Tommy litigates complex, high-stakes corporate disputes, predominantly in the natural resources, petrochemical and financial services industries. He has extensive experience in judicial review and appeals of government decision making, tax dispute resolution, indigenous litigation and disputes arising from M&A transactions, joint ventures and other complex commercial arrangements. He is also a trusted advisor to several significant natural resource development clients in managing their potential dispute risks arising from transactions, joint ventures, government decision-making, regulatory proceedings, and industrial incidents.
Tommy has a proven track record of understanding and advancing clients’ corporate interests with a strategic and persistent focus on achieving their objectives, whether in the courts or by way of negotiated resolution. He always manages files with a view to ensuring efficient and cost-effective resolutions to disputes, often under alternative fee arrangements. He skillfully assembles integrated lawyer teams, often drawing from across Osler’s offices, to ensure that the proper resources are dedicated to the dispute.
Tommy regularly argues cases in jurisdictions across Canada, in both the provincial superior courts and the federal courts system. Highlights of his most recent work include: successfully representing Wheaton Precious Metals in its transfer pricing appeal in the Tax Court of Canada; successfully representing Murphy Oil Corporation in its appeal of tax remission decisions taken by the Minister of Finance under the Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Corporate Income Tax Act; successfully representing the Toronto Dominion Bank in appeals of decisions taken by the British Columbia Commissioner of Income Tax and the Minister of Finance in respect of an annual corporate tax return; representing Bausch Health in respect of a product liability class action commenced in British Columbia; representing Aspenleaf Energy in the defence of a claim arising from a failed $300 million transaction; successfully defending Culligan in defence of a claim arising from a failed asset purchase transaction; and representing a public issuer in respect of a British Columbia Securities Commission investigation.
Tommy supports Osler’s community involvement activities by sitting as a member of Osler’s Pro Bono Committee, taking on regular pro bono files, and volunteering as Civil Claims Duty Counsel at the Calgary Provincial Court. Tommy is also a board member of the Calgary French and International School.