Laura Cundari

Major Projects Litigation and Arbitration

• Arbitration counsel to a major utility corporation in a C$350-million dispute involving delay and disruption claims in connection with the construction of significant energy infrastructure

• Arbitration counsel in a LCIA arbitration involving the sale of mining assets in Mongolia

• Arbitration counsel to an owner in respect of an ICC arbitration claim regarding pipeline construction

• Appellate counsel for Suncor Energy Inc., Imperial Oil Limited, Husky Oil Operations Limited, Cenovus Energy Inc. and Canadian Natural Resources Limited at the Supreme Court of Canada with respect to constitutional matters in Attorney General of British Columbia v. Attorney General of Canada (B.C.) (recognized as Gold Winners for the Commercial Litigation Team of the Year at the 2021 Canadian Law Awards)

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

• Arbitration counsel to Carillion Canada with respect to claims relating to the construction of a high-voltage transmission line in the context of its CCAA restructuring

• Assisting clients to efficiently resolve urgent issues such as lien claims, project disruptions and bond claims

Complex Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

• Trial counsel on the leading case in British Columbia on economic impacts and force majeure arising out of the 2008 financial crisis

• Trial counsel in respect of a claim brought against a vendor corporation for a C$17-million brokerage fee arising from the sale of a business

• Arbitration counsel for a luxury hotel group in ad hoc international arbitration involving disputes under a hotel management agreement

• Class action counsel for an active pharmaceutical ingredient supplier in proposed opioids class action proceedings

• Class action counsel defending claims brought against major retailers, insurers and financial industry participants, including dismissal at the certification stage

• Arbitration counsel to residential owners of a luxury condominium in a BCICAC/VanIAC arbitration involving disputes regarding cost sharing

• Arbitration counsel to a cannabis company in a dispute related to product supply

• Advising on the viability of investor-state claims arising under a bilateral investment treaty

• Litigation and arbitration counsel in a wide range of shareholder disputes

Arbitral/Mediation Appointments

• Appointed chair of a three-member panel in a Vancouver International Arbitration Centre arbitration involving claims in respect of a consulting agreement

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a Vancouver International Arbitration Centre arbitration involving claims in respect of a share purchase agreement including working capital adjustments and alleged breaches of representations and warranties

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a Vancouver International Arbitration Centre arbitration involving website design and development services

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a Vancouver International Arbitration Centre arbitration involving disputes in respect of a helicopter services agreement

• Appointed mediator in respect of shareholder disputes

• Appointed sole arbitrator in a Vancouver International Arbitration Centre arbitration involving partnership agreements between entertainment industry stakeholders

Laura has been recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

• The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 (Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Securities Law, Aboriginal Law/Indigenous Practice)

• Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences 2023

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023 (Commercial Arbitration: Consistently Recommended, Litigation – Corporate Commercial: Repeatedly Recommended)
  

• The Legal 500 Canada 2023 (Construction, Dispute Resolution: British Columbia)

• Chambers Canada: Canadian Leading Lawyers for Business (2021–2023: Litigation: General Commercial – British Columbia; 2023: Nationwide – Canada Dispute Resolution: Arbitration) Chambers Canada 2023 notes: "Vancouver-based Laura Cundari has a growing reputation in BC for her representation of clients from the energy, pharmaceutical and infrastructure sectors. She has significant experience in litigating and arbitrating disputes before both federal and provincial courts. 'Laura Cundari has been absolutely amazing to work with. She has been invaluable and has more than exceeded any of our expectations.'"

• Benchmark Canada's Top 100 Women in Litigation – 2022–2023 (formerly, Top 25 and Top 50 Women in Canadian Litigation)

• Benchmark Canada's 40 & Under List – 2018–2023

• Lexpert magazine, November 2022 (Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40)

• Who's Who Legal: Canada 2022 (Arbitration) WWL comments: “Laura Cundari ranks highly among peers as a go-to arbitrator for disputes arising from a range of sectors, including food and beverage, agribusiness, energy and construction.”

• Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – 2021–2022 (Litigation Star – Arbitration, Commercial Litigation)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – 2021–2022 (Commercial Arbitration – Repeatedly Recommended)

• Business in Vancouver 2021 (Forty under 40 – Recognizes B.C.'s young business talent for demonstrated excellence in business, judgment, leadership and community contribution)

Laura is part of the legal team that has been recognized as "Arbitration Firm of the Year" by Benchmark Litigation for six years (2018–2023).

Laura is co-lead of the North American Group of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center, co-chair of CPR's Canada Advisory Board and a member of ICDR's Canada Advisory Committee.

Laura volunteers her time with several charitable organizations and is president and chair of the board of directors of Ballet BC. She sat on the board of directors of Touchstone Theatre Society for several years, including as president of the board.

Laura is an Arbitration Place NexGen arbitrator and has been appointed to a number of arbitral institution rosters. She is also listed on the Arbitrator and Mediators List of ReferToHer™, a series of lists of experienced female lawyers to whom other lawyers can confidently refer work.

• Co-author: Appeal Courts Stay the Course on Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, August 14, 2023.
• Co-author: Guidance from the Courts on Drafting Enforceable Consumer Arbitration Agreements
  The Advocate, Vol. 80, Part 5, September 2022.
• Author: Ontario – Stay Granted where Competing Arguable Interpretations of Scope of Arbitration Agreement
  Arbitration Matters, August 11, 2022.
• Author: Ontario – Costs in both arbitration and court guided by same principles
  Arbitration Matters, June 22, 2022.
• Author: Ontario – Clause specifying non-exclusive attornment to courts doesn’t override arbitration clause
  Arbitration Matters, April 26, 2022.
• Author: A Forecast on Climate-Change-Related Disputes in Canada
  Blakes Bulletin on Climate Change, March 2, 2022.
• Author: BC - Arbitrator's Analysis Must not let Factual Matrix Overwhelm Text of Contract
  Arbitration Matters, February 28, 2022.
• Author: Québec – Arbitration clause interpreted liberally; ambiguity resolved using regular contract interpretation principles
  Arbitration Matters, November 2021.
• Author: Québec – Consideration of scope and applicability of arbitration clause
  Arbitration Matters, October 25, 2021.
• Co-author: The Vancouver International Arbitration Centre On Its 35th Anniversary: Evolving to Meet Modern Dispute Resolution
  The Canadian Journal of Commercial Arbitration, September 2021.
• Author: B.C. – Court outlines reasoning process to be followed by arbitrator in interpreting agreement on re-hearing
  Arbitration Matters, August 17, 2021.
• Co-author: Canada Chapter
  Country Comparative Guide on International Arbitration, The Legal 500, November 2020.

