DLA Piper (Canada) LLP > Calgary, Canada > Firm Profile

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Infrastructure projects Tier 1

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP’s international-facing projects practice is frequently involved in projects at home and abroad, as evidenced by its current involvement in matters across the USA, Europe and the Caribbean. The team is additionally distinguished by its longstanding record at the forefront of Canada’s PPP market, including its recent experience on projects using new infrastructure models, such as progressive design-build contracts, among other structures. UK-qualified foreign legal consultant Ian Bendell chairs the national infrastructure and projects department from Toronto. Bendell is representing VIA HFR-TGF, a newly established crown corporation created as a subsidiary of VIA Rail, on the High Frequency Rail Project. The group also draws on the senior expertise of tri-qualified (BC/Ontario/UK) Andrew Burton, who splits his practice between Vancouver and Toronto, and who advised on a slew of transport projects during 2023/24; and Vancouver-based procurement specialist Elizabeth Mayer, who is dual-qualified in BC and the UK, and who maintains particularly strong relationships with public sector clients.

Transport > Other transport Tier 1

Lauded by one client for its ‘excellence in rail law and the Canadian Transportation Act’, the practice group at DLA Piper is a strong choice for a range of rail and road transport mandates. Core areas of expertise include railway regulatory matters, railway safety and security mandates, contract negotiation and all related litigation. The group is routinely instructed by terminals, governments, short-line railways and passenger railways, as well as companies in the logistics, finance and natural resources segments. Following the March 2024 retirement of ex-practice co-head Forrest Hume, the department is directed by Vancouver-based John Landry KC, who specializes in civil and regulatory litigation involving transportation, international trade and energy. Also in Vancouver, associate Taryn Urquhart majors on advising government entities and private sector clients on the regulatory requirements applicable to railways.

Transport > Aviation Tier 2

Canada > AI Tier 3

Backed by the firm’s global network, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP’s AI practice draws on the combined bench strength of its Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver locations to advise government bodies and domestic and multinational corporates on a diverse spectrum of matters related to their usage of AI technology. With a client base spanning such sectors as healthcare, agriculture, insurance, entertainment, consumer products, construction, engineering and tech, the practice’s full service covers AI regulatory compliance, AI procurement and guidance, company-wide AI governance programs targeting such issues as risk assessment and market managing strategies, in addition to representing clients in AI-related litigation involving consumer protection, IP and defamation. The practice is led by Shea Coulson, who advises on tech-related commercial disputes, tech regulatory matters and the use of AI in administrative decision-making. Ryan Black specializes in assisting consumer-facing online clients in video games, e-commerce and e-sports. Another key figure is counsel Kerri Bennett. All the lawyers mentioned work in the Vancouver office.

Canada > Cannabis Tier 3

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP possesses a strong track record in advising cannabis companies on corporate and capital markets transactions, with Acreage Holdings, Trulieve Cannabis Corp and Tilray among its representative clients. Alongside its work for licenced producers, the team also acts for investors, dealers and lenders, among other stakeholders. The department is driven out of Toronto by Robert Fonn, who specializes in corporate finance and M&A. The group also includes Canadian capital markets co-chair Derek Sigel and corporate finance and M&A partner Russel Drew.

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 3

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP's British Columbia disputes practice represents local, national and international companies in litigation, arbitration and ADR involving the life sciences, transport, energy, banking and insurance segments. The team has experience appearing before all levels of British Columbia courts, the Supreme Court of Canada and a number of regulatory tribunals. John Landry KC, who focuses on civil ‎and regulatory litigation, and Rebecca Von Rüti, who also co-chairs the national class action practice group, share leadership of the department. Also noted are senior litigation partners David Neave and Kevin Wright. Shea Coulson, who specializes in regulatory compliance matters and litigation, joined the firm from McMillan LLP in April 2023.

