He previously led the litigation and dispute resolution group in Calgary
Dentons has appointed former litigation and dispute resolution group leader John Cusano as its Calgary office managing partner.
Cusano took the helm on Wednesday October 1. He succeeded George Tai.
Cusano joined Dentons in February 2019 and has practised for over 20 years. He has advised financial services clients, represented financial institutions, and defended claims involving fraud, breach of contract, and negligence.
He has also tackled complex litigation and risk-related matters as well as retail and commercial issues. He has worked on matters involving natural gas liquids, facility applications, processing service agreements, pipeline agreements, and cost of service.
Cusano has appeared before provincial and federal regulators on issues related to market rules applications, transmission system expansions, cost of capital, and tariffs, including the Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission, Canada Energy Regulator, and the Surface Rights Board. He has also appeared before all level of Alberta court and is a seasoned mediator and commercial arbitrator.
He was called to the Alberta Bar in 2001 and received his bachelor of law from University of Alberta. He also holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Calgary.
Cusano sits on Dentons’ national management committee.
“John’s deep experience and enthusiasm make him exceptionally well-suited for this important leadership role. I'm confident that John will build on our strong foundation and existing strategy to enhance the client experience, deepen relationships and ensure our office continues to meet and exceed client needs as part of our broader vision,” said Tim Haney, Dentons Canada’s CEO, in a statement.
In a LinkedIn post, Haney added that the transition built on the office’s leadership. He highlighted Cusano’s “exceptional combination of dedication, innovative thinking and deep experience.”
Cusano will maintain his current practice while leading the Calgary office. Cusano’s predecessor Tai remains with the firm as a partner focusing on M&A and securities and corporate finance matters, especially those in the energy and technology sectors.
