Overview
Bill Kenny acts as general counsel, practicing civil and regulatory litigation and construction law, as well as transportation, insurance, and corporate-commercial law. Bill has acted for corporate and private clients, construction contractors, consulting engineers, and owners. He has experience in all forms of claim-related events and dispute resolution as well as the preparation of contract documents. He has also been appointed as arbitrator and mediator in many commercial disputes.
Bill has written many articles and participated in seminars dealing with litigation, construction law, director’s liability and corporate governance. He has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, as well as before numerous agencies, boards and tribunals. He has appeared as counsel before international commercial arbitration panels in London and Paris. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a Founding Fellow and former Governor of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers. Lexpert Magazine lists Bill Kenny as the most frequently recommended lawyer in Edmonton for Construction Law and Corporate Commercial Litigation. Best Lawyers consistently lists Bill as one of the best in Canada for Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability, Insurance Law, International Arbitration, Bet the Company Litigation, Product Liability, and Securities Litigation. Best Lawyers named him Edmonton Lawyer of the Year for Securities Law (2021), Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2010 and 2014), Edmonton Lawyer of the Year for Director and Officer Liability (2012, 2015 and 2019), Edmonton Lawyer of the Year for Construction Law (2011, 2013, 2017 and 2020), and Edmonton Lawyer of the Year for Insurance Law (2016). In January, 2010, Bill was the only construction lawyer in Edmonton recognized by Lexpert/American Lawyers Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. In 2019, he was recognized by Martindale-Hubbell for having an ‘AV’ Peer Review Rating in both legal ability and ethical standards for the last 20 years.
Bill was named winner of the Client Choice 2016 award in Construction. Published by International Law Office and Lexology, the Client Choice awards are based on a survey of senior corporate counsel around the world. Selection criteria focus exclusively on the ability to add real value to clients’ business.
Professional achievements & leadership
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada – Securities Law, 2021
- Best Lawyers in Canada – Bet-the-Company Litigation; Construction Law; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Director and Officer Liability Practice; International Arbitration; Product Liability Law; Securities Law, 2006-2021; Insurance Law 2006-2020
- Benchmark Canada, Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada, 2019-2020
- Benchmark Canada, Litigation Star: Construction, General; Commercial, Insurance, 2017-2020
- The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2019
- Chambers Canada, Dispute Resolution, 2013-2016; Construction, 2014-2021; Litigation: General Commercial, 2019-2021
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada – Director and Officer Liability Practice, 2012, 2015, 2019
- Acritas Stars global survey of stand-out lawyers, 2018
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
- Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Construction Law, 2013-2020; Litigation- Securities, 2013-2020; Litigation- Product Liability, 2013-2020; Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability, 2013-2020; Litigation – Corporate Commercial, 2013-2020; Litigation- Commercial Insurance, 2013-2020; Infrastructure, 2015, 2018, 2020; Transportation (Road & Rail), 2020
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada – Insurance Law, 2016
- International Who’s Who Legal: Construction, 2015, 2018-2019
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada – Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2010, 2014
- International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, 2013
- Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution, 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer, 2013
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada – Construction, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020
- Appointed Queen’s Counsel, 1994
Thought leadership
- Speaker, “2020 Construction Adjudication Symposium – Prairies Region,” Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, February 27, 2020
- Presented, “The Osgoode Certificate in Construction Law – Western Canada Edition,” Osgoode Professional Development, February 26, 2020
