Best Law Firms in Canada for Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law

Duncan Craig LLP is an Alberta based law firm providing a full range of corporate and litigation services to local, national and international clients.  In addition to Alberta, our professionals also provide services to clients in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Ontario.  

One of the oldest law firms in Alberta, Duncan Craig LLP was founded in 1894.  The original partners were William Short, who later served as the first Mayor of the City of Edmonton, and Charles Cross, who became the first Attorney General of the Province of Alberta.  125+ years later, we continue to build upon a long tradition of excellence in serving our clients' best interests with a dedicated and professional focus.

Community and relationships have been at the centre of Duncan Craig LLP’s values since the firm’s inception and the firm has always been an integral part of the provincial and civic communities. To celebrate 100 years of commitment to the community, in 1994, Duncan Craig LLP created the Laurel Awards to honour non-profit organizations, on an annual basis, who further their objectives through exceptional creativity and innovation. Winners continue to be honoured at an annual luncheon held in the fall of each year. In 2012 we created the Duncan Craig Community Fund, which supports a variety of non-profits each year who have touched the lives of our firm members.  

Individually, the firm’s past and present members have been and are heavily integrated into the Alberta community. A number of lawyers have been appointed as judges at the Provincial Court of Alberta and various superior court levels. Additionally, many lawyers, have served as MLAs, Aldermen, City Councillors and candidates for various elected offices at both the civic and provincial level as well as in a variety of volunteer roles for political parties at civic, provincial and federal levels. Finally, all lawyers and staff members are encouraged to, and many do, serve on a variety of community, athletic and charitable boards, organizations and service clubs.

Farris LLP ("Farris") is a leading Canadian law firm with offices in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. The full-service firm represents some of the largest public and private institutions and corporations in the province, and has the proven capacity and experience to carry out complex and multi-dimensional legal projects.

Corporate/Commercial: With more than 30 lawyers, the Corporate/Commercial group at Farris is relied upon by clients to assist with a wide range of matters, across a variety of industries. Unique amongst most large law firms, our corporate lawyers are first trained as generalists before they specialize in any given area of business law. We believe a broad legal knowledge of the key business law issues affecting businesses and industries enables us to help our clients solve their legal problems –big or small–quickly and effectively.

Delivering on our clients’ goals and ambitions means working closely with our clients to develop work plans tailored to their particular needs in terms of scope and budget. Our clients rely upon our advice regarding capital raising, finance strategies, governance issues, succession planning, insourcing, and outsourcing. Our lawyers assist with contract drafting and negotiations, securing regulatory approvals, agreements for joint ventures, and acquiring or selling aspects of a business. We regularly advise on privately negotiated transactions, controlled auctions, plans of arrangement and take-over bids, as well as reorganizations and restructurings for tax optimization.

Advocacy & Litigation: Our litigators are recognized leaders in their field, providing timely, creative and practical representation in a full range of commercial, corporate and constitutional litigation, and have extensive experience conducting hearings, trials and appeals. Our clients are diverse and include major business organizations, public bodies, universities, First Nations, media organizations, family litigants, and public interest groups. We advocate for our clients in every forum and at every level of court, and are engaged in many of the most important cases in the province at any given time. We recognize that advocacy work entails flexibility and a constant evaluation of available options, and that not all matters require a formal hearing. We actively look for opportunities to engage in alternate dispute resolution processes where appropriate.

Labour and Employment: Farris has a full-service labour and employment practice, providing advice, counsel, and representation to our clients in all aspects of workplace law.

We have broad experience representing employers in employment law disputes, including wrongful dismissal matters, disputes relating to restrictive covenants, disability related claims, discrimination and accommodation matters, Human Rights issues, employment and labour standards matters, privacy matters, and workers compensation issues. Our lawyers regularly represent our clients in Court and before administrative tribunals that apply employment-related statutes.

Our lawyers have vast experience in labour relations matters, acting before arbitrators, arbitration boards, and appearing in related judicial reviews and injunction applications before all levels of court and advising employers in a wide range of industries. We regularly act for employers with respect to grievance arbitration and collective agreement administration. Our lawyers conduct Labour Board hearings including applications for certification and decertification, unfair labour practices, variance, common employer and successorship issues. We assist clients with strikes and lockouts and the legal issues that can arise including picketing, ally and replacement workers.

We also assist our clients in drafting and reviewing employment agreements that cover all aspects of the employment relationship, including compensation and benefits, stock options and other incentive plans, severance provisions, restrictive covenants, intellectual property matters, hours of work, and alternative dispute resolution; as well as drafting Employee Handbooks that provide for various rules and regulations that apply in the workplace.

Taxation: Farris lawyers work together with our clients and their accountants to provide timely, innovative and practical tax advice. Representing a broad range of domestic, international, public and private-sector corporate clients across many industries, we provide guidance in areas of expertise such as mergers & acquisitions, real estate, structuring corporate groups and partnerships, fund formation and executive compensation. Our lawyers also have vast experience in advising on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, cross-border debt and equity offerings, structuring and financing of inbound investments into Canada and outbound investments from Canada, foreign affiliate reorganizations, profit repatriation, intellectual property migration strategies, electronic commerce, transfer pricing and tax treaty issues. For our private clients, we offer advice in owner-manager tax planning, estate and trust planning, private equity and venture capital investments.

If and when audits or disputes with the tax authorities arise, our lawyers have the experience and expertise to support you at every step. Our tax litigators represent clients in all types of CRA audits and disputes, assisting with proposals, voluntary disclosures, objections to CRA findings and appeals.

