Jeff Lee, K.C.

Partner

Saskatoon

Image for Jeff Lee, K.C.

Education & Qualifications

  • Alberta Bar (2002)
  • Saskatchewan Bar (1988)
  • LLB (Osgoode Hall, 1987)
  • BA with honours (Saskatchewan, 1983)

Services and Industries

Jeff represents companies in financial distress, lenders and court officers in restructuring and insolvency proceedings across Western Canada.

  • Counsel to Seven Corporations Holding a Portfolio of Commercial & Residential Real Estate in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove and Wetaskiwin, Alberta, in CCAA Restructuring (2023-2024)
  • Counsel to Receiver of six Alberta corporations and one British Columbia corporation carrying on business of ownership and rental of real estate , real estate development, digital media and sale and repair of industrial tanks and trailers (2023-2024)
  • Counsel to Proposal Trustee in successful BIA Division I Proposal to Creditors by Saskatchewan specialty insurance broker (2022)
  • Counsel to Business Corporations Act court-appointed Inspector of Epic Alliance Real Estate Inc. (2022)
  • Counsel to shareholder and creditor in successful application for CCAA proceedings by privately held lamb producer and processor carrying on business at six facilities in Alberta and Manitoba (2022)
  • Counsel to interim receiver of Saskatchewan bison and cattle ranch (2021)
  • Counsel to court-appointed liquidator of Manitoba commercial potato farm (2017-2023)
  • Counsel to court-appointed monitor of Saskatchewan and Manitoba agricultural equipment manufacturer in CCAA proceedings (2020-2022)
  • Counsel to receiver of hotel complex in Northern Alberta (2019)
  • Pro bono counsel to Humboldt Broncos Memorial Fund Inc. in regard to Court-supervised distribution of $10 million in donations raised through GoFundMe (2018)
  • Counsel to Saskatchewan modular home manufacturer in Division I BIA restructuring (2014-2015)
  • Counsel to Saskatchewan excavation company in Division I BIA restructuring (2015)
  • Counsel to Saskatchewan oilfield tanker manufacturer in CCAA restructuring (2015)
  • Counsel to shareholder in dispute between shareholders of Alberta-based national franchisor (2010-2016)
  • Counsel to Alberta technology company in successful restructuring commenced under Division I of BIA and converted into CCAA proceeding (2012-2013)
  • Counsel to secured creditor in Saskatchewan receivership of real estate developer (2014)
  • Counsel to proposal trustee in Division I BIA restructuring of Manitoba food and beverage distributor (2014)
  • Counsel to secured creditors in Alberta receiverships of construction and manufacturing companies (2012)
  • Counsel to an Alberta technology company in CCAA restructuring (2012)
  • Counsel to secured creditor in New Brunswick CCAA proceedings by international mineral drilling companies operating in Canada, Mexico, Mongolia and Russia (2012-2013)
  • Counsel to secured creditor in CCAA restructuring of one of Canada’s three largest commercial hog production companies, a Manitoba company with 41 facilities and an aggregate debt of $111 million (2012)
  • Counsel to landlord of publicly-traded energy company in CCAA proceedings in Alberta (2009)
  • Counsel to defendants in successful defence of five-month trial of action regarding the failure of a Saskatchewan biotechnology company (2007-2008)
  • Counsel to group of real estate companies in CCAA restructuring in Saskatchewan (2006)
  • Counsel to aviation company in CCAA proceedings in Manitoba (2005)
  • Counsel to secured lender in obtaining court appointment of receiver of construction company in Yukon Territory (2009)
  • Counsel to Big Sky Farms in successful CCAA restructuring of approximately $100 million in secured and unsecured debt in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Iowa (2010)

Jeff’s insolvency experience includes assignments in the manufacturing, energy, aviation, real estate, agribusiness, hospitality, transportation, telecommunications, fish processing, construction, forest products, mining and pulp and paper industries.

In his commercial litigation practice, Jeff represents parties involved in shareholder disputes, banking litigation, landlord-tenant matters and builders’ lien litigation.

He has appeared before Superior Courts in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, Appellate Courts in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and before the Federal Court, Tax Court and Supreme Court of Canada.

