HAVELOCK (HAV) B. MADILL KC counsel

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780.497.4898

hmadill@brownleelaw.com

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With over 50 years of experience, Hav is the Firm’s most senior litigator. He has been counsel in some of the larger, more complex litigation that have come before the Courts, and is well regarded for his thorough and effective advocacy.  He also has considerable mediation and arbitration experience, including as a Mediator and Arbiter.

Hav’s practice areas are civil litigation and insurance, including corporate and commercial litigation, products liability claims, directors and officers liability, construction disputes and serious personal injury/wrongful death claims.

Among the considerable recognitions he has earned over the course of his career, is being named for several years by Best Lawyers in Canada as one of the best lawyers in Canada in the practice areas of Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability, Products Liability, Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation.

Best Lawyers in Canada has also named Hav “Lawyer of the Year – Edmonton” in the practice areas of Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2021), Product Liability Law (2020), Insurance Law (2019), Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2017), Personal Injury (2016) and Products Liability (2014).

In December 2016, the Globe and Mail Report on Business magazine named Hav one of Canada’s leading litigators.

Hav was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994.

Born in Wainwright but raised in Brooks, a largely farming and ranching community, Hav remains a prairie boy at heart.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 and a law degree (LL.B.) in 1972, both from the University of Alberta. He joined Brownlee in 1972 and has been with the firm for most of his career.

“Usually, I am hired for my experience,” says Hav, who was called to the bar in 1973.  “Beyond that, I look for the most efficient, effective way of getting the case resolved.”

In terms of what makes him stand out as a lawyer, Hav recalls an introductory lunch he had with a gentleman who had recently taken a senior position that allowed him to direct a volume of legal work.  “I said to him, ‘Look, I have this experience and skill set – but almost every lawyer is going to tell you that. The only way you’re ever going to know for sure is to send me a file, and by the way, make it a hard one, because how else can I distinguish myself?’ Shortly after the meeting, I received a file from him, and it was a hard case with plenty at stake. We did it and we did it well, and the new client was very happy.  The relationship grew from there.”

Hav chose law as a career because “the practice of law is a profession, it is intellectually challenging and it appealed to me as somebody who liked a bit of drama and theatre,” he says.  “It’s also the chess game that often happens with civil litigation – taking an issue, investigating it and developing a strategy to achieve a result that serves the best interests of the client.”

