Languages : English and French
Quebec Bar — 1989
Doug founded IMK in 1997 with the late Colin K. Irving. In the course of his career, he has acted as lead counsel in many complex cases, participated in trials covered by the media, advised clients on challenging issues and played key roles in crisis management to avoid or settle disputes. His career and his way of intervening in cases have earned him the respect of all the courts before which he has pleaded. He has acted for the Chief Justice of Quebec and Inquiry Committees of the Canadian Judicial Council and has pleaded numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also been appointed as amicus curiae in both the Québec Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
His clients include large and small companies, individuals, and public institutions. His areas of expertise cover the spheres of business litigation and constitutional and administrative law, among others. He also regularly acts as an arbitrator in a wide area of cases. As a “lawyer’s lawyer” his strategic insights and overall practical advice are often sought out by other law firms, whether in conflict of interest matters or other matters.
Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness v. Attorney General of Quebec, et al.: Doug was named as amicus curiae by the Supreme Court on the issue of constitutional validity of the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act.
Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation v. Hydro Québec: Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation in a dispute regarding the duties of good faith and cooperation arising out of its long-term contract with Hydro-Québec.
Ressources Strateco Inc. v. Attorney General of Québec: Ressources Strateco Inc. in the context of an action for $200 million in damages against the Gouvernement du Québec for recovery of its investment losses following the refusal of the Minister of Environment to issue an advanced exploration certificate.
Ludmer et al v. Canada Revenue Agency: Ludmer in an action taken against the CRA for abusive conduct during the course of an audit and reassessment.
Garantie Abritat Inc. v. Régie du Bâtiment: Régie du Bâtiment in several cases after new legislative provisions came into force concerning the guarantee plans for construction of new residences.
Galati v. Canada: Chief Justice of the Province as intervener in a dispute in which the appointment of Judge Robert Mainville to the Quebec Court of Appeal was contested.
Inquiry of the Canadian Judicial Council concerning Judge Michel Girouard: We acted as counsel to the Committee of Inquiry.
Lizotte v. Aviva & al: The Advocates’ Society, as intervener, before the Supreme Court of Canada in a case dealing with the extent to which litigation privilege can be abrogated by broad statutory investigative powers.
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. et al v. Ben Aïssa et al: a Swiss law firm, sued by SNC in Canada, in connection with fraud and bribery committed by SNC’s officers in Libya.
Beaudoin v. Business Development Bank of Canada: Beaudoin, former President of BDC, in a long trial covered by the media, petitioning for homologation of a transaction entered into upon termination of his employment and in defence in an action in damages.
B.C.L., LL.B., McGill University, 1988
B.A. (Honours), Queen’s University, 1984
2025
Chambers and Partners: Litigation – General Commercial in Québec Legal (Band 2); Administrative & Public Law in Québec (Spotlight Table)
Best Lawyers in Canada: Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation
2024
LEXPERT: Most Frequently Recommended: Litigation – Corporate Commercial
Consistently Recommended: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability
Repeatedly Recommended: Class Actions
Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Special Edition Litigation
Chambers and Partners: Litigation – General Commercial in Québec Legal (Band 2); Administrative & Public Law in Québec (Spotlight Table)
Best Lawyers in Canada: Lawyer of the Year (Montreal) Bet-the-Company Litigation
Best Lawyers in Canada: Class Action Litigation, and Corporate and Commercial Litigation
2023
Benchmark Litigation: Top 50 Trial Lawyers and Litigation Star
LEXPERT: Most Frequently Recommended: Litigation – Corporate Commercial and Consistently Recommended: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability Repeatedly Recommended: Litigation – Securities
Best Lawyers in Canada: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Lexpert/American lawyer guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
2022
Benchmark Litigation: Top 50 Trial Lawyers and Litigation Star
LEXPERT: Most Frequently Recommended: Litigation – Corporate Commercial and Repeatedly Recommended: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability
Lexpert/American lawyer guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Best Lawyers in Canada: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation and Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Chambers and Partners: Litigation – Administrative & Public Law, Band 2 General Commercial Litigation in Quebec
2021
Benchmark Litigation: Quebec Litigator of the Year
LEXPERT: Most Frequently Recommended: Litigation – Corporate Commercial and Repeatedly Recommended: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability and Class Actions
