Dan Downe KCOverview Experience Professional Recognition Community News + Views + Events Notable Work Dan Downe’s primary area of practice is insurance litigation. He has more than 30 years experience defending insured businesses and individuals in a variety of complex litigation matters, including disputes involving motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury claims, commercial property damage and premises liability. Dan appears before all Alberta trial and appellate courts, arbitration panels and administrative tribunals, including coroner’s inquests and fatality inquiries. He has assisted clients with various forms of alternate dispute resolution, including private mediation, judicial mediation and arbitration.
Dan pursues subrogation claims and defends coverage actions on behalf of insurers. He also advises clients on errors and omissions policies, defends related claims, prepares coverage opinions and represents disability insurers in numerous capacities. Also, Dan regularly counsels self-insured professional organizations and defends claims of professional negligence.
In 2010, Dan received his Queen's Counsel designation, which recognizes lawyers for exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession. He is also a regular speaker on insurance and risk management topics at client seminars and legal conferences.
Value to Clients
Dan uses a creative approach to dispute resolution that he tailors to his client’s goals and the unique circumstances of each case. While Dan excels in tough courtroom battles, he also focuses on helping clients take advantage of various forms of alternative dispute resolution to avoid the risk and expense of prolonged litigation and jury trials, including private mediation, judicial mediation and arbitration.
Outside the Office
Dan played high-level youth hockey and is still athletically active. Canadian Bar Association Alberta Member Insurance Law The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2014 - 2025 Leading Practitioner: Personal Injury (Represents Defendants) Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2024 "Litigation Star" Benchmark Canada 2018 - 2024 "Recommended" Litigation - Commercial Insurance Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2019 - 2022 "Repeatedly Recommended" Personal Injury - Represents Defendants Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2012, 2015 - 2017, 2019 - 2023 Distinguished Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ 2017, 2019 - 2021 Federated Press Insurance Law Journal Board of Directors Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Alberta Board of Directors Possak School of Irish Dance Board of Directors Smed v. Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, 2011 ABQB 5 Roadway Construction Ltd. v. ING Western Union Insurance Co., 2008 ABQB 367Shaw v. Standard Life Assurance Co., [2005] A.J. No. 476, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Atlanta Industrial Sales Ltd. v. Emerald Management & Realty Ltd., 2006 ABQB 255Baum v. Graham Construction & Engineering Inc., 2006 ABQB 460, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Kacperski v. Orozco, 2005 ABCA 179, Alberta Court of Appeal Westside Land Corp. v. Deszynski, [2004] A.J. No. 256, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Laws v. Wright, [2000] A.J. No. 127, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Dyck v. Laidlaw, [2000] A.J. No. 730, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Falk v. Calgary Real Estate Board Co-operative Ltd. Order 2000-024; Calgary (City) (Re), [2000] A.I.P.C.D. No. 42, Alberta Information Privacy Commission D. (G.J.), Re, 1999 CarswellAlta 1319, Alberta Surrogate Court D. (G.J.) v. L. (R.), 1999 CarswellAlta 804, Alberta Court of Appeal Silvaniuk v. Stevens, 1999 CarswellAlta 608, Alberta Court of Appeal Franko v. Zurich Insurance Co., [1999] A.J. No. 173, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Carmac Management Ltd. v. Calgary Real Estate Board Co-operative Ltd., 1997 CarswellAlta 302, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Martin v. Dukart, [1997] A.J. No. 1209, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Phoenix Sportswear of Canada Ltd. v. Intergold Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd., [1995] A.J. No. 968, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Stuart Olson Construction Ltd. v. Allan Forrest Sales Ltd., 1994 CarswellAlta 449, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Milton-Coates v. Wolfe, 1992 CarswellAlta 518, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Adanac Realty Ltd. v. Humpty's Egg Place Ltd., 1991 CarswellAlta 30, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Ridders v. Mercury Tanklines Ltd., 1990 CarswellAlta 415, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench McDonald v. Royal Trust Corp. of Canada, 1987 CarswellAlta 277, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Counsel for insurer in a motor vehicle action that resulted in a successful trial outcome where the Plaintiff’s injury claim was dismissed.
- Secured a favourable settlement on behalf of a construction company by pursuing a delay and impact claim in a strategically fast-paced arbitration in which we alleged that the client’s inability to perform its work as originally bid was caused by failures and delays by other parties, and
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a pipeline project contractor that was forced to register builders’ liens against the owner despite clear evidence that the work was performed per the contract’s terms; judgment affirmed on appeal.
Education University of Saskatchewan, 1984, Bachelor of Laws |
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