Department profile
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Transportation: Aviation

Canada Guide 2026 : Nationwide - Canada


Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

With over a century of experience and offices across Canada, we are Canada’s only law firm with a dedicated, fully-integrated national transportation practice. 

BLG has Canada’s only National Shipping and Aviation Teams, serving Canadian and international clients throughout the transportation industry. 

On the shipping side, we act for container and bulk shipping lines, ship operators, charterers, terminals, cruise lines, P&I clubs, shipbuilders, H&M underwriters and other marine insurers. We act in disputes, commercial transactions and regulatory matters and provide practical and proactive advice to meet the needs of the shipping industry. 

We also have the strongest multidisciplinary aviation practice in our country providing legal expertise in disputes, regulatory, employment, competition, aircraft and engine finance or leasing (synthetic leases or otherwise), government lobbying, insolvency, tax, and commercial transactions. Our clients include some of the world’s largest air carriers, airports, fixed and rotary wing operators, FBOs, MROs, airframe and engine manufacturers, component-part manufacturers and fabricators, and aviation insurers.

We keep an eye on issues affecting the industry, including consolidation, environmental concerns, pressures from competitors, and new and disruptive technologies. As key parts of BLG’s National Transportation Group, our National Shipping and Aviation Teams continue to provide best in class service, from the ground to the water and up.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Transportation: Aviation - Nationwide - Canada


What the Team is Known For

Borden Ladner Gervais is a national law firm with a first-class cross-sector transportation team advising clients on the full spectrum of maritime law, including ship construction, finance, purchases and sales, terminal operations, insolvency proceedings, cargo claim defence, charter party disputes, and environmental matters such as fuel oil spills. It offers coverage across Canada, with its offices in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver playing key roles in the shipping arena, and its Team North initiative offering advice on shipping in the Arctic. The firm also operates a well-regarded aviation practice, with particular experience in aerospace disputes and claims. It possesses an especially strong reputation in cases involving fatal aircraft accidents and aerospace product liability concerns. Additionally, its rail practice has been growing in recognition, as the team regularly assists clients with regulatory matters and rail accident-related litigation.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Borden Ladner Gervais acted as Canadian legal counsel to Kirby Corporation advising them on civil proceedings following the grounding of a tugboat and related oil spill.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The whole team is great and the quality provided is very good.

    Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada
  • BLG has an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the Canadian Transportation Agency and its processes and a very strong bench that deals with issues quickly, effectively and efficiently.

    Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada
  • Borden Ladner Gervais offers prompt, professional and reliable service.

    Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Jean-Marie Fontaine
    Band 1Jean-Marie Fontaine

    Jean-Marie Fontaine

    Montréal-based lawyer Jean-Marie Fontaine is engaged by clients for contentious cases, often involving cargo claims, collisions and shipbuilding disputes, as well as for regulatory maritime matters. He is the national leader of the firm's shipping focus group.

  • Band 2Dionysios Rossi
    Band 2Dionysios Rossi

    Dionysios Rossi

    Dionysios Rossi is based in Vancouver, from where he draws upon his experience in environmental law to represent clients in a range of maritime law cases, including oil spills. He also counsels shipping organisations on regulatory concerns.

    • Dionysios is super responsive and brings creative solutions.

      Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada
    • Dionysios is a good lawyer.

      Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada
  • Band 3Elizabeth Fashler
    Band 3Elizabeth Fashler

    Elizabeth Fashler

    Elizabeth Fashler is a prominent transportation lawyer based in Calgary. She is particularly experienced in representing clients from the rail industry in a range of litigation, arbitration and regulatory hearings.

    • Elizabeth Fashler is a great rail lawyer.

      Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada
    • Elizabeth is super responsive, a great communicator and is quite practical.

      Transportation: Aviation respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (3)

Nationwide - Canada

Members

Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

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