Bennett Jones, Adair Goldblatt Bieber act in $4-billion commercial case

Bennett Jones and Adair Goldblatt Bieber represented parties in a multibillion-dollar case, while Osler, BLG, Cozen O'Connor, Dickinson Wright, McCarthy Tétrault, Gowling WLG, and Stikeman Elliott also made appearances in commercial list matters this week.

The week’s most notable commercial case was the $4.445-billion Sakab Saudi Holding Company et al v Saad Khalid S Al Jabri et al. Here, Bennett Jones LLP partner Amanda McLachlan represented Sakab Saudi Holding Company and eight other plaintiffs, while Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP founding partner John Adair advised one of the defendants. McLachlan has a corporate and commercial litigation practice, while Adair deals with professional negligence matters and partnership and administrative disputes. The other defendants appeared to be unrepresented.

The next most notable commercial case was the $333-million case Romspen Investment Corporation v Woodbine Mall Holdings Inc. et al. Here, Dickinson Wright LLP partner David Preger acted for the plaintiff Romspen Investment Corporation. The defendants appeared to be unrepresented.

A third notable commercial case was the $111-million case Anson Advisors Inc. et al v Stafford et al. Here, Bennett Jones partner Robert Staley represented Anson Advisors Inc. and three other plaintiffs, while Kim Spencer McPhee Barristers PC principal Won J. Kim advised two defendants. Staley’s practice focuses on commercial and securities litigation, shareholder activism, and class actions. Kim’s work on class actions has covered matters involving securities, shareholder remedies, and contractual remedies. The other defendants appeared to be unrepresented.

Bennett Jones LLP appeared in four cases this week.

Apart from its work on the Sakab and Anson cases, the firm was also involved in Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al v JTI-MacDonald Corp. et al. Here, partner Jeffrey Leon represented the provinces of B.C., Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan, which were respondents in the case. He has experience in domestic and international arbitrations and administrative law matters.

Sean Zweig, partner, advised the same six provinces, which were respondents in Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. v Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al. He is a restructuring and insolvency lawyer who has assisted all kinds of stakeholders in Canadian and cross-border restructurings.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP appeared in four cases this week.

Deborah Glendinning, partner, represented Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited as an applicant in Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al v JTI-MacDonald Corp. et al and as a respondent in Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. v Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al. She handles multi-jurisdictional class actions and other large aggregate claims, particularly corporate, commercial, and banking disputes, product liability, and negligence matters.

Lauren Tomasich, partner, advised respondent PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Cunix et al v Sol Global Investments Corp. et al. Her commercial litigation practice concentrates on commercial arbitration, corporate and securities cases, and white-collar defence and enforcement proceedings.

Jayne Cooke, associate, acted for applicant Gan Systems Inc. in a case of the same name. She works in the areas of corporate, commercial, and securities litigation.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP appeared in three cases this week.

Caitlin Sainsbury, partner, represented the two plaintiffs in Citti et al v Eric A. et al and advised two respondents in Cunix et al v Sol Global Investments Corp. et al. She deals with competition/antitrust and securities class actions, commercial disputes, securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, and related internal investigations.

Graeme Hamilton, partner, acted for applicant East West Investment Management Corporation in East West Investment Management Corporation v Higgins et al. He has defended public and private companies, corporate directors, senior executives, and regulated professionals in criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions.

Cozen O'Connor appeared in three cases this week.

Steven Weisz represented respondent Grand River Enterprises Six Nations Ltd. in the cases of Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al v JTI-MacDonald Corp. et al and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. v Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al.

Weisz also advised respondent Cedar Croft Consulting Inc. in Springer Aerospace Holdings Limited et al v Cedar Croft Consulting Inc. in its capacity as chief restructuring officer of the applicants. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation and insolvency law.

Dickinson Wright LLP appeared in three cases this week.

Aside from his work on the Romspen case, Preger represented C&K Mortgage Services Inc. and one other plaintiff in C&K Mortgage Services Inc. et al v 10412490 Canada Corp. et al. He is a member of the firm’s bankruptcy and insolvency practice.

Lisa Corne, partner, advised applicant Canadian Western Bank in Canadian Western Bank v 2563773 Ontario Inc. She is experienced in restructuring and insolvency law, including security enforcement, receivership, bankruptcy, and court-supervised restructuring processes.

McCarthy Tétrault LLP appeared in three cases this week.

R. Paul Steep, counsel, represented Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. as the applicant in Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. v Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al and as a respondent in Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al v JTI-MacDonald Corp. et al. His commercial litigation practice concentrates on securities litigation and class actions.

Abbey (Junior) Sirivar, partner, advised applicant Prospector Pte. Ltd. in Prospector Pte. Ltd. v CGX Energy Inc. He assists domestic and international clients across various industries, including mining, financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare.

Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP appeared in two cases this week.

Steven Sofer, partner, represented respondent Sol Global Investments Corp. in Cunix et al v Sol Global Investments Corp. et al. He has been actively involved in securities matters and class actions for over two decades.

Kate Yurkovich, associate, advised applicant Vector Financial Services Limited in Vector Financial Services Limited v Village Developments Inc. She belongs to the firm’s financial services group and focuses on commercial lending and insolvency matters.

Stikeman Elliott LLP appeared in two cases this week.

Sinziana Hennig, partner, represented the respondent in Leavens et al v Schwartz. She has defended class actions involving competition, securities, consumer protection, product liability, and franchise law claims.

David Byers, senior counsel, advised British American Tobacco P.L.C. and two other respondents in Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. v Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al. His commercial litigation practice has spanned product liability, securities, insolvency, insurance, and domestic and international arbitration.