The transportation industry is constantly evolving as innovation drives new laws and regulations. Success depends on having a specialized legal team to help navigate the industry’s longstanding and emerging issues, including the evolution of how goods and passengers move, autonomy and automation, and the growing gig and sharing economy.
As one of Canada’s most experienced transportation teams, we have a unique understanding of the industry’s past, present, and future. Our multidisciplinary structure allows us to work with professionals from across the firm to deliver optimal service and results.
We are recognized for our expertise in disputes, regulatory and transactional facets of all modes of transportation, including road, marine, air and rail. This includes:
- litigation at all levels of federal/provincial courts, arbitrations, mediations and other dispute resolution procedures across Canada
- project and transaction planning
- licensing and approvals
- operating permits
- safety and compliance advisory services
- enforcement and claims matters, including disputes
- quasi-criminal and administrative tribunal work
- infrastructure project planning advice, including land use approvals, property acquisitions, procurement structuring and administration, regulatory approvals, commercial agreements and financing
- transactions, including transport-specific mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures
- commercial advisory and support, including drafting of a wide range of commercial transportation contracts and general commercial legal support
- transportation insurance expertise
- autonomous vehicles (including autonomous ships and drones) and technology
We are the preferred counsel to a number of major national and regional railway companies, urban transit authorities, transportation service providers, shippers, customers, project developers and contractors, along with:
- owners and operators of transportation companies and commercial vehicle assets
- P & I clubs and transportation insurers
- ship owners
- airlines
- terminals
- freight forwarders
- load brokers
- warehouses
- other third-party logistics providers and their insurers
Trucking
We have expertise in dispute, regulatory, and transactional aspects of trucking. Our experience includes:
- successful representation of numerous regional and national motor carriers and their insurers in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases as well as cargo damage claims, commercial disputes, and regulatory proceedings relating to, among others, carrier fitness safety and compliance issues
- defence and prosecution of claims on behalf of members of the industry and their insurers
- representation in respect of Notices of Cancellation and Seizure of Commercial Plates; CVOR/National Carrier Fitness Safety Certificate aspects; IRP and IFTA registrations; transport regulatory compliance and registration in the context of mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations, and restructurings involving commercial motor vehicles; cabotage aspects for foreign carriers carrying on business in Canada; emissions and environmental issues
The Group also offers advice to trucking and logistics clients on issues related to freight forwarding, waybills, bills of lading and contracts of carriage; distribution and warehousing disputes, including liens on inventory and general security and forbearance agreements; recovery of property and debt disputes; corporate and business law issues, as well as environmental issues and the transportation of dangerous goods.
