Bennett Jones
Chris Petrucci has a corporate and commercial litigation practice across Canada, in a variety of industries with a special emphasis on construction and infrastructure, energy (including renewable energy and power generation), information technology services, mining and real estate.
Chris is a leading advocate before the courts and in arbitration hearings. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading litigators (Lexpert), a future leader in construction law (Who’s Who Legal), one of Canada’s leading infrastructure lawyers (Lexpert) and he is identified as a repeatedly recommended litigator in Alberta (Lexpert).
Chris has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta as lead counsel and co-counsel, resulting in many reported case decisions. Chris also has an active alternative dispute resolution practice across Canada and internationally. He represents clients in various forms of dispute resolution involving Judicial Dispute Resolution, mediation and arbitration, including international arbitration under multiple procedural regimes, such as UNCITRAL, the International Court of Commerce (ICC), the International Bar Association (IBA) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).
In addition to being an effective advocate for his clients, Chris is often engaged to help guide his clients through complex disputes by developing strategies that meet their commercial objectives.
Select examples of Chris' recent representation include the following:
- An international energy company in an international UNCITRAL arbitration in the pursuit of claims exceeding $300mm, and the defense of counterclaims exceeding $100mm, against its engineering, procurement and construction contractor.
- A construction contractor in an international LCIA arbitration against a foreign state organization in respect of a project where over $50mm in claims were advanced for intervening events and delay.
- An international energy company in court litigation concerning the ownership of mineral rights and payment of gross overriding royalties in a dispute over oil and gas leases.
- A surety company under a performance bond in the defence of over $100mm in claims brought by the general contractor in court in respect of a significant P3 fibre-optic project dispute that involved claims for deficiencies and delay.
- A real estate development company in respect of the design and construction of a skyscraper that involved multiple claims and cross claims in court against various contractors in amounts exceeding $20mm.
- A pipeline owner in court litigation against its contractor that involved defending claims exceeding $15mm.
Chris is an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association Construction Law Section - Alberta South and regularly speaks and writes on a variety of energy and construction litigation issues. He is often requested to comment on updates on related legal developments, contractual interpretation of industry agreements, legal privilege, preparation of delay and cost overrun claims, procurement and tendering law, audit disputes, builders' liens, cross-examination of witnesses and alternative dispute resolution.