 Bennett Jones Education Carleton University, BA, 1979 Queen's University, LLB, 1982 Bar Admissions Alberta, 1983 Overview A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Blair Yorke-Slader is a leading Canadian trial and appellate practitioner in high-stakes corporate and commercial litigation, including complex contract disputes. He has broad arbitration experience as counsel and as an arbitrator, and is a speaker and contributor on appellate advocacy for the Legal Education Society of Alberta. Recognized by Benchmark Canada as Canada's 2019 Trial Lawyer of the Year, he is a recipient of the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal for outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta. Blair is consistently recommended in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Best Lawyers in Canada, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and the Lexpert Guides to Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers, Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers and Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers, Benchmark Canada: The Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada, Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, The Legal 500, Acritas Star Lawyers and Leaders League. Select Experience • Dow Chemical Canada in its successful C$3.56-billion claim against NOVA Chemicals for breaches of contract • A leading global chemical and technology company, in a successful breach of contract claim of over $3.56-billion, the largest commercial damages award in Canadian history, against the operator of a jointly owned ethylene manufacturing facility. 2025 ABKB 217 and 2025 ABKB 343. See also 2025 ABKB 467, 2025 ABKB 452, 2024 ABCA 278, 2023 ABKB 215, 2023 ABKB 156, 2022 ABQB 422, 2022 ABQB 417, 2022 ABQB 292, 2022 ABQB 237, 2021 ABQB 974, 2021 ABQB 845, 2021 ABQB 784, 2021 ABQB 621, 2021 ABQB 595, 2021 ABQB 167, 2021 ABCA 153, affirming 2020 ABQB 441, 2020 ABCA 320, affirming 2018 ABQB 482, 2015 ABQB 401, 2015 ABQB 81 and 2014 ABCA 244, affirming 2014 ABQB 38. • A syndicate of Canadian office building owners, in a successful $550-million claim against two Chinese state-owned corporations for wrongful termination of long-term lease commitments under allegations of asbestos contamination, 2025 ABKB 145, 2022 ABQB 284, 2020 ABCA 212, 2020 ABQB 224. • A leading global petrochemical company in a successful $43-million arbitration to enforce long-term contracted rights. • A leading global water treatment and construction company, in a successful multi-million dollar oil sands arbitration. • Various shareholder and debentureholder groups, in oppression proceedings in the financial advisory services, technology and real estate development industries. 2016 ABQB 529, 2010 ABQB 647, 2009 ABQB 77 • Various land developers and owners, in appellate and judicial review proceedings involving decisions of local authorities for municipal planning, development and taxation. 2018 ABQB 983; 2017 ABCA 300; 2006 ABCA 54 • A leading global cement manufacturer, in successful multi-million dollar arbitration and appellate proceedings to enforce long-term contractual supply and restrictive covenant rights. 2013 ABQB 413 • Leading global energy service companies, in the defence of claims arising from seismic processing, downhole technologies, fracturing and related oilfield applications. • Several hundred Concrete Equities investors, in a series of real estate investment partnerships, in BIA and CCAA proceedings including the appointment of a monitor/inspector and, ultimately, the successful exit of the partnerships from CCAA protection and their turnover to new general partners of the investors' choosing. 2012 ABCA 58, affirming 2011 ABQB 338 • Various investors in commercial real estate, in actions for the enforcement of purchase and sale agreements. 2023 ABKB 513, 2011 ABCA 18, 2009 ABQB 167, 2007 ABQB 664, 2006 ABQB 144, 2005 ABCA 127, 2003 ABQB 81; 2003 ABCA 221 • A large group of investors in an alleged Ponzi-type ticket brokering scheme, including the obtaining of orders for pre-judgment locating and freezing of assets and other extraordinary relief. 2009 ABQB 394, 2009 ABCA 141, 2008 ABQB 216, 2008 ABQB 550 • An executrix and sole beneficiary, in estate proceedings to validate and admit to probate a photocopied will pursuant to the Wills and Succession Act. 2016 ABQB 645, restoration of appeal refused 2017 ABCA 376 • A landowner, in the successful defence of a claim under a contractual right of first refusal. 2012 ABCA 204, leave to appeal denied SCC No. 35002 • A natural foods products company, in a multi-million dollar claim against a multinational food company for misuse of confidential information and breaches of product development and license agreements. 2010 ABCA 169
• Various franchisees, in the successful enforcement of statutory disclosure obligations and rights of rescission under the Alberta Franchises Act and Regulation. 2011 ABQB 594, 2008 ABCA 276, affirming 2007 ABQB 686 |