Canadian Bar Association feels backlash over Chevron intervention
Lawyers from across Canada are raising concerns – and in some cases resigning their memberships – over the Canadian Bar Association’s intervention on behalf of Chevron Corp. in a high-profile case involving Ecuadorean aboriginal people. Despite objections from several of its member groups, the CBA board confirmed…its decision to have Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP submit a brief to the Supreme Court of Canada over issues of corporate identity and the enforcement of foreign orders on Canadian companies. Critics raised a number of objections, including the involvement of Blakes, which does corporate work for Chevron in Calgary. The CBA’s original decision to intervene came after it referred the matter to its legislative and law reform committee, which recommended against proceeding.