Colby Dewart
Partner
Experience
Colby's focus is on:
Commercial transactions
- Mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations
- Corporate reorganizations
- Share and asset acquisition and dispositions
- Negotiating and drafting a wide variety of corporate commercial agreements in many industry sectors
Aviation
- Aircraft acquisition
- Aircraft leasing, financing and all related matters
Professional involvement
Professional associations
- Member, Law Society of Alberta
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Calgary Bar Association
- Member, Aviation Working Group, Canada re the Cape Town Convention
Representative work
$232 million acquisition of Canadian Helicopters Limited
Counsel to Don Wall and CHL Heli-Acquisition Company Ltd. in the $232 million acquisition of HNZ Group Inc. (Canadian Helicopters Limited).
Acquisition of Kenn Borek Air Ltd.
Counsel to Don Wall and 11412175 Canada Ltd. on the acquisition of Kenn Borek Air Ltd.
Leasing aircraft for multiple international leasing companies
Special aviation counsel to various North American and International aviation leasing companies regarding leasing foreign owned aircraft to Canadian operators.
Avmax Group Inc.'s corporate reorganization
Counsel to Avmax Group Inc., an aviation services and consulting company, on its corporate reorganization and investment by a confidential third party.
Bistow Group Inc.'s acquisition of Cougar Helicopters Inc.
Aviation counsel to Bistow Group Inc., a leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry, in the acquisition of an interest in Cougar Helicopters Inc. for approximately US$250 million.
WestJet Airlines Ltd.'s negotiations to purchase 65 Boeing aircraft
Counsel to WestJet Airlines Ltd. in the negotiations to purchase 65 Boeing 737 Max aircraft.
WestJet Airlines Ltd.'s negotiations to purchase 45 Bombardier aircraft
Counsel to WestJet Airlines Ltd. in the negotiations to purchase 45 Bombardier Q400 aircraft.
Leasing of Boeing aircraft by WestJet Airlines Ltd.
Counsel to WestJet Airlines Ltd. in negotiations with various North American and international lessors to lease 40+ Boeing aircraft.
WestJet Airlines Ltd.'s guaranteed financing of 55 Boeing aircraft
Counsel to WestJet Airlines Ltd. in the financing for 55 Boeing 737 Aircraft guaranteed by Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Financing 45 Bombardier aircraft for WestJet Airlines Ltd.
Counsel to WestJet Airlines Ltd. in the financing of 45 Bombardier Q400 Aircraft by secured term loans with Export Development Canada.
Export Development Canada aircraft fleet financing
Counsel to Export Development Canada with respect to the aircraft fleet financing of Avmax Group Inc..
Acquisition by Sunwest Aerospace Ltd.
Counsel to Sunwest Aerospace Ltd. in the acquisition of a Canadian aircraft charter and management company.
Royal Bank of Canada aircraft leasing and financing
Counsel to Royal Bank of Canada with respect to the financing and leasing of 25+ aircraft.
Awards
Recent honours and recognition
Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada in Aviation Law and Equipment Finance Law (2026)
Chambers Canada leading lawyer in transportation: aviation finance (2019-2025)
Recognized by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, as a leading lawyer in Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing (2017-2024)
Named in Who's Who Legal as a recommended lawyer in Canada - Transport Aviation (2023, 2024)
Named in Who's Who Legal as a recommended lawyer in Transport - Aviation Finance (2023)
Chambers Canada leading lawyer in transportation: aviation finance (2019-2025)
Named in the Legal 500 Canada as a next-generation partner in transport: aviation (2019-2023)
Leading lawyer in aviation law by Who's Who Legal Canada (2017-2018)
Named in Legal Media's Expert Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers, as a rising star (2016-2017)
News
December 1, 2025
BD&P Celebrates New Rankings in the 2026 Edition of The Legal 500 Canada
November 6, 2024
Nine BD&P Lawyers included in the Who's Who Legal: Canada 2024 Guide
September 26, 2024
BD&P Team Recognized in the Chambers Canada 2025 Guide
March 6, 2024
24 BD&P lawyers recognized as recommended leaders in Canada
November 30, 2023
BD&P Rising Stars acknowledged in The Legal 500 2024 Rankings
November 17, 2023
Ten BD&P Lawyers included in the Who's Who Legal: Canada 2023 Guide
September 28, 2023
Chambers Canada 2024 recognizes BD&P team as Top Legal Talent
March 1, 2023
Recognition from Lexpert celebrates BD&P lawyers as recommended leaders in Canada
November 21, 2022
2022 Who's Who Legal Guide released
November 15, 2022
The Legal 500 2023 Rankings recognize cutting edge counsel
September 29, 2022
Chambers Canada recognizes fourteen BD&P lawyers for legal expertise in 2023 edition
April 23, 2021
Twenty BD&P lawyers recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2021
September 9, 2020
Sixteen BD&P lawyers recognized in the 2021 edition of Chambers Canada
April 29, 2020
Twenty-three lawyers ranked in 2020 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
December 5, 2019
BD&P lawyers recognized for their expertise in the Legal 500 Canada 2020
May 3, 2019
Twenty-one lawyers ranked across seventeen practice areas in 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
November 29, 2018
Legal 500 Canada recognizes the expertise of fifteen BD&P lawyers
September 21, 2018