Rachel Howie

Practice Areas

Rachel is the co-lead of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group in Canada and co-lead for the national Alternative Dispute Resolution and Arbitration group. Her practice focuses on international and domestic arbitration and litigation, primarily in the energy, mining and natural resources industries. Rachel has experience advising clients at all stages of a project or transaction to help them navigate how to protect and operate their business from a disputes perspective. She frequently advises domestic and international clients on the drafting of dispute resolution clauses in transactional documents, works with clients on ADR mechanisms to resolve or prevent disputes, and advocates on her clients’ behalf in arbitration and litigation proceedings.

In her arbitration practice, Rachel has acted on matters involving issues across North and South America, Central Asia and South-East Asia. She has experience under several institutional rules, including ICC and ICSID, along with ad hoc proceedings. She is highly regarded for her attention to detail and ability to also take a “big-picture” view. Her clients appreciate her practical advice, and solutions on which they can act that work for their commercial goals. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the NextGen Roster of Arbitrators at Arbitration Place and is a listed arbitrator on the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) Canada and Vancouver International Arbitration Centre rosters. Rachel is a frequent speaker and author on matters of international and domestic arbitration, and is a contributor to the Arbitration Matters newsletter. In her commercial litigation practice, Rachel has appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta.

Rachel has experience with disputes involving industry relationships and agreements including joint venture agreements, supply agreements, farmout agreements, ownership and operating agreements, electricity purchase and sale agreements, oil and gas asset purchase and sale agreements, transportation agreements, royalty agreements, services agreements, seismic licensing agreements, and confidentiality agreements. She also acts in matters involving environmental issues, such as claims for contribution to remediation and issues relating to water and soil contamination, along with matters of accounting and audit rights, purchase price adjustment disputes, claims of force majeure, disputes arising from production on aboriginal lands, shareholder disputes, product liability claims and distribution agreements.

Career

Called to the bar: Alberta, 2009; Ontario, 2009

Professional Memberships

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Co-Chair Canadian Advisory Board, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (2020-present), and former Canada Advisory Board member (2017-2020)

Former Global Advisory Board member, ICDR Young & International, (2017-2020)

Former Co-Chair, ABA Section of International Law, International Investment and Development Committee (2015-2017) and former Vice-Chair (2013-2015)

Member, Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society

Member, International Bar Association

Member, ICC Canada Arbitration Committee

Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration

Member, ADR Institute of Canada

Member, Law Society of Alberta

Member, Law Society of Ontario