William B. Hembroff

Partner

T: 780.917.5241 / E: hembroffw@bennettjones.com

Edmonton

Will Hembroff assists clients with the resolution of commercial and civil disputes through litigation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution. He has appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta, has extensive Court of Appeal and civil jury trial experience and has represented clients on leave applications at the Supreme Court of Canada. Will appears regularly before administrative tribunals to assist professionals (including physicians, lawyers and pharmacists) with complaint and disciplinary matters.

Will's practice is focused on commercial litigation and tort litigation. On the commercial side, he deals with a broad range of matters including contract and shareholder disputes, commercial leases and landlord-tenant disputes, construction law cases and employment matters. With experience, knowledge and tenacity, he develops strategies and delivers expert advice that result in successful outcomes for his clients.

Will is an experienced insurance litigator, leveraging in-depth knowledge of how insurance companies work to provide his clients with timely and practical advice. He effectively negotiates with insurers to obtain coverage for his clients when coverage is unfairly denied and will litigate when necessary. He provides expert insurance coverage opinions and advice on all types of insurance policies, including those related to personal insurance (property, auto, disability, travel and life) and commercial insurance (CGL, DO and Professional Liability or EO).

Will's practice also encompasses all areas of restructuring and bankruptcy. He acts for creditors, debtors, court-appointed monitors, receivers and trustees in bankruptcy and in large and complex insolvencies and restructurings.

Will is also called on to assist clients in the efficient resolution of catastrophic injury and fatality claims. He regularly practices health law, defending physicians in administrative matters and in complex medical malpractice cases.

Select Experience

Successfully defended physician in medical malpractice case whereby the Court dismissed the Action as the Plaintiffs failed to establish liability. The Court made a provisional contributory negligence finding against the Plaintiff of 70% in any event (Peppler Estate v. Lee, 2019 ABQB 144)
Successfully defended two physicians in a complex, precedent setting, multi-million dollar medical malpractice case following a five week trial (KS v Willox, 2016 ABQB 483, 2016 CarswellAlta 1594 (WL Can)), and again successfully defended the Plaintiffs’ lengthy appeal to the Alberta Court of Appeal (KS v Willox, 2018 ABCA 271). The Plaintiffs' Application for Leave to appeal further to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied. (Tim Wood, Litigation Representative of K.S., an Infant v. David Willox, et al., 2019 CanLII 32860 (SCC))

Recent Recognitions

Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers

Recognized as a leading Health Sciences lawyer
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Consistently Recommended, Medical Negligence; Professional Liability

Recent Insights, News & Events

Bennett Jones Nominated in 2021 Chambers Law Awards
Announcements / July 12, 2021
Bennett Jones is nominated in the following four categories in the 2021 Chambers Law Awards: Healthcare Law Firm of the Year, Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, Corporate Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.
22 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Special Edition on Health Sciences
Announcements / June 11, 2021
Twenty-two Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition on Health Sciences.
Bennett Jones Names Four New Partners
Announcements / March 11, 2014
At the recent annual meeting of the Partners of Bennett Jones LLP it was announced that four lawyers were to be admitted to the partnership. The lawyers include; Karen Dawson (Calgary Corporate), William Hembroff (Edmonton Litigation), Dan Morrow (Edmonton Litigation) and Christine Plante (Calgary Litigation).
Alberta Court Skewers Gibberish Legal Arguments
Updates / November 29, 2012
In a decision that will no doubt have significant ramifications for businesses, governments, and the litigation bar across Canada, Associate Chief Justice Rooke of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench has addressed a vexatious group of litigants who have plagued the Canadian legal system for over a decade. The Court has named this troubling group the Organized Pseudolegal Commercial Argument litigants, or OPCA litigants for short. To some, OPCA litigants may be better known by various labels such as Detaxers, Freemen-on-the-Land, Sovereign Citizens, and many others. They are known for refusing to recognize bills, debts, tax assessments, or any legal obligations for that matter. Although their arguments have been universally dismissed when presented in Court, OPCA litigants have never been effectively recognized as a defined or collective group warranting a coordinated response. Justice Rooke's decision does exactly that. It provides a universal “go-to” authority to assist in the effective dismissal of OPCA claims at an early stage in the proceedings and will be instructive reading for judges, lawyers, and business persons across the country.