- Presented, “Construction Law: Chambers and Arbitration Advocacy,” Advocates’ Society, November 29, 2018
- Co-presented, “Edmonton Construction Seminar: Integrative Project Delivery – What are the terms?,” Miller Thomson seminar, October 30, 2018
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Seminar: Integrative Project Delivery – What are the terms?,” Miller Thomson seminar, October 23, 2018
- Co-author, “International Comparative Legal Guide to Construction & Engineering Law 2018” Canada chapter, International Comparative Legal Guide, July 3, 2018
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Seminar: Limiting Risk Through Contract,” Miller Thomson seminar, April 24, 2018
- Co-presented, “Edmonton Construction Seminar: Limiting Risk Through Contract,” Miller Thomson seminar, April 17, 2018
- Speaker, “2018 Saskatoon Construction Law Conference,” Miller Thomson seminar, April 13, 2018
- Speaker, “2018 Regina Construction Law Conference,” Miller Thomson seminar, April 12, 2018
- Co-author, “New changes to the Ontario Construction Lien Act,” Breaking Ground: MT Construction Law Western Canada, December 21, 2017
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Seminar- Integrated Project Delivery,” Miller Thomson seminar, December 5, 2017
- Co-presented, “Saskatoon Construction Seminar – Contracts & Claims,” Miller Thomson seminar, October 12, 2017
- Co-presented, “Vancouver Construction Seminar – Contracts & Claims,” Miller Thomson seminar, June 1, 2017
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Seminar – Contracts & Claims,” Miller Thomson seminar, March 22, 2017
- Co-presented, “Edmonton Construction Seminar – Contracts & Claims,” Miller Thomson seminar, March 21, 2017
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Prompt Payment Seminar,” Miller Thomson seminar, December 2, 2016
- Co-presented, “Edmonton Construction Prompt Payment Seminar,” Miller Thomson seminar, November 29, 2016
- Co-author, “International Comparative Legal Guide to Construction & Engineering Law 2016” Canada chapter, International Comparative Legal Guide, July 15, 2016
- Co-presented, “Edmonton Construction Contract Security,” Miller Thomson seminar, May 31, 2016
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Contract Security,” Miller Thomson seminar, May 25, 2016
- Co-presented, “Edmonton Construction Seminar – Update,” Miller Thomson seminar, March 23, 2016
- Co-presented, “Calgary Construction Seminar,” Miller Thomson seminar, March 16, 2016
- Co-presented, “Construction Update 2010,” Miller Thomson seminar, September 23, 2010
- Presented, “Executive Breakfast Seminar on Directors Duties, Obligations and Risks in “The Vicinity of Insolvency” and Environmental Liability,” Miller Thomson seminar, October 1, 2009
- Co-chair, “Managing Risk at the Pre-Tender Stage of Your Construction Project,” Canadian Institute, June 24, 2009
- Co-presented, “Executive Breakfast Seminar Transportation,” Miller Thomson seminar, April 21, 2009
- Co-presented, “Executive Breakfast Seminar for Builders and Developers,” Miller Thomson seminar, April 14, 2009
- Co-presented, “Executive Construction Breakfast Seminar,” Miller Thomson seminar, March 26, 2009
- Speaker, “Directors’ & Officers’ Liability,” Federated Press Conference, March 26, 2008
- Co-presented, “Construction Seminar,” Miller Thomson seminar, March 12, 2008
- Co-author, “Consequential Damages,” Miller Thomson Communiqué, January 14, 2004
Community involvement
- Past Member, Board of Directors of the South Side Athletic Club
- Past Member, Board of Directors Legal Aid Society of Alberta
- Vice-Chair, Catholic Social Services
- Vice-Chair, Foundation for Newman Theological College and St. Joseph’s Seminary
Professional memberships
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Law Society of Alberta
- Member, Edmonton Bar Association
- Member, Law Society of Northwest Territories
- Member, Law Society of Saskatchewan
- Member, Law Society of Manitoba
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Founding Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
- Governor, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
- Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Member, Western Canadian Commercial Arbitrators Society
- Member, Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA) Contracts Committee
- Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Construction Law Section for Northern Alberta
- Past Member of the Law Society of Alberta Insurance, Audit, and Finance Committees
Bar admissions & education
- Manitoba Bar, 2017
- Saskatchewan Bar, 2012
- Northwest Territories Bar, 1982
- Alberta Bar, 1974
- LL.B., University of Saskatchewan, 1973