Best Lawyers in Canada: Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year, Class Action Litigation and Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Chambers and Partners: Litigation – Administrative & Public Law, Band 2 General Commercial Litigation in Quebec
2020
LEXPERT: Most Frequently Recommended: Litigation – Corporate Commercial and Repeatedly Recommended: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability and Class Actions
Chambers and Partners: Litigation – Administrative & Public Law, Band 2 General Commercial Litigation in Quebec
Best Lawyers in Canada: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation and Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Benchmark Litigation: Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada and Litigation Star: arbitration, class actions, commercial litigation, product liability and securities
2019
LEXPERT: Most Frequently Recommended: Litigation – Corporate Commercial and Repeatedly Recommended: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability
Chambers and Partners: Band 2 General Commercial Litigation in Quebec
Best Lawyers in Canada: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation and Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Benchmark Litigation: Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada and Litigation Star: arbitration, class actions, commercial litigation, product liability and securities
2018
Chambers and Partners in the Band 2 category of General Commercial Litigation in Quebec
Best Lawyers in Canada: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation and Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Benchmark Litigation: Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada, Litigation Star: arbitration, class actions, commercial litigation, product liability and securities
2017
Benchmark Litigation: Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada, Litigation Star: arbitration, class actions, commercial litigation, product liability and securities
2013
Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada in Corporate Commercial Litigation
2010
Best Lawyers in Canada: Quebec’s Corporate and Commercial Litigator of the Year
Canadian Bar Association
American College of Trial Lawyers
The Advocates’ Society
Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
American College of Trial Lawyers:
La Société des plaideurs/The Advocates’ Society :
Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
Montreal Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
Sessional Lecturer at the Faculty of Law of McGill University: ‟Evidence: Civil Matters”, 2010-2016
Co-author of ‟LegisPratique – Code de procédure Civile annoté”, LexisNexis, 2008-2019 (annual editions)
‟Procédure en appel”, with Éric Cadi in JurisClasseur Québec, coll. “Droit civil”, Procédure civile 1, fasc. 27, Montréal, LexisNexis Canada
Canadian chapter in ‟Trans-National Litigation”, avec Colin K. Irving, Kreindler & Holdsworth eds., 1997
“Doing Well by Doing Good: Enhancing Your Career as a Trial Attorney with Pro Bono Service”, presented by The American College of Trial Lawyers and The Association of Pro Bono Counsel, panel moderator “Corporate and Outside Counsel Partnering Together to Close the Access to Justice Gap”, November 10, 2022
“The Advocate Making a Difference”, Spring Symposium 2021, presented by The American College of Trial Lawyers and The Advocates’ Society: Co-president of the Symposium and panel moderator “The Importance of Pro Bono Work: A View from Corporate In-House Counsel”, April 18, 2021
“Le Forum des Avocats et Avocates Séniors”, The Advocates’ Society, Co-president of the program and panel on “Le procès médiatisé : meilleures pratiques pour la gestion des médias”, May 13, 2019
“Courtesy and Civility”, presented by The American College of Trial Lawyers at the Law Faculty of McGill University, panel organizer and speaker with the Honourable Peter Kalichman, j.s.c., and Me Suzanne H. Pringle, March 14, 2019
“Protection des régimes de retraite en contexte d’insolvabilité : à la recherche de l’intention du législateur”, Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Division, speaker, April 18, 2018
“Application of section 133 in Quebec: Effect on the evolution of Canadian and Quebec law” – 150 years of Legislative and Judicial Bilingualism: History, Current Reality and Outlook for the Future, conference presented by the Commissioner of Official Languages, Ottawa, speaker, March 5, 2017
“Trial Practice Do’s & Don’ts: Hot Tips from the Experts” – 7th edition, Barreau de Montréal, speaker, November 5, 2015
“Successfully Meeting Corporate Governance Obligations”, Quebec-Ontario Business Law Summit: Multi-Jurisdictional Transaction, Ontario Bar Association, speaker, May 21, 2015
Doug Mitchell Named Emeritus Lawyer (2023-10-20)
Doug Mitchell named one of Benchmark Litigation 2023’s Top 50 Litigators in Canada (2023-05-03)
Reference re Genetic Non-Discrimination Act, 2020 SCC 17: a look at IMK’s contribution (2020-07-14)
So you convinced the court it has jurisdiction. What then? (2020-03-05)
Three’s not company / Modern family problems (2019-08-23)
Doomed from the Outset (2019-03-21)
What to do about the Zax (2017-09-08)
Victory for IMK client at the Supreme Court (2017-07-14)
Beware of the duty of loyalty (2016-05-21)
Governmental liability for an abusive tax audit in Québec (2016-02-28)
Benchmark Litigation Nominations! (2016-01-21)
Advocacy: Choose your arguments (2015-10-19)
Contracts: The consequences of failed negotiations (2015-08-03)