Background and Experience

Mary Comeau graduated from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law as Gold Medalist in 1989.  She articled at Macleod Dixon and was called to the Alberta Bar in 1990.  She was counsel with Norton Rose Fulbright (formerly Macleod Dixon) in Calgary for almost 30 years.  She retired as Senior Partner and Litigation Practice Group Leader on December 31, 2017.  On January 1, 2018 she joined Western Arbitration Chambers as an independent neutral.  In May, 2022 she moved to Vancouver and joined Vancouver Arbitration Chambers as an independent neutral.

Mary has practiced in the arbitration field since the early 1990’s and has extensive experience as counsel in all matter of commercial arbitration, with a particular focus on electricity, oil and gas, and mining.  She has enjoyed the transition from advocate to adjudicator over the past 7 years.  She has been appointed to ad hoc, institutional, domestic and International arbitrations. She has heard a broad range of matters including disputes related to pipeline development, hard rock mining, general oil and gas, construction, pharmaceuticals and property development. She has sat as sole arbitrator and on tribunals, including as chair.  She is appointed to numerous rosters including the Vancouver International Commercial Arbitration Centre (domestic and international) and the Ontario IESO Dispute Panel, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London, England.

Mary recognizes that the role of a commercial arbitrator is to work with the parties and their counsel to establish a process that is fair and consistent with the expectations of all parties.  This is best achieved by early case management focusing on due process, rigorous procedural management, incorporation of mediation where appropriate, and compliance with applicable laws and rules. The result is dispute resolution that is efficient and appropriate to each particular dispute.