Canada > Environment Tier 3

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP’s environmental law practice continues to make inroads into the market, following the arrival of department co-heads Joshua Jantzi (Calgary) and senior counsel Wally Braul (Vancouver/Calgary/Toronto) in 2022. Most notably, the group added nine new clients to its roster during 2023/24, including Silver47 Exploration Corp, which it represented in the Supreme Court of Yukon on a judicial challenge to the validity of an environmental ‎assessment report — that work was led by Braul. Other key contacts include Max Collett (Vancouver), who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in June 2023; Canada managing partner Robert Seidel KC (Edmonton); and Jennifer Cleall KC (Edmonton), who is noted for climate change regulations.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 3

Canada > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP utilizes a global network and a strong national footprint to advise public and private sector clients across sectors ranging from telecoms, energy, tech, mining and healthcare to cannabis, life sciences, hospitality and projects (P3). The practice’s full offering covers corporate transactions (financing, joint ventures, M&A), regulatory compliance, IPO planning, IP prosecution and enforcement, in addition to advice on employment matters and environmental and contracting issues. The practice is headed by Ted Maduri in Toronto, who brings expertise to multi-jurisdictional M&A, startup planning, equity and debt financings, partnerships and joint ventures; and corporate, commercial and real estate specialist Jennifer Cleall KC in Edmonton. Other key figures include experienced M&A partner Russel Drew and Robert Fonn, who handles complex corporate financings, in Toronto; and Denis Silva in Vancouver, who brings extensive knowledge of the tech, mining and finance spaces.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Alberta Tier 4

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP‘s Alberta disputes offering, based out of offices in Calgary and Edmonton, is centred on energy disputes ‎involving contractual, environmental, aboriginal, product liability and surface ‎rights issues. The practice is jointly directed by Calgary-based Heather Treacy KC, who specializes in energy, aboriginal and constitutional law disputes; Vancouver-based John Landry KC; and Toronto-based David Foulds. Additional key contacts in Calgary include Patrick Roche, who has niche expertise in power purchase arrangements; and Jordan Deering, who brings strength to litigation and matters involving investigations and fraud, bribery, ‎corruption ‎and ‎white-collar matters.

Canada > Intellectual property Tier 4

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP is distinguished by its robust IP litigation expertise, which sees the team frequently act on patent, trademark and copyright cases. On the non-contentious side, the group often acts in conjunction with other practice areas to provide support on transactional matters, while it also advises on IP acquisition, licensing and ‎portfolio management. IP litigator Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy steers a department that also includes experienced counsel Bruce Stratton; Bentley Gaikis, who specializes in patent litigation; and supporting associate Michal Kasprowicz. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.

Canada > Real estate Tier 4

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP leverages the bench strength of its global network and national offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver to advise developers, builders, land and building owners and lenders, across the retail, transport, municipal, health and infrastructure sectors, on a wide range of matters, including acquisitions and sales, financings, joint ventures and limited partnerships, public-private partnerships (PPP) and commercial leasing. The team is led by Mark Schmidt in Vancouver, an expert in residential and commercial developments, and Daniel Shapira in Toronto, a specialist in real estate capital markets, who joined in August 2023 from Wildeboer Dellelce LLP.

Canada > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 4

Lauded for its ‘practical approach to problem-solving’, the practice group at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP is equipped to represent debtors and creditors on the insolvencies of financial services, mining, forestry and real estate companies. Vancouver-based Colin Brousson, who is praised for his ‘can-do attitude to challenging files and situations’; and Toronto-based Edmond Lamek share leadership of the practice. Both specialize in corporate restructuring mandates across a broad range of sectors.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario Tier 5

Areas of expertise for DLA Piper (Canada) LLP's Ontario disputes practice group include shareholder litigation, class action defence and commercial fraud and other commercial litigation. Toronto-based practice head David Foulds specializes in commercial dispute mandates, including breach of contract cases, shareholder disputes and product recall cases. Derek Bell, who handles securities litigation, insolvency litigation and competition litigation, is an additional key contact.