmaceutical ingredient supplier in a proposed national class action

• Counsel for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators before the Supreme Court of Canada in Uber v. Heller

• Counsel for a mining company in an arbitration regarding a pension wind-up

• Counsel for a party in an international VanIAC arbitration over a US$50-million loan agreement

• Counsel for a design/builder of municipal infrastructure in a C$25-million ICC arbitration

• Counsel for a luxury hotel group in an ad hoc international arbitration involving disputes under a Hotel Management Agreement

• Counsel for residential owners of a luxury condominium in a BCICAC arbitration involving disputes regarding cost sharing with a luxury hotel owner

• Counsel in an international arbitration regarding a mining joint venture dispute

• Counsel in an international arbitration under the ICDR International Rules regarding a dispute in the blockchain technology industry

• Counsel in an ad hoc arbitration regarding audit rights under a mining joint venture

• Counsel in an arbitration under the Ontario Arbitration Act regarding a dispute involving the provision of financial technology

• Counsel in Court proceedings regarding the setting aside of a US$20-million arbitration claim involving a venture capital financing of a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company

• Counsel for a contractor in a C$100-million arbitration claim regarding the construction of a high voltage transmission line

• Counsel in an LCIA arbitration among Canadian, Bermudian and Czech entities involving a dispute over the sale of Mongolian mining assets

• Counsel to Lindt & Sprüngli Canada in court proceedings regarding a contract and agency dispute

• Counsel for a utility in a C$350-million arbitration claim involving the construction of significant energy infrastructure

• Counsel in an arbitration regarding a dispute over the operation of municipal infrastructure

• Counsel in an arbitration regarding public-private-partnership infrastructure financial arrangements

• Counsel in an arbitration involving the operation of energy infrastructure

• Counsel to Aon Hewitt in a dispute regarding funding of a public sector long term disability trust

• Counsel to Suncor Energy Marketing Inc. in a dispute with Suncor's terminal operator

• Counsel to CHC Helicopters in an arbitration over the purported termination of the Hibernia helicopter contract

• Counsel to Ermineskin Cree Nation in a lengthy Federal Court trial and before the Supreme Court of Canada alleging breach of a trustee's duty to prudently invest over C$1-billion in trust funds and to prudently manage oil and gas resources

Arbitral Appointments

• Appointed to a three member panel under the ICC Arbitration Rules involving claims and cross-claims arising from the termination of a hotel operation agreement

• Appointed sole arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration involving delay, disruption, force majeure and change claims in the construction of a $200 million facility

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a VanIAC international arbitration involving claims under a diamond manufacturing agreement

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a VanIAC arbitration involving a Canadian municipality and a Chinese development company over a development agreement with claims of force majeure

• Appointed sole arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration involving claims under a partnership agreement for a major residential and commercial real estate project

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a VanIAC arbitration involving a dispute over the provision of software services

• Appointed sole arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration involving the valuation of shares on a shareholder exit from a financial services company

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a VanIAC arbitration involving shareholder oppression claims

• Appointed sole arbitrator in an ADRIC arbitration involving claims of force majeure in a shipping agreement

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a VanIAC arbitration involving a commercial dispute in the cannabis industry

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a BCICAC arbitration involving a dispute over sponsorship rights

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a BCICAC international arbitration under California law involving a dispute over an agreement for the production and sale of fresh produce

• Appointed to a three-member panel under the ICC Arbitration Rules involving a dispute over a breached settlement agreement between Canadian and American companies

• Appointed to a three-member panel under the ICC Arbitration Rules involving a C$70-million claim for energy infrastructure between Spanish and American parties

• Appointed sole arbitrator in international arbitration involving an intellectual property dispute between Chinese and North American parties

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a BCICAC international arbitration involving a dispute over mining interests in Ecuador

• Appointed to a three-member arbitration panel regarding an agency dispute

• Appointed sole arbitrator in an ad hoc arbitration involving a franchise dispute

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a BCICAC share valuation dispute

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a number of ICDR commercial contract disputes

• Appointed to a three-member arbitration panel regarding a dispute over a South American mining concession

Joe has been recognized as a leading lawyer in a number of publications and awards, including:

• Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business – 2019–2025 (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration – Nationwide) In the 2025 edition, a client comments that "Joe has an ability to lead large teams in relation to complex matters and an ability to provide very fast and practical advice." Another client says: "Joe McArthur is impressive in every respect. He is pragmatic, strategic and highly sophisticated in his approach to our arbitration matters."

• The Legal 500 Canada 2024 (Dispute Resolution: British Columbia – Hall of Fame; Construction: British Columbia - Key Lawyer)

• Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business – 2019–2024 (Dispute Resolution: Arbitration – Nationwide) In the 2023 edition, one client notes: "Joe brings clarity, strategy, leadership and a deep knowledge of the law. He is engaging to work with and leads a responsive, high-performing team." In the 2024 edition, another client says: "He is a pleasure to work with. He has the ability to make an eye-wateringly stressful piece of litigation pleasant."

• Lexology Index: Arbitration (formerly, Who's Who Legal: Arbitration) – 2018–2024

• Who’s Who Legal: Canada (formerly, Who's Who Legal: Canada) – 2018–2024 (Arbitration)

• Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – 2012–2024 (Benchmark's analysis quotes a competitor: "Joe can do it all, but his sweet spot is arbitrations and in particular those that cross borders. He's not only a leader in that regard but also kind of cornered a market.")

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2019–2024: Commercial Arbitration)

• Benchmark Canada Awards – 2019 and 2021 (Canadian Arbitration Counsel of the Year)

• Best Lawyers Awards (2020: Vancouver International Arbitration "Lawyer of the Year"; 2014: Vancouver Appellate Law "Lawyer of the Year")

Joe is the chair of the board of directors and past chair of the Rules Committee of the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre.

He is also an invited member of the Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society (WCCAS).

Joe regularly acts as a guest instructor on advocacy and British Columbia Supreme Court practice as part of the British Columbia Law Society's professional legal training course.

• Co-author : What's New on Canada's West Coast? VanIAC's New International Commercial Arbitration Rules of Procedure
  Kluwer Arbitration Blog, July 8, 2022.

• Co-chair : Energy Infrastructure Disputes and Arbitration: Today and Tomorrow
  International Council of Commercial Arbitration and Vancouver International Arbitration Centre, June 2, 2023.
• Panel Chair : Hot Topics in Mining and Energy Arbitration
  Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society, May 2, 2023.
• Panel Chair : Procedural Tips, Commercial Arbitration
  CLE BC, February 23, 2023.
• Guest Lecturer : Jurisdiction, Gold Standard Arbitration Course
  Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society, December 7, 2022.
• Presenter : News from the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre
  CanArbWeek, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist : New VanIAC International Commercial Arbitration Rules
  Vancouver International Arbitration Centre, June 15, 2022.
• Panellist : Arbitration: Everything an In-House Lawyer Needs to Know
  Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - BC, Apr 7, 2022.
• Guest Lecturer : Gold Standard Arbitration Course
  Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society, December 8, 2021.

• Quoted : Arbitration disputes in infrastructure increasing in number, size and complexity
  Article by Aiden Mcnab, Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure, June 15, 2022.

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar – 1995
LLB, University of Toronto – 1994
BA (Political Science), Carleton University – 1991