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Dionysios Rossi

Partner

Vancouver
DRossi@blg.com
604.640.4110

Expertise

Mary-Ellen Collins

Practice Assistant - Team Leader

Vancouver
mcollins@blg.com
604.622.5945
604.640.4242

Dionysios is the Regional Group Manager for Specialized Disputes in the Vancouver office of BLG, and practices primarily in the areas of transportation & shipping law, environmental law, and energy law. He is widely recognized as a leading advocate in these fields.

Dionysios has acted as counsel before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, all levels of court in British Columbia and before a number of administrative tribunals.

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia, he served as a judicial law clerk to several justices of the British Columbia Supreme Court.

Dionysios frequently speaks and publishes on a wide variety of legal subjects. He has been interviewed by national media outlets such as Global News, and his work has appeared in general interest publications (including the Vancouver Sun and Business in Vancouver), trade publications, and legal publications (including the Irwin Law Canadian Maritime Law reference work, The Transportation Lawyer, The Lawyers Weekly, The Verdict, and various Continuing Legal Education Society of BC works).

Dionysios provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Testimonials

Best Lawyers

“2025 Lawyer of the Year” – Shipping and Maritime Law, Vancouver

Martindale-Hubbell® reviews

"An outstanding attorney not only in terms of his legal knowledge but also his ability to communicate effectively and instill confidence with his clients."

Martindale-Hubbell® reviews

"Combines a deep knowledge of maritime law with excellent litigation instincts and judgment. He also has significant experience in and knowledge of the local courts and judges. Top-notch attorney all around."

Martindale-Hubbell® reviews

"A rising star in the shipping law world. He is bright, hard-working and gets good results. He is a pleasure to work with and provides good value."

Chambers Canada reviews

"Dino is incredibly knowledgeable and efficient, and tailors his advice to the issue expertly."

Chambers Canada reviews

"Dino provides excellent, practical and client focused advice. He is committed to learning his clients’ business and industry."

Experience

  • Overview

    • Counsel to shipping and transportation clients in dispute-related matters (vessel arrest and sale, cargo arrest, casualty incidents, spill response, regulatory investigations, insolvency proceedings, blockade injunctions and judicial reviews); transactional matters (the negotiation of charterparty agreements, contracts of affreightment, terminal services agreements, tug service agreements, confidential railway contracts, and trucking contracts); and regulatory matters (permits, licenses, authorizations).
    • Counsel to major project proponents (including TransLink, Woodfibre LNG, Ridley Terminals, B.C. Hydro, Petronas, and Apache Corporation) on matters involving environmental assessments, regulatory approvals, and the allocation of environmental risks and liabilities in infrastructure projects.
    • Counsel on a wide range of environmental law matters, including: the environmental assessment process (federal and provincial), civil cost-recovery proceedings, the contractual allocation of environmental risks and liabilities, pollution-related matters (air, water and soil), spills, and regulatory compliance and enforcement (including criminal prosecutions).
    • Counsel to energy industry clients in proceedings before the National Energy Board (now the Canada Energy Regulator), the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission, the British Columbia Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal, the British Columbia Utilities Commission, and the British Columbia Surface Rights Board.

  • Recent Matters

    • Counsel to Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. in over 100 ongoing Canadian Federal Court civil actions and all regulatory investigations arising out of the M/V Zim Kingston container loss and vessel fire casualty.
    • Counsel to Richardson Terminals in British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board proceedings challenging the constitutionality of certain provincial environmental legislation and its application to a federally regulated grain elevator and marine terminal in the Port of Vancouver.
    • Counsel to Kirby Corporation in ongoing Canadian Federal Court and British Columbia Supreme Court civil proceedings and British Columbia Provincial Court regulatory proceedings arising from the grounding of the M/T Nathan E. Stewart and subsequent bunker fuel spill.
    • Counsel to Bel Excavating and Shoring Limited Partnership in British Columbia Provincial Court regulatory proceedings arising from the $200 million expansion of Fairview Terminals.
    • Counsel to Parkland Fuels in the negotiation of a tug services agreement for its Burnaby Refinery, and other vessel charterparty issues.
    • Counsel to Filld Inc. on all aspects of the commencement and operation of its mobile fuel delivery service in Canada.
    • Counsel to Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd. in all Canadian Federal Court and British Columbia Supreme Court proceedings arising out of its US$10.5 billion foreign insolvency.
    • Counsel to the City of Vancouver in Federal Court proceedings arising out of the M/V Marathassa oil spill in Burrard Inlet.
    • Counsel to the two largest container terminals in Port Metro Vancouver in Federal Court judicial review proceedings arising from the 2014 Joint Action Plan imposed to end a commercial trucking strike.
    • Counsel to a member of the Jordanian royal family in Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and British Columbia Supreme Court proceedings to enforce a US$28.8-million foreign judgment in a matter involving the arrest of a 144-foot tri-deck luxury yacht and subsequent insolvency of a local shipyard.
    • Counsel to a shipowner in Federal Court proceedings seeking combined damages of C$33 million arising out of a collapsed stow of containerized uranium cargo during a voyage from Vancouver, Canada to Zhangjiang, China.
    • Counsel to a shipowner in successful Federal Court trial and appeal proceedings holding that the Hague Visby Rules do not compulsorily apply to sea waybills under Canadian law, and enforcing a C$50,000 contractual limitation of liability, in a C$1.5-million action for damage to cargo, following a derailment.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Director, National Environmental, Energy, and Resources Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
  • Director, National Maritime Law Section, Canadian Bar Association
  • Director and Chair, Environment Committee, Canadian Maritime Law Association
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Law Society of British Columbia
  • Member, Vancouver Bar Association
  • Past chair and director, Maritime Law subsection, Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch)
  • Past director, Environmental Law subsection, Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch)
  • Past director, Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association
  • Past vice-president (communications) and former director, Environmental Managers Association
  • Past director, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association

Community Involvement

  • Supervising Lawyer, Pro-Bono Students of Canada & UBC Law Homeless ID Clinic
  • Volunteer, UBC Law School Moot Court judge
  • Volunteer, UBC Law School mentor program

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada as the 2025 'Lawyer of the Year' for Maritime Law.
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2018) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Environmental Law, Maritime Law, Railroad Law and Transportation Law).
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2018) of Chambers Canada — Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business  (Environment and Transportation: Shipping).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy and Mining.
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2018) of Benchmark Litigation — The definitive guide to litigation firms and attorneys in Canada as a “Litigation Star" (Energy, Environmental and Shipping).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2019) of The Legal 500 Canada as a Leading Lawyer (Transport: Shipping).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of Chambers Global – The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Environment).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2016) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Shipping and Maritime Law; Environmental Law, and Energy).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2023) of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Transport Shipping).
  • Recognized as a 2023 (and since 2022) Thomson Reuters (client nominated) “Stand-out Lawyer”
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as the 2022 'Lawyer of the Year' (Maritime Law — Vancouver).
  • Recognized in the 2022 edition of Doyle's Guide: Leading Transport Lawyers – Canada.
  • Recognized in the 2023 and 2021 editions of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy
  • Awarded the highest Martindale-Hubbell® designation of AV® Preeminent™ (4.9 out of 5 in client and peer reviews).

Bar Admission & Education

  • British Columbia, 2007
  • LLB, University of British Columbia, 2005
  • MA (History), Simon Fraser University, 2004
  • BA (History), Simon Fraser University, 2001