Background
Cam Mowatt is a partner at BLG's Vancouver office, practicing international trade and investment law. He was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 1981 after obtaining his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia. He was later admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong where he practiced from 1992 to 1995.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Mowatt's areas of practice include professional negligence litigation, international commercial arbitration and international trade and investment law, with an emphasis on investor-state arbitration under the NAFTA and bilateral investment treaties.
Mr. Mowatt is the regional Co-leader of our International Arbitration and Trade Law Group.
Professional Experience
- Counsel to the Government of Mexico in 14 investor-state arbitrations involving claims for damages ranging from $20 million to $235 million.
- Member of an international team of lawyers that pioneered investor-state arbitration under NAFTA Chapter Eleven and influenced the evolution of its jurisprudence.
- Advised national and sub-national governments on various trade and investment law issues, including:
- the negotiation and implementation of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements;
- the application the WTO Agreements and the NAFTA to government privatization initiatives, public-private partnerships, health services and cultural industries; and
- challenge of the Helms-Burton Act under the NAFTA and the WTO Agreements.
- Advised private sector clients on various emerging trade and investment law disciplines, including:
- Canadian “claw back” legislation responding to the extraterritorial effects of the United States' trade and investment embargo against Cuba; and
- the application of the GATS to international telecommunication services.
- Defended professional negligence claims against lawyers, accountants and stockbrokers in Canada and Hong Kong.
- Employed as claims counsel for the Law Society of British Columbia Professional Liability Insurance Program, with responsibility for analyzing and defending claims, reporting to underwriters, instructing defense counsel and negotiating settlements.
Professional and Community Activities
- Member of the Law Society of British Columbia Independence and Self Governance Committee (current).
- Co-Editor, The NAFTA Arbitration Reports (2002–2005).
- Member of the Law Society of British Columbia Competency Committee (1991-1992).
- Program leader and speaker for various legal education organizations.
- Secretary/Treasurer of the Vancouver Bar Association (1987 – 1992).
- Member of The Advocate Publisher's Committee, (1987 – 1992).
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.
- Member of the Arbutus Club and the Vancouver Club.
