Mendy Chernos is a partner in our Litigation Group in Calgary. He practises corporate and securities litigation; energy and resources litigation; commercial litigation; income tax litigation; landlord tenant and real property litigation; commercial and banking litigation; insurance litigation; administrative law litigation; and commercial arbitration and mediation (including in all such areas). He was recognized as a leader in his field (Dispute Resolution) by Chambers Global 2011.
Transactions & Cases
· Corporate and Securities Litigation - Extensive experience in disputes involving corporate and securities issues including takeovers, proxy contests, reorganizations, relationships between affiliated corporations, shareholder disputes, director and officer duties, oppression remedies, accounting practices, share valuations and public securities matters. Cases include Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. v. Stornoway Diamond Corporation et al (defence of lock-up agreement between a bidder and controlling shareholder in an unsolicited take-over), Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd. et al v. Calpine Canada Energy Finance II ULC et al (defence of a several hundred million dollar oppression claim by bondholders), Big Bear Exploration Ltd. v. Blue Range Resource Corporation et al (defence of unsolicited take-over bid), West Central Capital Corporation v. Prize Energy Inc. et al (modification of terms of plan of arrangement as a result of competing unsolicited takeover bid), Niederwieser v. Calgary Co-operative Association (defence of the Association's by-laws respecting director eligibility), Alberta Securities Commission Board Hearing with respect to determining accounting qualifications for auditing financial statements of reporting issuers, William S. Herron Charitable Foundation v. Herron (defence of the Foundation and its directors respecting corporate governance), Okabe North America Inc. et al v. Delta Hotels Limited et al (defence of corporate defendants and their common directors and officers respecting challenges to multiple cross-directorships and offices), in re TransCanada Pipelines Limited and TransCanada Corporation (court approval of TransCanada 2003 Plan of Arrangement), and in re First Calgary Petroleums Ltd. (adjournment of special and annual general meeting of shareholders).
· Energy and Resources Litigation - Substantial experience in disputes concerning oil and gas and electrical and wind power issues including the interpretation and enforcement of standard (including CAPL Operating Procedure and PASC Accounting Procedure) and unique contracts, the rights and obligations of operators and joint venture participants in domestic, international and offshore exploration and development projects, the enforcement of accounting and payment requirements, the acquisition and disposition of interests, and plant and equipment construction, operation, fires and failures. Considerable experience working with domestic and international industry experts, including accounting, economic, engineering, oilfield, power and regulatory experts. Cases include TransCanada Energy Ltd. et al v. ENMAX Corporation et al (defence of judicial review of terms and conditions for assessment of power project proposal), Two Forty Engineering Ltd. and The Royal Bank of Canada v. Baton Rouge Holdings Ltd. et al (interpretation of CAPL right of first refusal provisions), Highwood Explorers (Canada) Inc. v. Mohawk Oil Co. Ltd et al (interpretation of earning provisions in farmout agreement), Joss Energy Ltd. v. Maughan Energy Limited et al (application to enjoin an imminent transaction), Paramount Resources Ltd. et al v. Imperial Oil Resources Ltd. et al (interpretation of natural gas rights agreements), Murphy Atlantic Offshore Oil Company Ltd. and Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation v. Norsk Hydro Produksjon as. et al (interpretation and enforcement of transportation and transhipment rights and obligations relating to the development of the Hibernia field), PanCanadian Petroleum Limited v. Nova Scotia Resources (Ventures) Limited (treatment of confidential information respecting oil and gas operations offshore Nova Scotia) and Trident 88 Exploration Ltd. v. Odyssey Petroleum Corporation (defence of $50 million claim respecting a joint venture for the redevelopment of a Ukrainian oilfield).
· Income Tax Litigation - Extensive experience in income tax related litigation including reassessments of major transactions on GAAR, agency, non-partnership, non-loan and sham grounds, and rectification of transactions for tax purposes. Cases include Interprovincial Pipe Line Inc. and IPL Energy Inc. v. Minister of National Revenue (defence of privilege of auditor's records under the Income Tax Act) and TransCanada Pipelines Limited v. Minister of National Revenue (ability of taxpayer to appeal reassessed issues separately).
· Landlord and Tenant and Real Property Litigation - Extensive experience in disputes involving the interpretation, enforcement and termination of leases, agreements of purchase and sale and other real property rights and related contracts of insurance, and the rights and obligations of property owners, developers, landlords and tenants in complex commercial ownership and leasehold scenarios such as office towers, industrial facilities and shopping centres (including with respect to permitted uses, environmental contamination, continuous occupation and marketing strategies). Represented landlords, tenants, developers, retailers, franchisers and franchisees. Cases include Oxford Development Group Inc. et al v. The Saskatchewan Drug and Stationery Company Limited et al (lease misrepresentation) and Elbow Valley Development Corporation v. WRD Borger Construction Ltd. (builders' lien period).
· Commercial and Banking Litigation - Extensive experience in various facets of commercial and contract litigation, including with respect to real estate disputes, employment matters, debtor creditor and priority contests, franchise disputes, banking (including constitutional banking related) issues, bankruptcy matters, estate litigation and commercial arbitration. Cases include Jeffery Waterous v. The Bank of Nova Scotia (defence of claims arising from securities businesses), Highland Glen Explorations Limited v. Montreal Trust Company of Canada et al (defence of claims arising from royalty/trust administration agreements), Alberta Treasury Branches v. West Edmonton Mall Property Inc. et al (determination of issues pertaining to financing and operation of major commercial mall), Bank of Montreal v. Peddle (rights and obligations under credit card agreements), and various defences of the Province of Alberta respecting the constitutionality of the Alberta Treasury Branches.
