Welcome to McMillan LLP – Christian Petersen

Welcome to McMillan LLP – Christian Petersen

We are extremely pleased to announce that Christian Petersen has joined the firm’s Litigation Group as partner in the Vancouver office, effective October 1, 2018.

Christian was formerly a partner at another major firm in Vancouver where his litigation and advisory practice spanned most aspects of commercial and corporate law. Christian has regularly acted as lead counsel in complex matters, providing strategic advice and assisting with the resolution of a diverse range of commercial disputes, corporate disputes at both the board and shareholder levels, and disputes involving partnerships and joint ventures. Christian has acted as lead counsel in trial and appellate courts, statutory tribunals, arbitrations and mediations. He has also acted in a general advisory capacity to numerous companies, including a large group of companies in the hospitality sector, advising directors and senior management on matters related to risk management, business organizations, business development and strategic planning.

Christian has significant experience in commercial real estate matters that involve property acquisition, use and development and commercial leasing. His real estate expertise led to significant roles advising in two prominent BC insolvencies — the Olympic Village development and the Bear Mountain Resort. He was the primary litigation advisor to his previous firm’s real estate group and a central contributor to practice growth.

Most recently, Christian was based in Europe, serving as the global director of legal compliance for a large, multi-national FTSE 100 consumer goods company. In doing so, he gained considerable experience in legal and compliance matters in virtually every country in the world and in managing commercial and legal risks across borders, including in the areas of anti-trust/competition, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and trade sanctions.

“We are very pleased that Christian is joining the firm. His litigation law expertise strengthens our Vancouver Advocacy Group, and his diverse international experience, coupled with his real estate industry focus, will assist both our local and international clients,” says Stephen Wortley, Executive Partner, Co-Chair, China Practice Group at McMillan LLP. “Our National Advocacy Group is a leading practice within the firm and is highly respected nationally and internationally.  We see the addition of Christian as only the starting point as we build out our litigation practice in Vancouver.”

“We are delighted to have a lawyer of Christian’s skill, reputation and calibre join us in the Vancouver Advocacy Group,” said Joan Young, McMillan’s Vancouver partner, Co-Chair, Litigation. “He is a seasoned litigator with a strong track record of success.  Christian has a keen interest in mentoring and fostering younger lawyers and we look forward to his contribution to the growth and development of our team.”

Christian is recognized in Best Lawyers Canada, as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation, a US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyer to Watch in Lexpert and a Canada Leading Lawyer Under 40 in Lexpert.

Christian can be reached at christian.petersen@mcmillan.ca.