• Speaker: New Energy Projects, New Legal Frontiers: How Clean Energy and Climate Change are Transforming Construction Disputes
  ICCA/VanIAC Conference on Energy Infrastructure Disputes and Arbitration: Today and Tomorrow, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 2, 2023.
• Speaker: Climate Change Disputes in Canada: Are You Ready?
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, May 3, 2023.
• Speaker: Update on Legal Developments
  WCCAS Annual Arbitration Conference, Calgary, Alberta, May 2, 2023.
• Panellist: What’s the Difference?: Cross-Jurisdictional Considerations for Common Issues in Construction Law
  ABA Forum on Construction Law Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, April 14, 2023.
• Panellist: Arbitration vs. Litigation
  Commercial Arbitration 2023 Webinar, CLEBC, February 23, 2023.
• Panellist: Serving up Courses: Rapid-Fire Debates on Key Dispute Resolution Issues
  CanArbWeek 2022, Montreal, Quebec, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist: Arbitration case-law from sea to sea: quoi de neuf?
  CanArbWeek 2022, Montreal, Quebec, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist: Serving up Courses: Rapid-Fire Debates on Key Dispute Resolution Issues
  CanArbWeek 2022, Montreal, Quebec, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist: Arbitration case-law from sea to sea: quoi de neuf?
  CanArbWeek 2022, Montreal, Quebec, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist: Serving up Courses: Rapid-Fire Debates on Key Dispute Resolution Issues
  CanArbWeek 2022, Montreal, Quebec, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist: Arbitration case-law from sea to sea: quoi de neuf?
  CanArbWeek 2022, Montreal, Quebec, October 20, 2022.
• Panellist: Arbitration Tactics
  ARBinBRIEF, Season 2, Episode 1, October 12, 2022.
• Panel Chair: Dispute Resolution in the age of COVID-19 and Beyond
  WCCAS Annual Arbitration Conference, Calgary, Alberta, May 3, 2022.
• Speaker: The New Normal in Construction Contracts and Dispute Resolution
  Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, April 21, 2022.
• Panellist: Arbitration: Everything an In-House Lawyer Needs to Know
  CCCA Seminar, Vancouver, British Columbia, April 7, 2022.
• Panellist: Selecting the Appropriate Neutral for Your Disputes
  CPR Dispute Resolution Webinar Series on Arbitration Advocacy in the Virtual & Hybrid World, April 5, 2022.
• Panellist: Turning Toward the Sun and Wind: Exploring Issues in Renewable Energy Arbitration
  6th Annual USC-JAMS Arbitration Symposium - Adapting to a World Forever Changed, Los Angeles, California, March 17, 2022.
• Panellist: Virtual Hearings & Expedited Procedures
  Vancouver International Arbitration Centre Webinar, February 2, 2022.
• Guest Instructor: Jurisdiction
  Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society Gold Standard Arbitration Course, January 19, 2022.
• Speaker: Protecting Your Investment: Damages in International Disputes
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, December 15, 2021.
• Speaker: Annual Law and Ethics Webinar for In-House Counsel
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, November 24, 2021.
• Panellist: Trends and Developments in Infrastructure Arbitration
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, October 6, 2021.
• Panellist: Center Updates and Awards Presentation
  CanArbWeek, VanIAC Event (Virtual), September 22, 2021.
• Panellist: Changes in Domestic and International Arbitration Laws
  Resilience in Recovery: 2021 ADR Institute of BC Virtual Symposium, June 7, 2021.
• Panellist: Charting the Future in International Arbitration
  ILA-Canada Biennial Conference, May 20, 2021.
• Co-chair: A Virtual Mini-Course (in Two Parts): Arbitration: From Nose to Tail
  Vancouver International Arbitration Centre, May 6 and 13, 2021.
• Speaker: Trends and Developments in Arbitration
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, April 7, 2021.
• Moderator: Tertulia Sessions
  ICDR America's Conference 2020, International Centre for Dispute Resolution, December 1, 2020.
• Moderator: Blakes Law and Ethics Webinar for In-House Counsel
  Blakes Webinar, November 24, 2020.
• Instructor: Mastering Virtual Discoveries
  The Advocates’ Society, November 17, 2020.
• Moderator: Successfully Managing Risk in Complex Litigation
  Benchmark Women in Law Forum, October 7, 2020.
• Panellist: Online Roundtable with Barry Penner, Managing Director, Vancouver International Arbitration Centre
  New B.C. Arbitration Act, Business Council of British Columbia, October 6, 2020.

• Quoted: Quick and dirty dispute resolution: Construction adjudication launching across Canada
  Article by Aidan Macnab, Lexpert Special Editions, May 23, 2023.
• Quoted: Arbitration seen as a useful tool in settling renewable energy project disputes: Blakes lawyer
  Article by Zena Olijnyk, Canadian Lawyer, June 9, 2022.

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar – 2008
JD, University of Victoria – 2007
BA (Class 1 Distinction), University of British Columbia – 2004