Andrew Wilson KC (he/him/his)

Andrew Wilson is the former Managing Partner of JSS Barristers and is currently Firm Chairperson. Andrew’s focus is on civil trial and arbitration advocacy, as well as representing clients before various administrative and regulatory tribunals.

Andrew’s practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, corporate and shareholder disputes, securities litigation, corporate governance, class actions, construction disputes, and representing individuals and corporations charged with regulatory offences - in both the administrative and criminal context.

Education

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Waterloo (Dean’s List standing), a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University and a Master of Laws degree from Queens' College, Cambridge University, England.

Andrew was called to the Alberta bar in 2002 and joined JSS Barristers in 2014.

Civil Litigation Career

Upon graduating from Dalhousie, Andrew clerked at the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Alberta Court of King's Bench. This experience has given Andrew unique insight into how judges assess the matters that come before them - insight that he has incorporated into his practice. He completed his articles at Bennett Jones LLP.

After completing his LLM, Andrew returned to Bennett Jones, and practiced as a litigation associate until 2010. During that time, Andrew gained significant trial and arbitration experience, with a focus on corporate commercial litigation, securities litigation, oppression claims, intellectual property, and construction litigation.

Andrew has significant trial, court, arbitration, and regulatory experience. He has appeared successfully as lead counsel before all levels of Court in Alberta, including the Court of Justice criminal division, and has significant experience before the regulatory tribunals of the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). He has also appeared as counsel before the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and the superior courts of other provinces. Andrew also has experience dealing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission, and the British Columbia Securities Commission. Further, Andrew has acted as lead counsel in both domestic and international arbitrations.

Securities Litigation Experience

In 2010, Andrew joined the ASC as Enforcement Counsel, Litigation. In his role as Enforcement Counsel, Andrew prosecuted offences under the Alberta Securities Act, in both the administrative/regulatory and quasi-criminal contexts.

Andrew prosecuted all manners of securities offences while with the ASC, with a particular focus on illegal insider trading, fraud and illegal distributions. During this time, he was lead counsel on some of Alberta's (and Canada's) most significant illegal insider trading cases. Key matters where Andrew was counsel are set out in the experience section below.

Over the course of his career, Andrew has also advised clients on securities compliance and corporate governance matters. He has also assisted clients by running internal investigations into potential legal or regulatory breaches.

Experience

Re Kelly, 2024 CIRO 09 

Rana v Rana, 2022 ABCA 378

Flesch v Apache Corporation, 2022 ABCA 374

1880499 Alberta Ltd. v Warwick & Kent (Canada) GP Ltd., 2022 ABQB 385

Rana v Rana, 2022 ABQB 139

Flesch v Apache Corporation, 2021 ABQB 491

Henenghaixin Corp v Deng, 2021 ABQB 168

Re Workun, 2020 IIROC 31

OmniArch Capital Corporation v Bishop, 2020 ABCA 472

Agar Corporation Ltd v Lee, 2019 ABQB 886

Re Cohodes, 2018 ABASC 16

Patel v Chief Medical Supplies Ltd, 2019 ABQB 760

Patel v Chief Medical Supplies Ltd, 2015 ABQB 694

Jetco Heavy Duty Lighting v Fonteyne, 2018 ABQB 345

Ouellette v Repchuk, 2019 ABQB 329

Aircraft Finance Services Inc v Miller, 2018 ABQB 1005

Re Bennett, 2017 ABASC 177

Re Mackie & Leadbeater, 2015 IIROC 45

Holtby, Re, 2013 ABASC 273

DeLaet, Re, 2013 ABASC 228

Re Zeiben, 2014 ABASC 167

R. v. Kirk, 2013 ABPC 130

Somji, Re, 2012 ABASC 444

Lambert, Re, 2013 ABASC 155

Fletcher, Re, 2012 ABASC 222

Aurora, Re, 2012 ABASC 7

Rogers, Re, 2013 ABASC 484

Awards and Recognitions

Since 2017, Andrew has been named Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, every year. Recently, he was recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Corporate and Commercial Litigation. In 2021, Who's Who Legal named Andrew Future Leader in Arbitration Canada. Additionally, he has been recognized as Repeatedly Recommended in Litigation - Securities by Lexpert (2020-2021) and as Future Star by Benchmark Litigation (2016). 

Andrew was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King's Counsel) in July 2022.

Community

Andrew has written papers and given seminars and presentations on securities litigation matters, given seminars and presentations to both private practitioners and regulatory bodies throughout North America. Additionally, he has presented on class actions, oppression claims and construction litigation matters. Also involved in the local law community, Andrew has also previously acted as a tutor in Civil Procedure at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law and has given seminars to law students on cross-examination and trial advocacy.

Personal

In his spare time, Andrew enjoys running, playing soccer, skiing, travelling and home brewing beer. Andrew is a board member and current Chair of the Calgary Humane Society.

Both Andrew and his wife volunteer with Beagle Paws, a beagle rescue organization.

Publications

"The Effects of Bankruptcy on Regulatory Administrative Penalties: Poonian v. British Columbia (Securities Commission), 2024 SCC 28"

JSSBarristers.ca, August 9, 2024
Co-Author (with Robyn Graham)

"Pierringer Agreements and the Principle Against Overcompensation"

JSSBarristers.ca, July 7, 2020
Co-Author (with Randell Trombley)

"Priority Contest Between Distraining Landlord and a Registered Security Interest Holder"
JSSBarristers.ca, May 27, 2020

"Selling or Buying Shares in the Face of COVID-19: Am I Insider Trading?"

JSSBarristers.ca, April 15, 2020
Co-Author (with Angad Bedi)

"Advertising and the Charter: Just Do It?"

An Analysis of the Constitutional Recognition of Commercial Expression, 2000 CanLIIDocs 9 (Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies)

Speaking Engagements

Panel Speaker
"Securities Litigation Tips and Traps" (webinar), The Advocates' Society, Securities Litigation Practice Group, May 4, 2023

Panel Speaker
"Cross-Country Check-Up", 19th National Symposium on Class Actions, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, ON, April 27 - 28, 2023

Presenter
"Update on Securities Class Actions!", CBA Alberta, Securities Law South, September 21, 2022.

Co-Presenter (with Honourable Kristine Eidsvik)
"The Virtual Expert: How to Effectively Use Technology in Trial", CBV Institute Congress, Vancouver, BC, June 6 – 7, 2022

Interviewee
"Secrecy shrouds fraud case against Canadian Cannabis Corp.", Globe and Mail, July 26, 2021

Co-Presenter (with Kaila Eadie)
"Managing Civil Litigation Matters During COVID-19" (webinar), Legal Education Society of Alberta, May 12, 2020.

Presenter
"Who Likes Short Shorts?", Discussing Appropriate and Inappropriate Conduct of Short Sellers in the Eyes of the Securities Commissions Advocates Society 9th Annual Securities Symposium, September 5, 2019

Presenter
"Certification Decisions in Common Law Misrepresentation", Osgoode Hall 14th National Symposium on Class Actions, April 6 – 7, 2017

Presenter
"For Your Eyes Only?", Protecting Privilege in Securities Investigations, Advocates Society 6th Annual Securities Symposium, September 12, 2016