  • Member, Insolvency Institute of Canada
  • Editorial Board Member, Rebuilding Success, The Journal of the Canadian Institute of Insolvency Practitioners (2011-present)
  • Member, Law Student Writing Awards Committee, Insolvency Institute of Canada
  • Bencher, Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, 2021-present)
  • Chairperson, Conduct Investigation Committee, Law Society of Saskatchewan
  • Director, Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Inc. (Saskatchewan, 1999-2006)
  • Former President, Community Radio Society of Saskatoon, Inc.
  • Lecturer and Deliverer, “Restructuring under the BIA and the CCAA,” Debtor-Creditor Update and Refresher Session, Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, November 2022)
  • Co-presenter, “Priming CRA? The Canada North Saga Continues & When the BIA is Not Paramount: Accommodating Lemare Lake Logging” Insolvency Institute of Canada Conference (Naples, Florida, October 2019)
  • Co-presenter with Graham Purse and Paul Olfert, “Ten Practical Steps to Identify & Manage Risk,” Chartered Professional Accountants Saskatchewan Seminar (Regina, November 2018)
  • “The Glorious Uncertainty of The Law: Taking and Enforcing Security in Saskatchewan,” 2017 Annual Review of Insolvency Law 27
  • “Bankruptcy and Insolvency: Practical Advice on Managing Issues Arising From Business Failure,” Continuing Professional Development Webinar, Law Society of Saskatchewan (May 2015)
  • “Municipal Insolvency: The Canadian Perspective,” The Journal of the Insolvency Institute of Canada (2014)
  • “Rooted in Equity: The Jurisdiction of Canadian Courts to Allocate Restructuring and Realization Costs in Insolvency Proceedings,” The Journal of the Insolvency Institute of Canada (2012)
  • “Court Ordered Charges, Including Critical Suppliers,” Annual Conference, Insolvency Institute of Canada (2012)
  • “Asset Realization,” Insolvency & Restructuring Forum, CAIRP (2011)
  • “Agricultural Insolvency: Challenges and Opportunities Unique to Restructuring Canadian Agricultural Enterprises,” Isaac Pitblado Lectures, Law Society of Manitoba, Manitoba Bar Association and University of Manitoba (2011)
  • “Manufacturer Insolvency: Strategies For Retail Dealers to Manage The Challenges of Manufacturer Insolvency,” Western Canadian Advanced Insolvency Law & Practice Conference, Canadian Institute (Vancouver, 2009)
  • “Selected Issues in Agricultural Insolvency,” Advanced Insolvency Law & Practice Conference, Canadian Institute (Calgary, 2006)
  • “Preserving Value Through BIA Division I Proposals: Issues and Options,” Insolvency and Restructuring Forum, Canadian Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Professionals (Calgary, 2006)
  • “Preserving the Value of a Business in Distress Through Use of the CCAA,” Raising Capital & Preserving The Business Seminar, Saskatchewan Legal Education Society Inc. (2006)
  • “Agricultural Insolvencies,” Commercial Insolvency & Restructuring Forum, Canadian Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Professionals (Toronto, 2005)
  • “Restructuring Challenges in Agriculture: The Legal Perspective,” Turnaround Management Association, Northwest Chapter (Calgary, 2004)
  • Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Litigation: General Commercial, Chambers Canada (2023-present)
  • Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Jim Hill Festival Builders Award in recognition of persons who have made major contributions to the success of the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival (2023)
  • Lawyer of the Year, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law, Best Lawyers in Canada (Saskatoon, 2021, 2024)
  • Recognized as a Leading Canadian Lawyer, Corporate/Commercial Law, Chambers Canada (2021-2022)
  • Recognized as One of Canada’s Leading Lawyers, Litigation, Lexpert/ROB Special Edition (2019-present)
  • Named One of Canada’s Litigation Stars, Insolvency, Benchmark Canada (2013-present)
  • Named One of Canada’s Litigation Stars, General Commercial, Benchmark Canada (2016-present)
  • Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring, Best Lawyers in Canada (2006-present)
  • Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Best Lawyers in Canada (2021-present)
  • Named a Leading Practitioner, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Insolvency (Insolvency Litigation), Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2007-present)
  • Named One of Canada’s Local Litigation Stars, Benchmark Canada
  • BV Peer Review Rated, Lexis-Nexis/Martindale-Hubbell