David R. McKinnon
Partner

Outline
Overview
Client Work
Representing the landlord in a successful claim for breach of lease against a tenant who had leased an entire 37 story office building and then vacated it with 12 years left on the lease, claiming that a minute amount of hazardous materials in building materials from decades earlier justified that decision. CNOOC Petroleum North America ULC v 801 Seventh Inc, 2025 ABKB 145; 2023 ABCA 97 ; 2021 ABQB 861; 2021 ABQB 81
Acted for energy companies in pipeline releases.
Acted for energy company in dispute with joint venture partner over failure of storage ponds for produced water from hydraulic fracturing operation.
Acted for various energy industry companies in defending multi-million dollar copyright claims over use of seismic data (including 2016 ABQB 356 and 2016 ABQB 230)
Acted for a group of concerned shareholders in an appeal to the Alberta Securities Commission of a decision of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Acted for Canadian company in multi-million dollar 'bet-the-company' arbitration involving American franchisor.
Recognitions & Awards
Chambers Canada
Healthcare: Contentious
Benchmark Litigation: Canada
Recognized as a Litigation Star
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Medical Negligence; Professional Liability
Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers
Recognized as a leading Health Sciences lawyer
Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers
Recognized as a leading Litigation lawyer
Lexpert Rising Star
Recognized as a rising star winner
Related Services
Education & Bar Admissions
Education
- University of King's College, Combined Honours (Philosophy and Political Science), 2002
- University of Calgary, LLB, 2007
Bar Admissions
- Alberta, 2008
Insights
Blog
Trial Dates Are Final: Alberta Courts Confirm Commitment to Swift Justice
December 18, 2025 & 3 more
Blog
Lease Termination Clauses: Know the Target Before Pulling the Trigger
June 11, 2025Michael D. Mysak KC, David R. McKinnon & Ciara J. Mackey
Blog
“Utter Waste of Time”: Alberta Court of Appeal Provides New Guidance on Civil Practice Note 7
February 7, 2024David R. McKinnon, Ciara J. Mackey & Alicia Yowart
News, Events & Speaking Engagements
Announcement
Twenty-Two Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexpert's Special Edition on Health Sciences
July 8, 2026 & 19 more
Announcement
Bennett Jones Litigation Team Earns Widespread Recognition in Benchmark Canada 2026
April 29, 2026 & 33 more
Announcement
Twenty-Eight Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexpert Special Edition on Litigation
November 21, 2025 & 25 more
















