Bill D Preston, Q.C.
Practice Areas
Over four decades, Bill has built a solid reputation as a skilled litigator and has amassed countless successful files in corporate-commercial law, with particular expertise in transportation law, construction law, matters of professional design, and business dispute resolution. In 2007 Bill was recognized by the National Post as one of the top construction law lawyers in Canada.
- Transportation
- Professional Discipline and Liability
- Insurance
- Construction
- Arbitration
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Education
Bill received a Bachelor of Arts in 1962 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1965, both from the University of Saskatchewan. He was admitted to the Bar in Saskatchewan in 1966. He has also studied in the University of Illinois LL.M. Advocacy Program.
Professional Involvement
Bill has made significant contributions to the legal profession during his career. An active member of the Saskatoon Bar Association, the Law Society of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Bar Association, Bill was the founding Saskatchewan chairman of the CBA’s Construction Law group. He was also a founding member of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association. Bill serves as legal director of the Saskatoon branch of Construction Specifications Canada and is a member of the Saskatoon Construction Association. He has served as secretary/treasurer of the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Saskatchewan and as secretary of the Saskatoon Medical-Legal Society.
In recognition of his contribution to the transportation industry in this province as an advocate, adviser and lobbyist, Bill was inducted into the Saskatchewan Transportation Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bill has also taught Law as a lecturer for both the College of Business Administration, University of Regina and the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan. Bill also lectures on engineers’ law and ethics for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and for the Saskatoon Chapter of the Construction Specifications Canada. Bill served as a councillor for the R.M. of Corman Park.
Community Involvement
Bill has volunteered for many leadership roles at the local, provincial and national levels of different organizations. He served as National Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Chair of the Transplant Games Association, as Provincial Director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch, was a member of the Major Gifts Committee for St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation and was the local Chair of the Just-Say-No campaign. He is a member of the Saskatoon Club, and is a past President of the Optimist Club.
Key Cases
Northway Outfitters v. Saskatchewan (2006) develops the boundary between the tort of abuse of public office, and the remedies of Judicial Review.
De Beers vs. Shore Gold (2006) develops the new law regarding duty of loyalty as it applies between an insurance defence lawyer and an insured party.
Balzer’s Canada v. Atco (2004) defines the meaning of “owner” as used in the Builders’ Lien Act.
D & K Horizontal Drilling (1998) resolves how the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act impacts distribution of monies among builders’ liens claimants.
Grasswood Mechanical v. P.R., Hotels (2001) determines the process required to trigger when the statutory holdback period of the Builders’ Lien Act begins and ends.
International Capital Corp. v. Schafer (1996) outlines when a former corporate officer can initiate a derivative action.
Sunnyside Nursing Home v. Builder’s Contract Management (1985) scopes out the duty of builders to warn owners of design errors by the owner’s consultants.
Contact Information
Direct: (306) 933-1388
Main: (306) 652-7575
Email: Bill D Preston
