Peter Ruby, FCIArb

Peter Ruby acts as a sole and panel-member arbitrator and mediator with a focus on the technology and energy sectors, as well as corporate/commercial domestic and international disputes. He has adjudicated and mediated disputes between a wide variety of contracting parties in these sectors.

In his over 28-year counsel practice, Peter has been balanced between representing multinational and entrepreneurial vendors of technology and services, and many end-users of information technology. He is a former President of the International Technology Law Association.

With respect to energy, Peter has represented in disputes developers and operators of renewable power projects, electricity utilities, investors, resource companies, industry associations, and provincial government bodies.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, on the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) International Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators, on the roster of the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre (VanIAC), and co-leads the North America committee of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center.

Technology Dispute Resolution Work

Peter’s work includes software, cloud services, hardware, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, telecommunications, cryptocurrency, film, television, privacy and data protection, intellectual property, e-commerce, and internet litigation, and Canadian and cross-border arbitration and mediation.

Energy Industry Expertise

Peter handles disputes and regulatory matters relating to the energy industry and has acted as counsel for various stakeholders including developers and operators of renewable power projects, electricity utilities, resource companies, and provincial government bodies. He has appeared at the Ontario Energy Board and other provincial energy regulators.

Privacy and Data Protection

Peter has litigated business-related privacy cases and has considerable experience assisting clients with contentious data breach incidents and cybersecurity. He also assists organizations in dealing with privacy inquiries, investigations by privacy commissioners, and conducting privacy risk assessments.

Corporate, Commercial, and Restructuring Disputes

Peter represents clients in disputes such as shareholder matters, contract interpretation issues, and acquisition-related disputes. He has appeared at all levels of the courts of Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as at many arbitration proceedings.

Recognition

Peter is recognized as a leading litigator and arbitration counsel in numerous publications, including Chambers Canada and Chambers Global, The Legal 500 Canada, and more. Peer reviews describe him as a “brilliant IT litigator” with “vast experience resolving complex IT disputes.”

Featured Work

Technology

• Motion Picture Association – Canada, Netflix, Paramount, and Sony in appellate challenges to decisions of the CRTC concerning the Online Streaming Act.
• Monitor of Nortel Networks in a cross-border dispute over the allocation of insolvent Nortel’s assets.
• Oracle, SAP, and others in litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Energy

• 19 power companies in a landmark case in the Supreme Court of Canada against Canada’s cable television companies.
• Electricity Canada in an appeal concerning access by wireless companies to public lands.
• Provincial government bodies on corporate issues.

Corporate, Commercial, and Restructuring

• Litigation concerning the restructuring of Stelco and Cirque du Soleil.
• Lease and guarantee litigation arising from the insolvency of Nortel.
• Arbitrations about breaches of representations in share purchase agreements.

Professional Involvement

Peter was a law clerk to the Federal Court of Canada and for over a dozen years was a Professor of Law (adj.) at the University of Toronto.