LEXPERT • December 2015 | www.lexpert.ca | 71
Vice Chairman of the firm and a partner in the Calgary office. e only Alberta Fellow
of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. A leading practitioner in high-stakes
corporate and commercial litigation with a broad trial and appellate business and
energy litigation practice, including contract, securities, partnership/joint venture and
trust disputes. Broad arbitration experience as counsel and as an arbitrator. Speaker
and author on appellate advocacy for the Legal Education Society of Alberta. Consis-
tently Recommended in Lexpert®/Report on Business Special Edition – Canada's Leading
Litigation Lawyers , Chambers Global: e World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Bench-
mark Canada: e Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and
Attorneys and Best Lawyers in Canada. Recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal for
outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta.
Practices primarily in the areas of commercial, energy and securities litigation. Extensive
experience working in conjunction with counsel in the US. Has made numerous appear-
ances as senior counsel in a number of provinces in trial and appellate courts, the Federal
Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada, representing corporate interests, including
the energy industry, as well as private citizens. Has also appeared before various regula-
tory boards and tribunals, including energy-related tribunals. Has acted as counsel in
a number of leading cases. Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the
Litigation Counsel of America. Called to the Alberta Bar in 1973. Appointed Queen's
Counsel in 1989. Recognized in the 2015 edition (and since 2006) of e Best Lawyers in
Canada (Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability, Energy
Law). Recognized in the 2015 (and since 2012) editions of Chambers Global – e
World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Dispute Resolution: Alberta, Band 1). Martindale-
Hubbell AV Preeminent 5 out of 5 Peer Review Rated.
Partner in the Litigation Group based in the Edmonton office. His practice is focused on
commercial litigation and professional malpractice claims, principally in the medical and
legal professions. He has appeared at all levels of the courts in Alberta and the Federal
Court, the TCC, the Supreme Court of Canada and before various administrative
tribunals. He regularly is asked to act as a mediator and an arbitrator in a wide range of
disputes. He is elected by his peers as a bencher (director) of the Law Society of Alberta.
Has extensive involvement in legal education, is past Chair of the Board of Directors of
the Legal Education Society of Alberta and immediate past Chair and member of the
Board of Directors of Edmonton's pro bono legal clinic. Inducted as a Fellow of the
American College of Trial Lawyers (2008) and Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America
(2010). Admitted to the Alberta Bar 1979.
Senior partner in McKercher LLP Saskatoon office practicing in civil litigation, class
actions and mass torts, and corporate and commercial litigation. Extensive experience
in complex commercial and contractual disputes, professional negligence, labor law, tax
and First Nations litigation. Appeared before many Arbitration Boards, the Court of
Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan, the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan, the Tax Court
of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme
Court of Canada. Also appeared in the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the Alberta
Court of Appeal, and the Northwest Territories Court of Appeal. Acted before the
Saskatoon Police Commission, the Saskatchewan Police Commission, the Saskatchewan
Labour Relations Board, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Commission, the Inter-
national Trade Tribunal and the Indian Claims Commission. He has recently become a
member of the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Saskatchewan. Called to the Bar
1977. Appointed Queen's Counsel in 1987.
Blair C.
Yorke-Slader,
QC
Bennett
Jones LLP
Tel: (403) 298-3291
Fax: (403) 265-7219
Calgary
Lenard M.
Sali, QC
Borden Ladner
Gervais LLP
Tel: (403) 232-9701
Fax: (403) 266-1395
Calgary
Donald R.
Cranston, QC
Bennett
Jones LLP
Tel: (780) 917-4267
Fax: (780) 421-7951
Edmonton
John R.
Beckman,
QC
McKercher LLP
Tel: (306) 664-1271
Fax: (306) 653-2669
Saskatoon
yorkesladerb@bennettjones.com
lsali@blg.com
cranstond@bennettjones.com
j.beckman@mckercher.ca
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