Peter G. Cathcart Q.C.

Peter practiced corporate/commercial law for several years at McMillan LLP In private mergers and acquisitions, financial institutions, shareholders agreements, and transportation law. He acted for major financial institutions on credit agreements and security transactions.

Peter is a mediator and arbitrator focusing on commercial disputes and his corporate/commercial law experience and training enable him to handle complex disputes in a broad range of areas. He has been an arbitrator/mediator in various commercial disputes, including:

• Oppression claims under Ontario Business Corporations Act – Last year, he was Arbitrator in a three-day arbitration in Windsor involving an oppression claim under the OBCA.  It was a contentious multi-party family dispute on a buy/sell provision in shareholder agreement with ten individual and corporate parties.  It occurred over several months with several motions and Interim Orders.  The issues being arbitrated were the selection of a valuation date for establishing fair market value, the admissibility and weight to be given expert evidence and deciding on fair market value.  His Award was upheld on appeal by Carey J in the Superior Court of Justice.
   
• Over his career, he has been involved in the settlement and implementation of buy/sell provisions of several shareholder agreements and was counsel to a major Great Lakes shipping corporation owned by three brothers pursuant to a shareholders agreement.
   
• He has arbitrated under the National Automobile Dealer Arbitration Program between dealers and auto manufacturers; and as a panelist on the Canadian Transportation Agency Final Offer Arbitration under the Canada Transportation Act between a shipper and railway.

Peter is a former Managing Partner of McMillan LLP. He was lead counsel to the consortium that assumed the management and control of the St. Lawrence Seaway and managed the McMillan LLP team in the preparation and negotiation of the several complex agreements that were entered into with the Government of Canada including the letters patents, by-laws and governance procedures relating to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

Peter is a former member of the Board of Directors of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation as the representative of the Province of Ontario and a former member of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada. He was Chair of the Governance Committees of both entities.

Peter can be reached through the Toronto office of ADR Chambers.