Recognition:

• 61 Farris partners ranked in Best Lawyers in Canada.
• Farris rated one of Vancouver’s leading corporate and litigation law firms for over a decade by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
• Farris Repeatedly Recognized as One of Canada's Best Law Firms
• 28 Farris partners ranked in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

Languages: English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi and Spanish.

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success. With more than 1,500 legal professionals around the world, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Brief History

With roots tracing back to 1887, Gowling WLG grew to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in Canada, with a reputation for innovation in client-focused service delivery.

Building on its early strength in intellectual property, Gowling WLG diversified to offer a full suite of business law, litigation and intellectual property services in all of Canada’s key industries, including energy, mining, financial services, government, infrastructure, manufacturing, life sciences and technology.

Koffman Kalef LLP is a Vancouver law firm practicing in selected areas of business law and litigation with significant strength and experience in tax, securities and corporate finance, senior banking, commercial real estate transactions and development, intellectual property, international trade and mergers and acquisitions.

The depth of knowledge and experience of our lawyers allows us to deliver high quality legal services in a timely and cost-effective manner. Our clients find our advice and assistance practical, meaningful and useful.

We understand the needs of our business clients and are committed to meeting those needs. Our clients can expect the highest quality of legal services from everyone at Koffman Kalef LLP.

For general information, please contact us at info@kkbl.com.

Established by former litigation partners of a national Canadian firm, LCM Attorneys has earned its reputation as one of Montréal’s premier litigation boutiques. Built on strategic insight and uncompromising advocacy, the firm brings together more than 35 accomplished lawyers recognized for their sound judgment, intellectual rigor, and unwavering commitment to client success.

LCM Attorneys represents multinational corporations, financial institutions, professionals, and entrepreneurs in high-stakes and complex disputes. The firm’s practice spans class actions, securities litigation, commercial and shareholders’ disputes, professional liability, construction law, public law, arbitration, and international matters. Combining meticulous preparation with strategic clarity, LCM Attorneys works closely with its clients to navigate sophisticated legal challenges and deliver decisive, results-driven outcomes.

Loopstra Nixon LLP is a team of client-centered lawyers who are shaping the future of business and public law in Canada. We deliver exceptional service through tailored client solutions delivered by our top-tier team of legal talent.

Our team of lawyers possess unique and diverse skillsets, so that clients can come to us for any and every issue at hand. We are quick to adapt and always on call. Whether we are delivering cutting-edge legal solutions or providing strategic business advice, we revolve around you.

Our key practice areas include banking and financial services, business law, litigation & dispute resolution, municipal, land use planning & development, real estate, labour & employment, technology & intellectual property and bankruptcy, insolvency & restructuring.

Loopstra Nixon is the Canadian affiliate of LawExchange International, an established network of international independent law firms serving middle-market and entrepreneurial businesses throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia. With member firms in 23 countries, this affiliation enables greater international reach for our clients.

50 Years of Service and Counting

With its humble beginnings in a storefront office in Toronto, Charles Loopstra and Sandy Nixon started something special – a firm that has grown with each and every one of its clients. In 2022, Loopstra Nixon entered its 50th year. The founding partners infused ambition, hard work, and an entrepreneurial spirit into the firm. Their commitment to client service and client relationships formed the foundation and set the expectations for every member of the Loopstra Nixon team.

We are proud of where we started and proud of where we are going.

McDougall Gauley LLP is a Saskatchewan law firm with a diversified local, provincial, national, and international practice. Since 1891, the firm has provided legal services to domestic and international financial institutions, insurance companies, individuals involved in business, government and financial organizations, as well as local, national, and multinational corporations.

The firm continues to advise organizations across a broad range of industries and sectors, offering practical legal guidance tailored to the needs of businesses, institutions, and individuals operating in Canada and abroad.

McDougall Gauley remains actively involved in both the legal profession and the broader community. Lawyers from the firm have held leadership roles with the Law Society of Saskatchewan, the Canadian Bar Association, and other legal organizations. Alumni of the firm have also served as judges at various levels of court in Saskatchewan and in prominent public service roles, including Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

While the legal landscape has evolved over the years, McDougall Gauley continues to focus on responsive client service, practical advice, and long-standing professional relationships built over generations.

Your future is our focus.

Ogilvie was built in 1920 on a tradition of building relationships and working alongside our clients, and that is still our philosophy an entire century later. We’re proud to celebrate 100 years together with our specialized teams of lawyers who will work beside you and your business to ensure your issues are resolved.

Our proud beginning.

James Harwood Ogilvie, Q.C., left a mark on our great city that still lives on today. He began studying law at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1914. With the advent of World War I, Edmonton men enlisted by the thousands to serve their country, the young James Ogilvie among them. He returned home safely to complete his articles and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1920, and started Ogilvie soon after. In his many years providing legal and professional guidance to Edmontonians, he supported the communities around him and demonstrated the importance of building meaningful relationships with the people he helped. The City of Edmonton recognized his significant contributions, including serving 16 years as a city alderman, by naming a residential subdivision “Ogilvie Ridge". Our team is proud to carry on Mr. Ogilvie’s legacy by continuing to create meaningful relationships with our clients and supporting the businesses and communities that make our city great.

Our community support.

James Ogilvie believed that if you were going to work in a community, you also had to work for your community. We are committed to preserving this tradition of community support believing that corporate support is an investment in our community. On our 75th anniversary, the Ogilvie Fund was created by lawyers and staff of the firm and managed by the Edmonton Community Foundation. Every year the Ogilvie Fund provides financial assistance to a variety of causes including organizations representing single mothers, underprivileged children and youth. The Ogilvie Fund is one of our avenues for giving back to the city we work in by providing assistance to the people who need it most.