Canada's Top-Tier Arbitration Practice

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Blakes is a leader in domestic and international arbitration, advising clients in complex, high-value cases across diverse industries. Learn more about our expertise below.

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Arbitration Group

Blakes is a leader in domestic and international arbitration. For the past eight years, Benchmark Litigation has named Blakes the Canadian Arbitration Firm of the Year, and our lawyers are consistently recognized by various publications as leaders in their field. 

Our diverse Arbitration team advises and represents clients in complex, high-value arbitrations across a broad range of industries and sectors. From risk avoidance, assessment and mitigation advice to the commencement and carriage of an arbitration, we offer a complete range of dispute resolution services.

We act in a very large number of domestic arbitrations in an array of areas using ad hoc or institutional rules. We also act as counsel in many institutional international arbitrations conducted under the rules of the world’s leading international arbitration institutions, such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Members of our firm were also involved in developing updated rules for the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre (VanIAC) and are very familiar with those rules. 

We are adept at selecting the right arbitrators, negotiating the appropriate procedures, articulating complicated arguments and conducting all aspects of complex arbitration. Members of our group are also available for appointment as arbitrators. The group includes fellows of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and members of the arbitration panels of domestic and international institutions. 

Expertise

• International Commercial Disputes – Clients in international contract disputes under the ICC Rules and otherwise.
• Investor-State – Clients in arbitrations under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, pursuant to the ICSID Convention and under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
• Mining – Canadian and international mining companies in mine ownership, control and operations disputes.
• Energy – Leading Canadian and international energy companies in disputes between companies and with governments involving virtually every aspect of energy law.
• Construction/Infrastructure – Owners, developers and suppliers in some of the largest projects in the country and internationally.
• Cannabis – Domestic and international producers and distributors regarding disputes over product supply and processing.
• Public Authorities – Government agencies in highly sensitive disputes where the public interest is at issue.
• Hospitality – Hotel owners and management companies in ownership and management disputes.
• Technology – Clients in disputes about software development and licensing, royalty agreements and misuse.
• Insurance – Domestic and international policyholders and underwriters in complex commercial insurance disputes, including arbitrations pursuant to large property and liability insurance programs, and reinsurance treaties.