David House, Partner

Dave's experience in aboriginal law commenced during his time at Fraser & Beatty (now Fraser Milner Casgrain) in Toronto where he was involved in various matters surrounding resource extraction and treaty rights.  Dave was counsel to the Indian Claims Commission where he worked with senior commission counsel, Ron Maurice and chief commissioner, Jim Prentice, Q.C., P.C.  Dave has been fortunate in staying involved in the aboriginal law field while simulaneously practicing commercial litigation.

Dave’s experience in complex commercial litigation has been wide-ranging.  Early in his career, Dave acted for clients in disputes involving contaminated property and defended entities charged with offences under environmental legislation.  Later, Dave’s focus expanded to general commercial litigation both in British Columbia (at Bull Housser & Tupper) and Ontario.
 

Dave has represented First Nations, Canadian chartered banks, trust companies, credit unions and other financial institutions.  He has also acted for insurance companies, energy corporations, municipalities, land owners, major restaurant/hospitality brands, integrated oil companies, mining and forestry enterprises.  Dave has litigated in the areas of aboriginal treaty claims, lease disputes, franchise disputes, shareholder remedies, bankruptcy and insolvency, employment disputes (particularly stock option vesting matters), pension disputes, professional negligence matters, defamation, securities litigation, contractual and corporate disputes and significant personal injury matters.
 

Dave has also represented plaintiffs in class action matters, particularly in the fields of competitition law and consumer protection.
 

Career highlights include ground-breaking cases in the area aboriginal treaty breach claims based on environmental damage to reserve lands, stock-option entitlements for dismissed senior officers and employees, challenging the letter mail monopoly in Canada, acting as counsel on class action matters and acting as counsel to the Indian Claims Commission.
 

Dave has appeared at all levels of court in both Ontario and British Columbia, as well as various administrative tribunals.  Dave also increasingly appears as counsel in mediations and arbitration matters.

Dave is a firm believer in case plans, effective strategizing and bringing value to clients through avoidance of unnecessary and costly procedures.
 

Dave enjoys golfing and the family orchards in Niagara, Ontario.
 

Education

·        Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B., 1993)
·        York University (M.E.S., 1993)
·        University of Western Ontario (B.A., 1989)

Year of call

·        Member, Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and Ontario Bar Association
·        Member, The Law Society of Upper Canada
·        Member, The Advocates Society