· Insurance - Considerable insurance defence experience in various tort, contract and related claims, for various property, economic and business interruption losses, including in the context of industrial and oil and gas related catastrophes, facilities failures and shutdowns. Extensive representation of insurers and insureds in coverage claims under various types of policies, including significant claims involving multiple layers of insurance and reinsurance. Cases include Tonko Development Corp. v. Allianz Insurance Company of Canada (coverage dispute for losses arising from catastrophic fire) and Kingsway General Insurance Company v. Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Alberta (defence of challenge to the Province of Alberta's automobile insurance premium freeze).
· Administrative Law Litigation - Considerable experience in advising on and litigating matters pertaining to proper delegation of authority, bias, scope of review, and representation of governments, tribunals, professional societies and other delegated bodies in such matters. Cases include TransCanada Energy Ltd. et al v. ENMAX Corporation et al (defence of judicial review of terms and conditions for assessment of power project proposal).
· Court and Administrative Tribunal Experience - Appearances/applications before all levels of courts in Alberta, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada and administrative bodies including the Alberta and British Columbia Securities Commissions and various professional discipline tribunals.
· Arbitration/ADR Experience - Extensive domestic and international arbitration, mediation and "med-arb" experience, including representation of parties before arbitral panels and sole arbitrators, including as appointed by recognized arbitral bodies, such as the International Court of Commerce, advising arbitrators in the conduct of arbitrations, and acting as arbitrator. Subject matter of major arbitrations includes domestic, international and offshore energy and power exploration, development, processing, marketing, pricing, delivery and transportation issues; construction, commissioning and operational issues at resource processing fields and facilities; contractual interpretation issues; real estate development and servicing issues; lease performance, rate and renewal issues; and banking issues. Additional experience in cases respecting whether matters should proceed in court or arbitration proceedings, including Olymel S.E.C. v. Premium Brands Inc. et al.
Presentations & Publications
1990, Speaker to the Canadian Bar Association, Civil Litigation South Alberta Section in April 1990 regarding "Third Party Proceedings in Alberta"
1991, Presentation to clients on "Landlord Remedies"
1992, Speaker to the Canadian Bar Association, Corporate Counsel, South Alberta Section in November, 1992 regarding "How Exposed is your Corporate Veil? Some Comments about Safe Corporate Relations for the 90's"
1994, Speaker to the Canadian Bar Association, Corporate Counsel South Alberta Section in October 1994 regarding "Corporate Counsel and Solicitor-Client Privilege: How to Guard your Privileged Status"
1995, "Corporate Counsel and Solicitor-Client Privilege", April 1995 edition of The National
1995, "Corporate Counsel and Solicitor-Client Privilege: How to Guard Your Privileged Status", June 1995 edition of Inside Counsel
1996-1997, Presentations to clients on "Record Retention Policies"
1997, Speaker to the Tax Executives Institute on "Solicitor-Client Privilege Pertaining to Income Tax Issues"
1994-1999, Presentations to clients on "Solicitor-Client Privilege Pertaining to Income Tax Issues"
2000, Speaker to the Canadian Bar Association, Insurance, South Alberta Section in March, 2000 regarding "Recent Issues Pertaining to Privilege"
2000, Presentation to clients in November, 2000 on "Settlement in the Tax Court Process"
2001, "Pre-Trial Strategies - Requests to Admit", May 2001 edition, No. 2, McCarthy Tétrault on Tax Disputes
2001, "Responding to Audit Inquiries", November 2001 edition of The National
2001-2003, Presentations to clients on "Arbitration Matters"
2003, "Protecting Confidentiality in Oil and Gas Arbitrations", May 2003, paper presented at the Canadian Bar Association / International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce Third Annual International Commercial Arbitration Conference
2003, "Solicitor-Client Privilege and the Response to Audit Enquiries in the New Millennium: The Joint Policy Statement Revisited", Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2002
2004, "Confidentiality in an ADR Oil and Gas Context", 2005 Oil and Gas Report (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators World Petroleum Congress)
2005, "Recent Developments in Cross-Border Corporate Litigation", Lexpert, October 2005
2005, Presentations to clients on "Civil Liability for Securities Matters" and on "Secondary Market Liability"
2006, "Recent Watershed Developments in Oppression Remedies and Shareholder Activism", Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2006
2007, Presentation to Canadian Corporate Counsel Association on "Maintaining and Maximizing Privilege", May 2007
2007, "Common Interest Privilege in Canadian Commercial Transactions - Is it a "Done Deal"?", Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 19th Annual Meeting Papers, August 2007
2007, Presentation to Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 19th Annual Meeting on "Matters of Privilege for Corporate Counsel", August 2007
2008, Presentations to clients on "Privilege Issues in the Commercial Context", January 2008
2008, "Common Interest Privilege Applied Again in the Context of Commercial Transactions: The BC Court of Appeal Endorses the Growing Recognition of Privilege for Commercial Counterparties", January 2008 edition, McCarthy Tétrault Business Law Quarterly
2009, Presentation to clients on "Internal Investigations", January 2009
2009, "Alberta Court of Appeal Extends Judicial Deference to Securities Commission", April 2009 edition, McCarthy Tétrault Business Law Quarterly