Experience

Background

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Trade and Investment

• Acted as counsel in a number of international investment arbitrations and annulment proceedings, including:

  • Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission v United States (CUSMA, ICSID Tribunal)

  • Westmoreland Mining Holdings v Canada (NAFTA, UNCITRAL Tribunal)

  • Mesa Power Group LLC v Canada (NAFTA, UNCITRAL Tribunal)

  • St Marys VCNA v Canada (NAFTA, UNCITRAL Tribunal)

  • Clayton, Bilcon of Delaware et al v Canada (NAFTA, UNCITRAL Tribunal)

  •  Continental Casualty Company v Argentina (ICSID Annulment)

• Acted as counsel in at least the following trade disputes:

  • Alberta v Ontario - Liquor Practices (CFTA)

  • Lum v Alberta (NWPTA)

• Acted in various international and domestic arbitrations, particularly international investment treaty claims and complicated cross-border arbitrations

• Conducted investor-state proceedings under various multilateral trade treaties (such as the NAFTA) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs)

• Experience includes acting in arbitrations administered under a full range of institutional rules, including the UNCITRAL, ICDR/AAA and ICSID arbitration rules and the IBA Rules for Taking Evidence in Commercial Arbitration

• Representative claims include contractual and treaty disputes involving securities, mining, oil and gas (often with environmental issues), share purchase agreements, feed-in tariff (FIT) renewable energy (wind) programs

• Diverse background having acted as counsel in trials and appeals in all levels of court, both in Australia and in Canada, including the Court of Appeal of Ontario, the Federal Court of Australia and the State appellate and trial courts and various tribunals

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Commercial

• Litigation practice encompasses large-scale litigation, which focused on complex corporate/commercial matters; claims under the Trade Practices Act (Cth) and the Corporations Act (Cth); claims against lawyers, accountants, brokers, financial advisors and directors

• Commercial litigation experience includes bankruptcy matters, asset purchases, securities and finance, (real and intellectual) property and product liability

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Knowledge

• Solid understanding of the application of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the New York Convention.

• Full appreciation of the UNCITRAL Model Law, the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and the Federal Arbitration Act (United States), the enforcement of awards and requests for judicial assistance throughout UNCITRAL Model Law jurisdictions

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Career History

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2023-Current          Principal Legal Officer, Office of International Law, Attorney-General's                                   Department, Commonwealth of Australia

2017-2023              Trade Counsel, Justice and Solicitor General, Government of Alberta,                                   Canada

2009-2014              International Lawyer, Appleton International Lawyers, Canada

2008-2009              Law Associate, law firm of Clyde & Co International (formerly Nicholl                                     Paskell-Mede LLP), Canada

2003-2006              Law Associate, law firm of Solomon Brothers, Australia

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Qualifications

 

Professional

2012                       Fellow and Instructor, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London [FCIArb]

2007                       Barrister & Solicitor, Ontario, Canada

2004                       Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of Australia

2004                       Barrister & Solicitor, Western Australia

 

Education

LL.M, University of Melbourne

LL.B, University of Notre Dame

BSc., University of Western Australia