Photo of Gary Laviolette

Gary B. Laviolette QC, P.Eng. Partner

Speaks:  English

Year of Call: 1986 - Alberta

Primary phone: +1 403-298-1835

Fax: +1 403-263-9193

Email: gary.laviolette@gowlingwlg.com

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Primary office:  Calgary

Areas of expertise:

Gary B. Laviolette QC, P.Eng.

Gary Laviolette, QC is a partner in Gowling WLG's Calgary office. He practices civil litigation, with a particular emphasis on commercial and construction related matters.

A member of the Law Society of Alberta since 1986, Gary has been with the firm for more than three decades and became a partner in 1993. Throughout his career, he has acted as counsel for numerous oil and gas companies in connection with land-related claims, royalty disputes, and production-related claims.

In addition, Gary has been involved in numerous construction and engineering-related claims, as well as corporate and commercial litigation, including contractual, commercial, shareholder disputes, and claims involving a breach of fiduciary duty.

He has also undertaken work related to product liability claims, numerous fire-related losses of a complex nature as to the cause and origin of the loss, franchise-related claims, and insurance-related work involving coverage opinions, as well as both defence and subrogated claims.

Gary was previously a member of Gowling WLG's articling committee, and served on the firm's audit committee.

Expertise

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:

  • 2020

    • Career
       2020
      Appointed as Queen’s Counsel

  • 2019

  • 2018

  • 2013

    • Rankings & Awards
       2013
      Distinguished Service Award as a director of Spray Lakes Recreation Sports Complex (6 year term)

  • 2009

    • Community
       2009
      Board of Directors, Morgans Rise Homeowners Association

  • 2007

    • Community
       2007
      Board of Directors, Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society, Cochrane, AB

  • 2006

    • Community
       2006
      Manager, Bow Valley AA Hockey Association

  • 2001

    • Community
       2001
      Board of Directors, Street Teams/Safe House Society

  • 2000

    • Community
       2000
      Board of Directors, Calgary Childrens Cottage

  • 1998

    • Rankings & Awards
       1998
      Distinguished Service Award as director of Ringette Calgary Association

  • 1995

    • Community
       1995
      Board of Directors, AA Ringette Calgary Association

  • 1993

    • Community
       1993
      Board of Directors, University of Calgary Swim Club

  • 1986

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       1986
      Year of Call, Alberta

  • 1984

    • Education
       1984
      University of Calgary, LLB

  • 1978

    • Education
       1978
      Queen’s University, BASc (Hons.)

Memberships

  • Alberta Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGA)

Gary has been a sessional lecturer at the Alberta Bar Admission Course in the area of civil litigation. He has also made presentations before the Construction Association of Alberta, as well as the Insurance Institute of Southern Alberta, and is a past member of the Education Committee and Publications Committee of APEGGA.

Contribution to legal scholarship:

  • 2012 - Asked by the Honourable Justice J. Cote to be a panelist for the LESA October, 2012 Sessions in Calgary/Edmonton re: Written Advocacy
  • 2001 - present - Lecturer on various topics as part of Gowling Lafleur Henderson's articling programme.
  • 2011 - 2012 - Lecturer at Gowling Lafleur Henderson's in house seminar re: Preparing the Expert Witness/Cross Examining the Expert Witness.
  • 1990 - 1993 - Lecturer at the Bar Admission Course (Civil Procedure).
  • 1990 - 1992 - Past lecturer at the Insurance Institute of Southern Alberta.
  • 1990 - 1992 - Presentations before the Construction Association of Alberta
  • 1998 - present - Member of Lawyer Referral Programme re: employment related issues.

Featured news

21 August 2019 Gowling WLG earns 357 rankings, multiple "Law Firm of the Year" honours in Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2020
21 August 2018 The Best Lawyers in Canada 2019 recognizes Gowling WLG's leading professionals

Representative Work

  • Counsel to construction industry contractors and trades/engineering firms involving a broad spectrum of disputes including builders liens, breach of contract and surety claims. Involved with large construction litigation and arbitration claims.
  • Corporate and commercial litigation including contractual, commercial and shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Natural Resources litigation including oil and gas property disputes, business interruption claims relating to oilfield operations, well workovers and completions, pipeline and facilities claims, and service industry related claims.
  • Product liability claims.
  • Numerous fire related losses of a complex nature as to the cause and origin of the loss.
  • Personal injury and fatality litigation arising out of industrial accidents, motor vehicle accidents and occupier's liability incidents.
  • Franchise related claims.
  • Insurance related work involving coverage opinions, and both defence and subrogated claims.

Notable cases:

  • Farrago Investments Ltd. v. 101070272 Saskatchewan Ltd., Patricia Strand and Donald Douglas Strand, 2014 ABQB 755
  • The City of Cranbrook v. Gabriel Construction (Alberta) Ltd., 2014 BCSC 2280
  • Douglas Strand and 101131440 Saskatchewan Ltd. v. Richard Gordon Strand, Farrago Investments Ltd. and Homes Investment Management Inc., 2014 ABQB 754
  • The City of Cranbrook v. Gabriel Construction (Alberta) Ltd. and the Sovereign General Insurance Company (construction litigation), 2014 BCSC 2280
  • Indutech Canada Limited v. Gibbs Group et al (breach of contract/agency, breach of fiduciary duties, damages including remedy of disgorgement), 2011 ABQB 38, 2012 ABQB 425, 2013 ABCA 111
  • D. Stewart v. DIGI Canada Limited (employment), 2007 ABQB 662
  • GS Hitech Controls Inc. v. York Realty et al (commercial - fire loss), 2005 ABQB 769
  • Herron et al v. Hunting Chase Inc.(commercial - breach of purchase and sale agreement), 2003 ABCA 219
  • City of Medicine Hat v. Torok, Wilson, Kallis et al (WCB related proceedings, i.e. the right to commence a civil action), 2000 ABCA 247; 271 AR 96 (QB)
  • Reid v. The Calgary Board of Education (occupier's liability), 1997 207 AR 238 (QB
  • Fordyce v. The City of Calgary (negligence), 1997 Carswell Alta. 1270 (QB)
  • Kinsman, Millarville et al v. Thomas et al (commercial - fire loss), 1995 176 A.R. 161 (QB)
  • Lafarge Construction Materials v. Opus Building Corporation (breach of contract - remediation), 1995 QB (unreported)
  • Pennwest Petroleum v. Koch Oil Co. Ltd. (oil & gas - fire loss), 1994 148 AR 196 (QB)
    • Reasons of Madam Justice Hunt (Third Party Proceedings), 1993 142 AR 169 (QB)
  • Municipal District of Kneehill No. 48 v. McCoy Bros (1978) Ltd. (products liability), 1994 QB (unreported)
  • Lateral Resources Limited v. Karon Resources Inc. (oil & gas - breach of contract), 1994 22 Alta LR (3d) 265 (QB)
  • Bryenton v. Continental Insurance Company of Canada (insurance - enforcement of SEF 44 endorsement), 1993 QB, CA (unreported)
  • Tubetest Services & Supply v. Doug's Fuel Service (commercial - fire loss), 1991 114 AR 398 (QB)