Martin Valasek and Alison FitzGerald have joined Bennett Jones as partners. Martin also joins as co-head of the firm's International Arbitration team.
Martin is ranked in Canadian and international legal directories, as well as arbitration industry guides, as one of the leading international arbitration lawyers in the world. He has been ranked in Band 1 in Chambers Global and Chambers Canada for Dispute Resolution—Arbitration every year since 2018. Alison is ranked in Canadian and international legal directories as a leading lawyer in international arbitration and international trade, including in Chambers Canada.
Alison will be based in the firm's Ottawa office and Martin will be based in Montréal. Both will also be working out of the Toronto office.
"Martin and Alison have helped clients succeed in some of the largest and most complex international arbitration matters around the world," says Hugh MacKinnon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bennett Jones. "They will create exceptional value for the firm's clients and make our premier international arbitration practice and our best-in-class international trade and investment team even stronger."
Martin has extensive experience in both investor-state and commercial contract disputes, covering legal systems on all continents and a wide range of industries including energy and mining. He regularly acts as counsel and also sits as an arbitrator.
"I look forward to contributing my expertise to the excellent team at Bennett Jones as we continue to serve its impressive client base," says Martin. "I have really appreciated getting to know the firm’s culture and am happy to be part of it and to get the opportunity to help build out the firm in Quebec with its new office in my hometown of Montreal."
Alison has a dual practice in international arbitration and international trade and investment. Her arbitration practice includes experience as senior counsel in complex international commercial and investor-state arbitrations across a range of industry sectors. Her international trade and investment practice includes experience advising clients on treaty interpretation, assisting clients in navigating economic sanctions and export control legislation and regulations, and guiding clients though human rights risks in supply chain and associated reporting requirements.
"The Bennett Jones international arbitration and trade and investment teams are well known to me and I am thrilled to be joining such a bright and talented group of professionals," says Alison. "I look forward to growing my practice in collaboration with my Bennett Jones colleagues and building from strength in our shared core areas."
Bennett Jones is one of Canada’s premier business law firms and home to 500 lawyers and business advisors. With deep experience in complex transactions and litigation matters, the firm is well equipped to advise businesses and investors with Canadian ventures and connect Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world. Serving clients since 1922, we are proud to be the firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.