• • Defence and coverage counsel in property loss claim brought by Calgary based, Cyprus registered oil and gas company involved in contractual and shareholders’ dispute related to joint venture in Russia with Russian based, international oil and gas company.  Claim for $16 million.  Major jurisdictional issues
  • Counsel for international insurance company defending contractual and tort claims against several design and construction consultants involved in construction of major oil sands project.  Claims for +$100 million ultimately resolved by extensive, multi-party mediation
  • Represented owner/developer in construction/development disputes involving multi-billion, multi-building urban construction projects
  • Represented major, Calgary based, international energy company in respect to extensive structural deficiencies in a major, two-tower office high rise office complex in downtown Calgary
  • Successfully defended directors and officers of Western Canada based mining company in precedent setting litigation involving Federal Government Immigrant Investment program.  Representative action for approximately $50 million.  Action ultimately dismissed against our clients
  • Defence counsel for Directors and Officers in claims arising from receivership of large, national tire manufacturer and distributor
  • Defence counsel for international engineering and safety systems company in +$1 billion oil sands explosion/fire claim. 
  • Defence and coverage counsel in a multi-million dollar fire loss of an under construction multi-residential complex
  • Defended Quebec-based drilling company facing Fisheries Act charges and other claims arising from environmental spill
  • Lead defence counsel in defence of the Province against claims for property damages and loss of indigenous cultural arising from a major wildfire
  • Defence counsel for international construction and fabrication company involving multi-million dollar claim for allegedly defective pipe installed in Alberta oil sands project
  • Plaintiff’s counsel in significant wrongful death claims arising from train/motor vehicle accident
  • Coverage counsel on a large international pipeline property damage and business loss claim
  • Counsel for Alberta based, international internet services company in commercial dispute with giant, Toronto based telecommunication company in contractual disputes involving the operation and construction of Alberta SuperNet.  Complex claims involving +$100 million.  Resolved by arbitration and negotiation
  • Defended Directors and Officers in investors class action regarding failed oil and gas exploration company
  • Defence counsel in class action for alleged sexual, physical and emotional abuse of gymnasts across Canada
  • Appointed a defence counsel by international insurer regarding destruction by fire of a technical college in Edmonton
  • Monitoring counsel for international insurer in +$1 billion claims arising from pipeline explosion in the USA 
  • Coverage counsel in $40M+ property damage to condensors in Manitoba electrical grid
  • Plaintiff’s counsel in multi-million claim for catastrophic personal injury claim arising from motor vehicle accident
  • Counsel for USA-based company for recovery of funds due to email fraud
  • Insurance coverage counsel for public and private entities involved in $2.3 billion urban development
  • Defence counsel in $100+ million products liability claim involving a processing plant for fertilizer components.
  • Coverage counsel for insurer of architect named as Defendant in class action for multiple deaths arising from collapse of condominium tower in Florida.  Action settled for $1.1 billion.
  • Represented world renowned shopping mall in class action by infants alleged to have suffered medical issues from use of water park.  Case settled.  
  • Provided coverage opinions on the obligation of an international insurer to defend two class actions against an automobile manufacturer alleging faulty brake and accelerator mechanisms. 
  • Represented several insurers in significant class action regarding improper handling of property claims.
  • Coverage counsel for insurer involved in significant wrongful death claim arising from pipeline explosion in Kentucky
  • Appointed as defence counsel in actions arising from fire/explosion in an industrial park in central Alberta
  • Arbiter in commercial dispute between fly ash producer and distributor
  • Mediator in commercial land development dispute between joint venturers.
  • Defended corporate Officer in securities investigations and investors class actions arising from failed oilfield product supply company 
  • Coverage counsel in $100M+ claim for Delay in Start Up relating to construction of power generating plant in Ontario
  • Coverage counsel in respect to an industrial equipment loss resulting from forest fire
  • Defence counsel on a large forest fire loss allegedly arising from brush burning on a well site
  • Defence counsel for the Crown in multi-million dollar action by indigenous group arising from wildfire 
  • Defence counsel for main stream religious organization in respect to significant sexual abuse and degradation claim
  • Represented major, Calgary based, international energy company in significant commercial dispute with prominent, Toronto based, leasing and property company involving head lease agreements, as well as structural deficiencies, pertaining to two -tower high rise office complex in downtown Calgary.  Complex claims involving several 10’s of millions of dollars.  Resolved by litigation and negotiations
  • Counsel for 134 Defendants in document intensive, class action seeking $2.5 billion dollars related to the administration of public authority pension plans.  Action ultimately discontinued against our clients
  • Successfully negotiated resolution of a US$265 million jury award in Florida for wrongful death in a products liability claim
  • Coverage counsel in claim for pipeline damage due to earth movement
  • Defence counsel for Architects sued for design deficiencies in major residential condominium project in downtown Calgary. 
  • Coverage and defence counsel in large property and business interruption loss arising from fire in a residential complex in Nunavut
  • Represented municipality in resolving insurance claims for damages arising from devastating wildfire
  • Represented directors and personnel of meat processing facility in federal investigations of tainted meat allegations 
  • Counsel for environmental engineers in suit for negligence in carrying out environmental assessments for residential subdivision
  • Acted for geotechnical engineers in defence of claims for negligent design and installation of clay liner in lake forming part of new residential development.  Resolved by litigation and negotiations
  • Defending structural engineer in multi-million claim in respect to design and oversight of foundation pads for break presses
  • Acted for Alberta-based agricultural corporation in land purchase dispute with multi-national oil company that proceeded to Supreme Court of Canada
  • Defended international pharmaceutical company in contaminated products claim
  • Counsel for the Province in recovery of significant royalties resulting from production interruption of major oil sands facility due to fire 
  • Coverage and defence counsel in several active and past architect and engineers professional liability claims
  • Represented professional governance body in defending claim by member for misconduct in disciplinary proceedings
  • Served as counsel for major party in significant fire at oil sands facility involving loss of approximately $200 million.  Matter resolved by dispute resolution process
  • Coverage counsel in claim for loss of NGL from underground storage caverns
  • Coverage counsel in respect to significant, long-tail pollution claim
  • Coverage counsel in respect to claims arising from structural deficiencies in several industrial cranes
  • Coverage counsel in respect to losses arising from major gas well blow out
  • Coverage counsel in respect to construction deficiencies in a significant East coast, off-shore oil and gas project
  • Defence counsel for oil and gas exploration company in action for damages arising from forest fire allegedly caused by company’s operations
  • Numerous contractual disputes, including construction, shareholders disputes, joint ventures, passing off, performance, default and accounting issues
  • Plaintiff and Defence counsel in numerous serious injury and fatality claims
  • Coverage and defence counsel in numerous and varied other construction deficiency, property and products liability losses involving commercial and public facilities

• Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994.

• Member, Law Society of Alberta

• Occasional Member, Law Societies of NWT and Nunavut

• Member, Edmonton Bar Association

• Member, Canadian Bar Association

• Member, Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society

• Past Member: Law Society Civil Advisory Committee, Class Action Committee, Appeal Rules Revision Committee, Case Flow management committee and Insurance Committee; Canadian Bar Association Civil Justice Reform Committee and Provincial Civil Justice Reform Implementation Committee

• Recognized as one of Canada’s Leading Litigators – Report on Business, Globe and Mail, December 2016.

• Named by The Best Lawyers in Canada as one of the best lawyers in Canada in Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director & Officer Liability, Products Liability, Personal Injury Litigation, and Insurance Law – 2007 to present. Also multiple naming as “Lawyer of the Year”.

• Named “Lawyer of the Year – Edmonton” by Best Lawyers in Canada in each of the areas of Corporate/Commercial Litigation, Products Liability, Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation

• Named by Lawday Directory as one of the top 40 lawyers in Canada in Insurance Law

• Recognized in L’EXPERT legal Directory as a leading practitioner in Litigation, Products Liability, Commercial Insurance and Personal Injury – 2007 to present.

• Named by Lawyer and Practice Magazine as in the top 10 Lawyers in Alberta in Personal Injury law.

• Distinguished Attorney rating by Martindale-Hubbell – 1994 to present.