Canadian Law Practice Areas
James Bancroft, Q.C.
Counsel
Assistant
Mary Williams, 403.698.8733Save or Print as PDF Email This Page
Biography
Jim has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation, arbitration and mediation. Although he has considerable court room experience, he strives to find cost effective and practical solutions for his client's business problems. In addition to his litigation experience, Jim is highly skilled in negotiation and mediation techniques and he has acted as a mediator in a wide variety of cases.
Jim has held leadership roles and executive positions in a variety of areas including acting as the Chair of the Litigation and Regulatory Department, Managing Partner and member of the Executive Committee of a National law firm. Jim has also been very active in the legal community and has served in a number of important positions with the Canadian Bar Association including President of the Alberta Branch and member of the CBA's National Executive Committee. Jim is very active in legal education and he is currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Legal Education Society of Alberta. In addition, he has Chaired and participated in a variety of legal and industry panels on issues pertaining to product liability, environmental contamination, mediation and negotiation. Jim is currently Chair of the firm's litigation department in Calgary.
Professional Experience
- Acting for air carriers in a variety of contract disputes relating to the provision of charter services, tour operations and ground and maintenance services.
- Defending air carriers in connection with passenger injury claims and claims for the loss or damage to cargo on domestic and international flights.
- Acting on behalf of several multinational corporations to defend them against allegations of chemical contamination of large commercial and industrial sites.
- Acting as lead counsel defending a multinational corporation in several jurisdictions on a multi-million dollar product liability claim. Claim successfully resolved through extensive negotiation.
- Pursuing claims on behalf of multinational corporations relating to patent infringement, theft of confidential information and the violation of non-competition agreements. Claims successfully resolved through negotiations.
- Pursuing claims for breach of trust arising from the failure of corporations and professional partnerships.
- Acting on behalf of a shareholder group to enforce a Unanimous Shareholders Agreement
- Defending numerous corporations against a variety of shareholders oppression actions brought under the Alberta Business Corporations Act and Canada Business Corporations Act. Providing advice regarding the duties and obligations of the directors and officers where the company was conducting a substantial divestiture of corporate assets
- Defending a major Canadian investment firm in a large, multi-party lawsuit concerning investor losses arising from the failure of a real estate limited partnership. Jim pursued a extensive course of mediation and the case was successfully resolved providing significant savings of legal fees and Executive time for the client.
- Has successfully mediated a variety of complaints including disputes relating to breach of contract, wrongful dismissal, shareholder disputes, construction claims, environmental disputes and claims relating to land use and zoning
Directorships, Memberships & Professional Activities
- Chair of the Board of Directors of the Legal Education Society of Alberta
- President of the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, 1997-1998
- Member of the National Executive Committee of the Canadian Bar Association, 1995 -1996
- Member of the American Bar Association's Litigation, Aviation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections
- Member of the Executive of the Canadian Bar Association's National Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
- Chair of the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
- Former Chair of the Canadian Bar Association's Civil Litigation Section
- Member of the Law Society of Alberta
- Member of the Calgary Bar Association
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association's Task Force on Civil Justice Reform
- Member of Government of Alberta Justice Summit and Justice Reform Implementation Committee
- Inaugural President of the University of Alberta's Law Faculty Alumni Association, Calgary Branch, 2003 - 2004 and currently a member of the Board of Directors
- Martindale - Hubbell rating: BV Distinguished
Publications & Seminars
Preparing Your Client for Mediation. Canadian Bar Association - Law Matters, Volume 32, Number 5, Winter 2007/2008
Preparing for a Mediation. Canadian Bar Association - Law Matters, Volume 32, Number 4, Fall 2007
Alternative Methods of Dispute Resolution. Canadian Bar Association - Law Matters, Volume 32, Number 3, Summer 2007
ADR - One Size does Not Fit All. The Lawyers Weekly; Vol. 26, No. 37, February 9, 2007
Presenter, "Lawyers in Mediation - Help or Hindrance", February 27, 2009 - Alberta Justice Mediation Program
Sessional Instructor - LESA Mediation Course, October 2 - 4, 2008
Sessional Chair - 41st Annual LESA Refresher Course on Litigation, May 3 - 7, 2008
Presenter, Canadian Bar Association Business Law Section Meeting - February 17, 2005, Privilege Issues for In-House Counsel
Volunteer Work
Volunteer with the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society and Habitat for Humanity.
Jim also does pro bono work for the Alberta Justice Mediation Program
Education
- Appointed Queen's Counsel, 1998
- University of Alberta, LL.B., 1978
- University of Calgary, B.A. (Honours) 1974
Place and Year of Call
Alberta, 1979