Expertise
Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Our lawyers understand and appreciate the benefits of different methods of dispute resolution. These benefits may include speed, cost efficiency and access to a tailor-made process.
Clients rely on us for innovative conflict management, dispute prevention and dispute resolution services. We regularly serve as arbitrators, mediators and similar "neutrals" to private sector clients and governments in Canada and abroad. Most of our lawyers are bilingual (French and English), and many are trained in both the common law and civil law systems. Several of our lawyers are certified mediators or arbitrators.
We have one of Canada's most active and experienced arbitration practices. We represent clients both in ad hoc arbitrations and in proceedings under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, London Court of International Arbitration, International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, American Arbitration Association and Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Our expertise spans a wide range of industries and disputes, both domestic and international, including:
- Local and transnational contract and other commercial disputes
- Trade law cases
- Investment treaty arbitrations
- Sports-related disputes
- Boundary and other public international law conflicts
Our lawyers belong to the globe elite in alternative dispute resolution:
- Ogilvy Renault Chairman L. Yves Fortier, C.C., Q.C. - former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, ad hoc judge of the International Court of Justice and the first non-European President of the London Court of International Arbitration - has been heralded as "the individual champion, hands-down" among international arbitrators by American Lawyer/Focus Europe
- Another partner, the Hon. Pierre A. Michaud, O.C., Q.C. - former Chief Justice of the Québec Court of Appeal - designed and implemented an exceptionally successful and widely copied judicial conciliation procedure
Many other Ogilvy Renault lawyers are recognized in Canadian and foreign publications for their expertise in domestic and international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution
Services
- Advising on the selection of arbitrators, mediators and other neutrals
- Arbitration
- Drafting dispute resolution clauses and agreements
- Fact-finding
- Mediation
- Mini-trials
- Negotiation, facilitation and conciliation
- Partnering
- Providing education and training programs relating to conflict management, dispute prevention and dispute resolution
- Settlement conferencing
Client Work
Supreme Court of Canada Approves BCE's Privatization
Retained to assist the BCE legal team when the landmark case reached the Supreme Court of Canada.
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Contract dispute with Middle Eastern distributor
Representing a leading aircraft manufacturer before an ICC Arbitral Tribunal in a contract dispute with its Middle Eastern distributor.
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Dairy Industry Trade-Dress Dispute
Governed by Canadian law and Federal Court Rules.
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Territorial dispute in Africa
Mediator in a territorial dispute in Africa, as special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
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Construction dispute, laws of England and Wales
Representing a company in a construction dispute, governed by the laws of England and Wales.
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Investment dispute in insurance industry, Poland
Chairman of an ad hoc Arbitral Tribunal, in Brussels, in a dispute concerning an investment in the insurance industry in Poland.
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Hotel industry dispute, Latin America
Chairman of an ICSID Arbitral Tribunal, in Houston, in a dispute concerning an investment in the hotel industry in Latin America.
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Dispute concerning investment in Indonesian cement industry
Chairman of an ICSID Arbitral Tribunal, in Singapore, in a dispute concerning an investment in the cement industry in Indonesia.
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Sport-related disputes in Canada
Arbitrator in numerous sport-related disputes in Canada, including doping matters and Olympic team selection disputes.
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Enforcement of foreign arbitral award
Representing a Cypriot company before the Federal Court of Canada in the enforcement of a foreign arbitral award.
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Dispute concerning termination of electricity sale contract
Representing a Canadian electrical power generating and transmission company before an Arbitral Tribunal.
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Investor-State dispute with Republic of Hungary
Representing Cypriot companies before an Arbitral Tribunal.
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Contract disputes with Taiwan and Hong Kong customers
Representing a leading telecommunications carrier before two ICC Arbitral Tribunals in contract disputes with customers in Taiwan.
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Contract dispute, governed by German law
Representing the acquirer of a railway manufacturing business before an Arbitral Tribunal.
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Disputes in various industries
Representing Canadian companies in various disputes in construction, aeronautical, tax, insurance, banking, finance, communications.
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Issues of arbitrability arising from intellectual property dispute
Representing an arbitral institution (CCAC) before the Supreme Court of Canada on issues of arbitrability.
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Sports merchandise dispute, Canadian Commercial Arbitration Centre
Representing a Canadian company in a sports merchandise dispute before an Arbitral Tribunal.
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Maritime dispute concerning repair of a ship
Representing a Canadian company before an Arbitral Tribunal constituted pursuant to the rules of the Association of Maritime Arbitrators.
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Energy dispute concerning termination of electricity purchase contract
Representing a Canadian company before an ad hoc Arbitral Tribunal in an energy dispute.
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Dispute concerning sale of broadcasting and media enterprise
Representing a company before an ad hoc Arbitral Tribunal in a dispute concerning the sale of a broadcasting and media enterprise.
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Events
Joint YCAP / YAF Symposium - Agreements to Expand the Scope of Judicial Intervention in Arbital Proceedings: Camel's Nose or Cat's Meow?
Martin Valasek, President of the YCAP Board of Directors, delivers opening remarks and moderates this two-part discussion, which features a commentary on Hall Street v. Mattel and a panel discussion on Canadian, US and ICC Perspectives on Hall Street.
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Publications
Commercial Arbitration in Canada
The Canadian legislative landscape is expressly designed to support the use of arbitration, be it domestic or international. Canadian courts are increasingly knowledgeable of and available to assist with the arbitral process and, ultimately, the...
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Supreme Court of Canada Considers the Right to Class Actions in the Context of an Arbitration Agreement
The Supreme Court of Canada recently rendered its much-anticipated decision in Dell Computer Corp. v. Union des consommateurs, an appeal in which Ogilvy Renault acted for the London Court of International Arbitration which was granted intervener status by
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Doing Business with Foreign States and State Companies
Doing business with foreign states can be very attractive for Canadian firms. States can award lucrative contracts on a scale uncommon in the business world.
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International Tribunal Awards US$83.8 million to Airport Investors
On October 2, 2006, an international arbitral tribunal constituted under the rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) awarded US$83.8 million to foreign investors in Hungary's Budapest-Ferihegy International ...
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Doing Business with Foreign States and State Companies
Doing business with foreign states can be very attractive for Canadian firms.
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Extra Protection for Canadians Investing Abroad
Canadian companies and individuals are investing abroad more than ever before.
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New York Convention of 1958 & UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration
In a perfect world, arbitral awards, like court judgments, would be voluntarily respected by the losing party.
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Media Highlights
The Three Faces of Yves
Ogilvy Renault Chair Yves Fortier, who led Alcan's board in its merger with Rio Tinto and is one of the most active arbitrators in the world, was interviewed for the August 2007 issue of The American Lawyer.
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Ogilvy Renault Chair - Yves Fortier - Recognized as Top Arbitrator in the World
Ogilvy Renault LLP is proud to announce that L. Yves Fortier, Chairman of the firm, has been recognized as the top arbitrator in the world by The American Lawyer/Focus Europe.
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Contacts

Pierre Bienvenu
514.847.4452
416.216.3921
pbienvenu@ogilvyrenault.com
Profile

L. Yves Fortier
514.847.4463
yfortier@ogilvyrenault.com
Profile

Stephen L. Drymer
514.847.4606
sdrymer@ogilvyrenault.com
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