Louise Novinger Grant copy

Louise Novinger Grant, K.C.

Partner

403.260.0163
lng@bdplaw.com
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Education:
King's Counsel 2020

University of Calgary, Bachelor of Laws, 1995

University of Calgary, Master of Education, 1985

Bar admission: Alberta 1996
Practice areas:
Commercial arbitration, Energy litigation, International commercial arbitration, Investor-state arbitration, Litigation and dispute resolution

Experience

Louise's focus is on:

Commercial and general litigation

  • Broad experience in corporate, commercial, insurance, professional negligence and product liability claims

Commercial arbitration

  • Active as counsel in domestic and international commercial arbitration proceedings, and investor state disputes under investment treaties

Energy litigation

  • Active as counsel in energy litigation and arbitration, including contract disputes, royalty disputes and accounting issues

Court and hearing experience

  • Appearances before international commercial arbitration tribunals in Canada, the United States, Sweden and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague
  • Appearances before trial and appellate courts in Alberta, and other tribunals including the Workers’ Compensation Board and the Canada Pension Plan Appeals Board

Recent cases

Lead counsel successfully representing the plaintiffs, a global manufacturing company, in multi-party litigation involving breach of a distribution agreement and product quality issues; the plaintiffs were awarded both punitive damages and solicitor client costs against the defendants. Manson Insulation Products Ltd. v Crossroads C&I Distributors, 2019 ABQB 684

Counsel to energy companies in arbitration involving a royalty dispute (UNCITRAL) (2018)
Counsel to a state in international arbitration involving an investor state dispute relating to a telecommunications investment (UNCITRAL) (2018)

Lead counsel successfully representing plaintiff in dispute with insurer who denied coverage for directors and officers liability; the case was settled prior to trial. Maxim Power Corp. v ACE INA Insurance, 2016 ABQB 539
Lead counsel successfully representing defendant in summary judgment application dismissing plaintiff’s claims of misfeasance in public office and defamation. Jordan v Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams Ltd., 2013 ABQB 330

Counsel to a power producer in arbitration involving a purchase and sale contract dispute, and competition issues (Ad hoc) (2013)

Counsel to a state in international arbitration involving an investor state dispute relating to a telecommunications investment (ICSID) (2010)

Counsel to a Canadian company in international arbitration involving an investor state dispute under the Canada - Czech Republic BIT (UNCITRAL) (2010)

Lead counsel successfully representing the plaintiff in a product liability claim against General Motors. Hutton v General Motors of Canada Ltd., [2010] A.W.L.D. 4773

Counsel to an energy company in international arbitration involving a gas storage dispute under New York law (Ad hoc) (2009)

Counsel to an energy company in international arbitration involving a gas supply agreement dispute (Ad hoc) (2007)

Counsel successfully representing plaintiff in claim against her former husband for unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment. Ambrozic v Burcevski, 2006 ABQB 4

Counsel to Canadian company in international arbitration involving an aviation contract dispute (UNCITRAL) (2005)

Community involvement

Louise is a volunteer with the Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Centre. She also served as President (2014-2016), Past President (2017) and Board Member (2008-2017) of the Easter Seals Alberta.

Professional involvement

  • Member, Project Advisory Committee, Alberta Law Reform Institute (ALRI), Uniform International Commercial Arbitration Final Report (2019)
  • Co-Leader, Litigation Business Unit, BD&P (2014 to 2022)
  • Chair, Lawyers’ Professional Liability Insurance Committee, BD&P (2014 to date)
  • Chair, Directors & Officers Insurance Committee, BD&P (2014 to date)
  • Member, ADRIC Arbitration Rules Committee (2014 to date)
  • Member, ADRIC Roster Committee (2009 to date)
  • Volunteer, Pro Bono Law Alberta, QB Amicus Court Assistance Program (2019)

Professional associations

  • Member, Law Society of Alberta
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association
  • Member, Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society (WCCAS)
  • Member, The Advocates’ Society

Presentations

Louise has also presented at various conferences, panels, seminars, and other events, including:

  • Advanced Evidence Issues, The Advocates' Society, Evidence for Litigators Webcast, 2020
  • Panel Discussion: Finding Your Confidence in the Courtroom, The Advocates' Society, Women in Litigation Symposium, 2019
  • What's Left to Dispute? A Review of Exclusion Clauses, Liability Caps, and Sole Remedy Clauses, Legal Education Society of Alberta Annual Refresher on Business, Lake Louise, AB 2018
  • Opportunities and Challenges with International Arbitrations involving Canadians, Resolving International & Domestic Commercial Disputes in Canada, ICDR Canada and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, Toronto, ON, 2017
  • Innovation in Arbitration, Arbitration Design and Innovation, Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners (YCAP) 2017 Spring Symposium, Vancouver, BC, 2017

Representative work

Graham Group’s acquisition of AECOM’s energy operations and maintenance business

Counsel to the Graham Group of Companies in the acquisition of the North American assets of AECOM’s Energy Operations and Maintenance Division. The acquisition positions the Graham Group as the third largest construction company in Canada and Western Canada’s largest industrial services company.

Awards

Recent honours and recognition

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada in Alternative Dispute Resolution (2023)

Recognized in Benchmark Litigation Canada's Top 100 Women in Litigation (2022)

Named in the Legal 500 Canada as a recommended lawyer in dispute resolution: Alberta (2022)

Recommended corporate and commercial litigation lawyer by Best Lawyers in Canada (2021-2023)

Recognized as a litigation star in Benchmark Litigation Canada (2020-2021, 2023)

Top 50 Women in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation Canada (2020-2021)

Recipient, President’s Award, Easter Seals Alberta, recognizing outstanding contribution to the organization (a registered charity), which provides services that foster inclusion, independence, and recreation for individuals with disabilities and medical conditions (2012)