BCE Inc.

Acted for BCE Inc. and Bell Canada in a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in a landmark commercial case involving the proposed $51.7 billion privatization of BCE. The decision of the Supreme Court in this case set the standard in Canada for approval of plans of arrangement and claims of oppression. It also clarified the law concerning the duties of directors of public companies faced with potential change of control transactions. This case also resulted in the fastest commercial appeal ever heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. The appeal was heard by the Court and decided unanimously in favour of BCE less than 30 days after BCE launched its application for leave to appeal from a decision of the Québec Court of Appeal revoking approval for BCE's proposed plan of arrangement that had been granted by Justice Silcoff of the Quebec Superior Court following a lengthy and highly expedited trial.

Cinar Corporation

Acted on behalf of Cinar Corporation in significant litigation in Canada and elsewhere involving the recovery of in excess of $100 million in relation to certain unauthorized transactions effected by past directors and officers of the corporation. This litigation also involved multi-jurisdictional safeguard, enforcement and liquidation proceedings.

Hollinger Inc.

Acted for Hollinger Inc. in its action against Conrad Black and other former executives of Hollinger in a multi-million dollar action for breach of fiduciary duty, etc.

The Globe and Mail Inc.

Acted successfully for The Globe and Mail Inc. in its appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada involving the boundaries of freedom of expression and more particularly, the extent of the protection of confidentiality of journalistic sources and the availability of publication bans to protect confidential communications.

Steinberg Inc.

Acted for directors of Steinberg Inc. in relation to creditors' claims resulting from a leveraged buyout of the supermarket chain.

Vitran Corporation Inc.

Acted for Vitran Corporation, a publicly-traded company, and its subsidiary Vitran Environment al Systems, in the successful defence of a multi-million dollar claim for the alleged breach of a share purchase agreement.

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Acted for Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in litigation relating to a successful takeover bid for a major Québec cable company and in relation to a rival's unsuccessful bid.

Liquidators of an estate

Acted for the liquidators of an estate valued at over $100 million in connection with a challenge to the testator's will on grounds of incapacity and undue influence.

ECN Capital

Acting for ECN Capital in a claim for over $25 million in damages filed against Bombardier Inc. in the Superior Court of Québec. 

A real estate company

Acted for a real estate company arbitrating the fair market value of properties in and adjustments applicable to a $500-million real estate portfolio being divided with a former partner.

Koebra Development Corporation

Acted successfully for Koebra Development Corporation in response to an application by citizens requesting that municipal authorizations granted in connection with a multi-use real estate development project be revoked.

Confidential Client

Acting for a confidential client, as an innocent third party in an investigation, led by Québec's permanent anti-corruption unit.

Confidential Clients

Acting on behalf of confidential clients against various media outlets in court proceedings in the context of the Public Inquiry on the Awarding and Management of Public Contracts in the Construction Industry (Charbonneau Commission) to obtain a publication ban on ITOs supporting several warrants.

Confidential Clients

Acted on behalf of various confidential clients regarding the investigation by the Public Inquiry on the Awarding and Management of Public Contracts in the Construction Industry (Charbonneau Commission).

Confidential Clients

Acting on behalf of various confidential clients regarding investigations by the Québec Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit.

Minority Stockholder

Acted for a minority stockholder of a private company in a buyout of the majority stockholder of that company by way of a cross-border acquisition of all the assets of that company through both equity and debt financing from a private equity firm and an institutional lender.

Formula E Operations Ltd.

Successfully acted for Formula E Operations Ltd. (FEO) in connection with its claims arising from the City of Montréal's decision to cancel the Montréal ePrix. This includes asserting FEO's claims against the City of Montréal and in the bankruptcy proceedings of Montréal C'est Électrique, a non-profit corporation set up by the City for the purposes of acting as promoter of the Montréal ePrix.

Beauward Real Estate Inc.

Acting for Beauward Real Estate Inc., before the Superior Court of Québec, the Court of Appeal of Québec and the Supreme Court of Canada, in opposing an action seeking the annulment of the judicial sale of a $20-million property.

Triumph Aerostructures, LLC

Acted for Triumph Aerostructures, LLC, in connection with its dispute with Bombardier Inc. regarding the wing designed and manufactured by Triumph for Bombardier's Global 7000 business aircraft, including a $455-million claim filed by Triumph before the Québec Superior Court. The dispute was ultimately resolved to both parties' satisfaction.

Videotron Ltd.

Acted for Videotron Ltd. against a claim in excess of $18 million in connection with the termination of a share purchase agreement. Videotron terminated the agreement as a result of a material adverse event within the target. The matter was settled on the eve of the hearing before the Québec Court of Appeal.

McInnis Cement Inc.

Acted for McInnis Cement Inc. in defence of a motion to quash a permit issued by the Minister of Environment allowing McInnis to move forward with its project to build a $1 billion state-of-the-art cement plant in Port-Daniel, Gaspésie.

Cinar Corporation

Acted for Cinar Corporation in an appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada in connection with alleged copyright infringement arising from the production of a children's television show. Successfully argued for substantial reductions in, and the absence of joint and several liability for certain aspects of, the damages awarded by the Superior Court pursuant to the Copyright Act.  

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust

Acted for Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust in connection with its unsolicited takeover bid for Canmarc Real Estate Investment Trust, valued at approximately $904 million.

Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.

Acted for the Board of Directors of Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. in connection with the $635-million acquisition of Zarlink by Microsemi Corporation.

Stephanie Bruker

Acted successfully for the plaintiff Stephanie Bruker pro bono before the Supreme Court of Canada in the landmark case of Bruker v. Marcovitz where damages were awarded for the failure to respect a contractual promise to provide a Jewish divorce.

William Brock Receives Université de Montréal Philanthropy Award

Sept. 26, 2023 - Congratulations to partner William Brock, who will receive the Université de Montréal Philanthropy Award at this year’s Soirée Étincelles. This honour is awarded to a U de M donor who stands out for his or her remarkable philanthropic commitment and who is admired by his or her peers for his or...

Bill Brock and Cara Cameron Discuss Cinar Fraud Case on The Fifth Estate and Enquête

Mar. 01, 2021 - Davies partners Bill Brock and Cara Cameron, who represented Cinar Corporation against executives who defrauded the company, were featured on CBC’s The Fifth Estate and Ici Radio-Canada’s Enquête to discuss their role in this high-profile case. Bill and Cara were hired by Cinar’s board of...

Canada’s Top Court Rules on Personal Liability of Directors for Oppression

July 18, 2017 - On July 13, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision in Wilson v. Alharayeri (Alharayeri). The decision sounds an important cautionary note to directors concerning the potential consequences of engaging in conduct that is improper or defeats the...

Portraits of Hope

Dec. 31, 2012 - (Montréal: Les Presses de l`Université de Montréal)

Université de Strasbourg, lecture, “La fraude : histoire, enjeux, outils et défis”

Jan. 01, 2012