A partner in Gowling WLG’s Waterloo Region office and former leader of both the firm's national Product Liability Group and Advocacy department. Jacqueline (Jay) Armstrong Gates has 30 years of commercial litigation experience. She helps manufacturers, retailers, insurance companies, self-insured entities, not-for-profits and other public and private corporations and partnerships (in Canada, the US and Europe) navigate a wide range of disputes, including: product liability; commercial litigation; breach of contracts; negligence actions; construction liens; commercial leasing disputes; insurance-related disputes, including with respect to third-party property damage and construction and transportation issues. She has appeared before all levels of Ontario courts including the Court of Appeal. The awards and recognitions Jay has received include the 2019 Coulter A. Osborne Award, presented by the Waterloo Law Association, a Lexpert "Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40" (2010) and one of Waterloo Region Record’s “Top 40 under 40” (2010). She has been regularly recognized in Chambers Canada, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and The Best Lawyers in Canada since 2015. Jay received the Best Lawyers 2023 Insurance "Lawyer of the Year" award in the Waterloo Region.
