Hugh A Meighen

Practice Areas

International Arbitration

Investor - State Dispute Settlement

Commercial Arbitration

Contract Disputes

Construction Disputes

International Construction Projects

Mining

United States

Sports & Gaming Law

Career

Hugh has more than 12 years of experience in dedicated arbitration counsel work. He has represented clients in high-value and complex international and domestic arbitrations in a range of industry sectors, including telecommunications, mining, construction, sports and entertainment, insurance, logistics, IT and real property, as well as under ad hoc and institutional rules including the ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICDR, AAA, VanIAC, DIAC, and ADRIC. Hugh also acts as counsel for athletes and sports organizations in sports-related disputes before the SDRCC and in other sports-related forums.

In 2021, Who's Who Legal: Arbitration named him one of ten "Most Highly Regarded" partners under 45 in the Americas. In 2022, he was named as one of Canada's leading lawyers under 40 by Lexpert.

As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), Hugh has acted as a sole arbitrator in arbitrations involving procurement and real property disputes, as well as the discipline chair and appeals officer for certain sports associations.

In addition to articles and book chapters on arbitration, Hugh co-authored the Guide to the PCA Arbitration Rules, published by Oxford University Press, and is an adjunct professor of two courses (international commercial arbitration and sports arbitration) at Osgoode Hall Law School. He also maintains an active pro bono practice and was recognized at the 2022 Canada Law Awards for spearheading the “Pro Bono Initiative of the Year" to assist vulnerable Afghans.

Prior to joining BLG, Hugh practiced for five years in London and Dubai in the international arbitration group of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. He was previously assistant legal counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where he was the McGill Law fellow and supported arbitral tribunals presiding over international investment arbitrations.

Professional Memberships

Arbitrator, Arbitration Place, NextGen Arbitrators

Member, ICC Task Force for "Addressing Issues of Corruption in International Arbitration"

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)

Adjunct Professor, International Commercial Arbitration, Osgoode Hall Law School

Personal

Community Involvement:

Executive Committee Member, Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge

Director, Canadian Constitutional Foundation

Olympic Supporter, Canadian Olympic Committee

Board member, TRM Family Foundation

Work Highlights

International Arbitrations

• Representing an international engineering firm in a dispute with a supplier of turbine generator units for a project located in the Saudi Arabia.

• Representing a Canadian contractor in an ICC arbitration regarding the termination of a large-scale expansion works FIDIC contract.

• Representing an international joint venture in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration over the construction of a mine in Central America.

• Representing a consortium of Korean EPC contractors in an ICC arbitration seated in Toronto over the construction of a coal-fired power plant, resulting in a significant award.

• Representing Canadian and South American parties in the defence of an ICC claim arising from a series of guarantees.

• Representing an aerospace and telecommunications company in a dispute with an English satellite telecommunications company under the LCIA Rules.

• Representing a Canadian software developer in a programming dispute with an Eastern European/American vendor under the ICDR Arbitration Rules.

• Representing a telecommunications company in an investment dispute with a Middle Eastern government under the UNCITRAL Rules.

• Representing a consortium of Asian and African contractors in DIAC arbitration over the construction and finishing works of a major international airport in the Middle East.

• Representing a Turkish contractor in DIAC proceedings over the construction of a high-rise residential tower.

• Advising an international defence contractor in connection with a potential ICC dispute over a project in a Middle Eastern country.

Domestic ADR

• Representing a public energy utility in a $200 million arbitration with a contractor over the design, supply, and installation of seven turbine & generator units in a remote hydro electric project;

• Representing a hospital in a dispute with an architectural consultant in a dispute regarding delays and deficiencies in the supplied drawings and design documents;

• Advising a government entity in a dispute over delayed transit works.

• Advising a government entity in a significant mass transit procurement dispute.

• Representing a hospital in a dispute over a series of delay issues arising during the construction phase of an expansion project.

• Representing a hospital in an adjudication regarding a newly installed security system.

• Advising a hospital in a dispute over the proper interpretation of a complex infrastructure contract.

Arbitration-related Litigation

• Representing the leading Ukrainian enterprise for turbine jet engine overhaul and maintenance in enforcement proceedings of a foreign arbitral award;

• Advising investors to recognize and enforce a $110 million arbitral award against a State in Québec courts;

• Representing a Canadian company in the enforcement of a $70 million ICC award arising in the mining and construction sector.

• Representing a consortium of companies in the recognition and enforcement of a $40 million dollar ICC arbitral award in Ontario courts.

• Representing an Austrian company in the enforcement of a $1 million ICC award against a Canadian entity.

• Representing the Government of Mexico in the set aside of a partial award on jurisdiction issued by an arbitral tribunal pursuant to the ICSID Additional Facility Rules.

• Representing a Rusoro Mining Ltd in the successful recognition and enforcement of a $1 billion ICSID (AF) arbitral award against Venezuela in Ontario and in subsequent execution efforts;

• Representing a law firm in the appeal of a decision on an arbitration related to the production of documents.

• Representing a consortium of companies in the recognition and enforcement of a multimillion dollar arbitral award in Ontario courts.

Sports Disputes

• Representing a group of athletes and a provincial sports organization in a dispute with a national sports organization;

• Representing an athlete in SDRCC arbitral proceedings arising from an anti-doping rule violation under the Canada Anti-Doping Program;

• Representing an athlete in an anti-doping infraction, which was resolved before arbitration proceedings;

• Acting as the discipline and appeals chair of Squash Canada;

• Advising a coach in the context of SDRCC proceedings regarding membership in the relevant provincial sports organization;

• Listed counsel at Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).

Education