Claude Thomson is an internationally recognized arbitrator, mediator and independent counsel specializing in the resolution of complex commercial disputes. He assists members of the legal profession in matters that require an independent counsel and in the resolution of professional conflicts. He also advises legal practitioners on the management of litigation and related disputes.

Claude has extensive experience in litigation and arbitration relating to admiralty, banking, securities, aeronautics, construction issues and professional responsibilities. He has served as lead counsel in general commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels and before Boards of Arbitration. He has successfully handled complex, lengthy and detailed litigation and has a well-established reputation for impartiality and integrity.

Prior to opening his own practice, Claude practiced for many years as a senior litigation lawyer and partner with the national law firm of Fasken Martineau. He served as Chairman of the firm and for many years was active on the firm's Conflicts Committee. He is a Past President of both the Canadian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience

• Chaired arbitration panels and acted as sole arbitrator in proceedings administered by the London Court of International Arbitration relating to contractual disputes governed by the Law of England.
• Acted as arbitrator appointed by the AAA and International Chamber of Commerce in several international commercial disputes.
• Chaired and served on the panel of several ad hoc international arbitrations with hearings in Canada, England and India.
• Listed in The 2004 Global Counsel Dispute Resolution Handbook (published by Practical Law Company), 2004 Experts in Commercial Arbitration published by Euromoney Legal Media Group, The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration, 2005, "International Who's Who of Business Lawyers in Arbitration, 2006, described in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2007 as one of the most frequently recommended arbitration practitioners in Ontario
• Served as arbitrator and mediator in numerous domestic mediations and arbitrations.

Panel Member

• Co-Chairman, ADR Chambers Commercial Panel
• Co-Chairman, ADR Chambers International
• Panel Member, International Centre for Dispute Resolution of the AAA
• Panel Member, International Commercial Arbitrators, Canadian ICC Committee
• Member of Council of the International Commission of Jurists (Canadian Section)
• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
• Elected Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Public Interest Activities

• Chairman, The Newman Foundation
• President International Bar Association (Past)
• President Canadian Bar Association (Past)
• Public Director, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (Past)
• Board Member, Scarborough General Hospital (Past)
• Chairman, Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers for Ontario (Past)
• Member, County of York Legal Aid Committee (Past)
• Director and Vice-President, Advocates' Society of Ontario (Past)
• Director, Medical-Legal Society of Ontario (Past)
• Chairman, Canadian American Committee of the American Trial of College Lawyers (Past)

Awards and Recognition

• Recipient, World Lawyer Award (1985)
• Recipient, 25th Anniversary Commemorative Medal (1977)
• Recipient, Knight of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta
• Recipient, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Law Society of Upper Canada 2005

Publications

• Med-Arb - A Fresh Look, 2005.
• "NAFTA- A Canadian Perspective", presented at the AAA Miami Conference, January 2004
• "Canada", The International Comparative Legal Guide to: International Arbitration 2004, London: Global Legal Group, 2003, and republished in The Canadian Law Newsletter of the American Bar Association (Volume XL, Number 1, Winter 2004)
• "International Commercial Arbitration - A Canadian Perspective", International Commercial Arbitration in the New Millennium, Canadian Bar Association, 2001 and LCIA Arbitration International (2002), Vol. 18, p. 205
• "Managing International Arbitration" to be published in the American Arbitration Association's Dispute Resolution Journal, August 2004
• 1997 Professional Development Program and Publication, Osgoode Hall Law School, "Selecting the Arbitrator and Advocacy before an Arbitrator"
• 1992 Insight Program and Publication, "Disposition without Trial"
• 2007 Confidentiality in Arbitration: A Valid Assumption

Education

• LL.B - Osgoode Hall Law
• Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada
• Chartered Arbitrator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• AAA Commercial Arbitration Training
• Mediation Programme Harvard Law School
• Advanced Mediation Training

Claude Thomson's personal website can be found by visiting the following location: http://www.claudethomson.com.