Best Lawyers in Canada for International Arbitration
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John's advocacy is tried and tested, having conducted dozens of lengthy and complex arbitrations, trials, and administrative hearings. John has a robust appellate practice, having appeared at the Court of Appeal for Ontario on over 40 appeals and before the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions. John does not shy from challenge. Some of John’s most notable cases are the product of his creative, boundary-testing approach, and passion for applying the law creatively to achieve sen...
Peter Mantas leads Fasken’s London and Ottawa litigation teams, the firm’s Procurement group, and co-leads its White Collar Defence and Investigations group. Peter is a litigation partner with over 30 years' experience in complicated, high stakes cases before national and international courts, tribunals and arbitration panels. Clients appreciate Peter’s knowledge, strategic advice, teamwork and tough but reasonable approach. He is also valued for his skill in negotiations, c...
Alex Kotkas is Managing Partner of the Alberta Region, with primary responsibility for leadership of the Firm’s Calgary and Tsuut’ina offices. As Regional Managing Partner, Alex manages the region's operations while developing and executing its strategic direction. His leadership focuses on cultivating a supportive environment that prioritizes exceptional client service, drives innovation, and nurtures outstanding talent. Alex is the founder and former leader of the Firm’s L...
Greg Kanargelidis has more than 30 years of experience practicing in the areas of customs, international trade, and commodity tax law. In 2022 Greg opened his own law practice after a rewarding career at a large full-service firm based in Toronto, Ontario, the last 26 years as a partner and head of the firm’s International Trade Group. Greg is recognized as one of the leading international trade and customs lawyers in Canada and the world. Greg has extensive experience representing Cana...
Frank Walwyn is known for his resourceful approach to litigating some of the most challenging business cases in Canada and the Caribbean. Frank is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is repeatedly named as one of Canada’s top lawyers in the area of Corporate and Commercial Litigation in The Best Lawyers in Canada , Who’s Who Legal , Benchmark Canada, the Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys , and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory , am...
Pierre Bienvenu, Ad. E. is a disputes lawyer with more than 35 years’ experience in international commercial arbitration, corporate and commercial litigation, and constitutional law. He has acted as counsel or served as arbitrator in international arbitrations involving disputes in energy, transportation, telecommunications, mergers and acquisitions, construction, pharmaceuticals, international distribution and joint ventures, and foreign investment. A former co-chair of the IBA’s...
Stephen L. Drymer is head of Woods LLP’s International Arbitration group. Stephen practices exclusively in the area of domestic and international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. He acts as counsel, and serves as arbitrator and mediator, in domestic and in international commercial and investment treaty disputes. Educated and trained in both the common law and the civil law, Stephen has represented parties and served as mediator, party-appointed arbitrator or president of ...
Carsten is a founding member and senior partner of JSS Barristers, the largest civil litigation boutique law firm in western Canada. His practice emphasizes complex and multi-party corporate and commercial litigation, commercial class actions, oil & gas litigation including royalty, environmental and CAPL issues, shareholder disputes, advising creditors and others in insolvency matters and professional negligence claims. During a leave of absence from JSS Barristers, he served as Senior L...
Perry R. Mack, K.C. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, International Arbitration and Personal Injury Litigation. Perry R., who practices law in Calgary, Alberta, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting t...
A partner at Woods LLP, Eric serves a wide range of industries, including financial services and natural resources. He also handles employment-related matters for employers as well as senior management. Eric is a frequent author and speaker on topics such as evidence, civil procedure and international arbitration. An accomplished trial and appellate lawyer, Eric has developed a particular expertise in domestic and international arbitration. His experience includes acting for Canada in the NAF...
Geoff Cowper is a leading litigator with a national reputation and has been counsel in dozens of leading cases in a wide range of areas, including commercial litigation, class actions, constitutional law, and administrative law. Geoff’s experience includes conducting trials in several jurisdictions, ranging from summary trials to cases requiring over 200 days of hearing. He has appeared in over 150 appeals, including numerous appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada, and has repre...
Paul practice focuses on corporate commercial litigation and arbitration, shareholder and fraud litigation, appellate litigation and judicial review with particular expertise in complex cases with a regulatory or cross-border dimension. He has litigated cases involving failed hedge funds, derivatives, fraud and Ponzi schemes, arbitration-related court proceedings, shareholder disputes, construction and infrastructure, defamation and employment law. A highly experienced and versatile litigator...
Kris Borg-Olivier is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration. Kris, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matthew (Matt) Ghikas, FCIArb is a leading energy and regulatory counsel who is also available to act as arbitrator or mediator in energy, natural resource and other commercial disputes. He has practiced law for over 25 years, primarily in British Columbia but also in proceedings across western Canada. He has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) since 2018, is a roster arbitrator for arbitral institutions and has acted as arbitrator in a variety of matters. Matt ha...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.