Canada: Construction
Our research identifies 30 experts who are recognised both nationally and internationally for their work on behalf of owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in the construction industry.
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is the leading firm in this field with five of its lawyers selected for inclusion across four provinces. Bruce Reynolds in Toronto is “one of the finest construction lawyers in Canada” in the eyes of our sources. Renowned as co-chair of the international committee of the American College of Construction Lawyers, he received high levels of recommendation from clients and peers across Canada and worldwide. Alongside him, Christopher O’Connor QC in the Vancouver office is national leader of the firm’s litigation department and a “pre-eminent disputes specialist” who was picked out for his mediation, arbitration and courtroom skills. Daniel Ayotte in Montreal was recommended for his contract expertise as well as his disputes practice, and is well known as former president of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers. Alongside him, Simon Grégoire is very well regarded for his construction litigation and arbitration expertise. In Calgary, Jeffrey Vallis QC is “a real expert”. Leader of the firm’s national litigation department, he has experience before the various branches of the Alberta courts, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is home to two of the most highly respected construction experts in Canada. Robert Beaumont is providing on-going procurement, construction and design contract negotiation advice to the city of Toronto in relation to the revitalisation of Union Station, and is much sought after – “his clients love him”. Harvey Kirsh is “tremendously well versed in construction law” with nearly 40 years of experience as a litigator, arbitrator and mediator in the resolution of complex construction claims. A fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, he is also the first president, founding fellow and governor of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.
Helmut Johannsen of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is “one of the pre-eminent construction lawyers in Vancouver”. National leader of the firm’s construction, procurement & infrastructure group, he is a registered engineer and a past president of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers. Marina Pratchett QC is listed for the first time in this edition in recognition of her “very fine practice” on behalf of public and private owners, developers, contractors and construction managers, and she is also commended for her work as arbitrator and mediator.
Mick Ryan QC at Stewart McKelvey in Halifax is another former president of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers to earn a place in this chapter, and he was universally recommended by clients and peers alike. Alongside him, the “eminent” Arthur Barry QC is viewed as “one of the deans of the Nova Scotia bar”.
Miller Thomson LLP sees two partners selected for inclusion in Alberta. William Kenny QC is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and “hugely impressive in the courtroom”, while Scott Hammel appears for the first time on the back of his “first class” litigation, mediation and arbitration practice.
Robert Hunter at Bull Housser & Tupper LLP is “the go to guy” for design professionals in relation to liability claims and contractual disputes, and his counsel is “much in demand”.
The “excellent” David Kauffman is the leader of the construction law group at De Grandpré Chait LLP and has pleaded before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the courts of Quebec.
Duncan Glaholt at Glaholt LLP is “superb”, and “widely respected” for the breadth of his practice that encompasses arbitration, mediation and conciliation of construction disputes.
George MacDonald QC at McInnes Cooper in Halifax is founding fellow and past president of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, as well as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is a professional engineer as well as mediator and arbitrator of construction disputes.
At Shapiro Hankinson & Knutson in Vancouver, Bryan Shapiro QC is feted for his contract negotiation skills, as well as his disputes practice; he sits as arbitrator and mediator in complex construction disputes.
Stanley Naftolin QC of Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP in Toronto is “one of the most recognised figures in the national construction bar”, and is another past president of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers to earn inclusion in our list.
André Simard of Gilbert Simard Tremblay in Montreal is “hugely respected”, and has experience of major construction law trials, before courts of all levels in Quebec and nationally, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Howard Wise at Goodmans LLP in Toronto is “extremely well respected” for his disputes practice and acting on behalf of a range of clients including owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and lenders.
Bob Jenkins QC at Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP in Vancouver is described as “the first port of call” for contractors and subcontractors in construction disputes, and is highly rated in litigation, arbitration and mediation.
Jean van der Lee QC of Field LLP is “one of the premier construction experts in Alberta”, and has represented engineering and construction companies in multi-party litigation as well as arbitrations under AAA rules.
Olivier Kott of Norton Rose OR LLP in Montreal is “spectacularly good”, and successfully pleaded two landmark cases before the Supreme Court of Canada. He also acts as arbitrator and is an accredited mediator.
Donald Goodfellow QC at his own firm is “one of the big names in Canadian construction law”, and garnered recommendations from around the country. He is a founding fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and a chartered arbitrator.
Donald Chernichen QC at Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP is an “outstanding litigator”, who was praised for his construction work as well as his insurance and products liability expertise.
Andrew McLauchlin at McLauchlin & Associates in Toronto is “extremely well versed in all facets of construction law” and gained high levels of recommendation.
John Singleton QC of Singleton Urquhart in Vancouver is “one of the best around”, and recognised for his work on behalf of owners, architects, engineers, contractors, regulatory agencies and insurers. He was also repeatedly commended for his mediation and arbitration practice.
Donald Rasmussen of Rasmussen Starr Ruddy LLP in Ottawa is “one of the deans of the bar”, having acted as counsel to the Canadian Construction Association as well as being an original member of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Betty Johnstone of Aikins MacAulay & Thorvaldson is the first nominee from Manitoba to be selected for inclusion in this chapter, and is very well regarded for her litigation practice in relation to builders’ lien and trust matters, professional designer liability and post-construction claims. She is also well known for her mediation and arbitration work.