Construction Law

Construction is a unique industry in which companies must navigate legal and regulatory challenges while also balancing risk with growth and innovation. It requires an experienced team of lawyers, across many fields of law, to successfully handle a range of complex legal issues.

With deep roots and long-standing relationships within the construction industry, McLennan Ross has one of the most respected construction law teams in Western Canada. We have the experience, the technical knowledge, as well as the common sense necessary to help our construction clients tackle challenges efficiently and decisively.

A diverse, full-service team.

There are many complexities to construction that are not apparent on the surface. Our lawyers who have worked in the construction industry give us an inside understanding of the intricacies of this dynamic industry. Our smart and hardworking construction group is a diverse team with skill in virtually every area our clients need to successfully compete in the construction industry, down to the most niche industry.

With a strong reputation in litigation and labour and employment law, our construction team can call upon any lawyer in the firm for assistance in areas, including:

• Risk management
• Professional liability
• Personal injury
• Occupational health and safety
• Insurance
• Environmental 
• Corporate commercial
• Aerospace

In addition, we have the experience and knowledge necessary to effectively assist with construction matters for municipalities in the North, including the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. Our lawyers live and work in the communities they serve and are skilled in assisting clients with meeting the local requirements of multi-jurisdictional transactions while also focusing on unique business goals.

Big or small – our team has a solution.

Our lawyers have both the technical and legal knowledge to ask the right questions and find the best possible solutions. We provide services across the entire life cycle of a project, from the start of a procurement strategy through project planning and development to contract negotiation, preparation, and interpretation. We assist in areas including commercial and residential construction, tendering law, commercial transactions, tax issues, contracting, infrastructure, industrial, engineering, and oil sands matters.

We can handle any situation, including issues with holdback requirements or materials and equipment, construction defects, collections and debt recovery, as well as builders’ liens, including lien registration, enforcement, and removal. Within the common issue of delays, we know the many details involved in a delay claim and the intricacies of gathering evidence for a wide range of projects, including everything from oil sands developments to high-rise office buildings.

Practical solutions to dispute resolution.

Successful resolution of construction law disputes often requires innovative approaches from lawyers with the experience to get to the root of the issue quickly and develop smart solutions to complicated problems.

We value our long-standing relationships in the construction industry and work to make sure disputes impact our clients’ business as little as possible. Our skilled mediators are well-versed in the use of alternative dispute resolution methods, but when litigation is necessary, our bench strength sets us apart from the competition.

With decades of experience, there is little we have not handled in mediation, arbitration, or a courtroom. We provide targeted and strategic advice and strong advocacy before labour boards, tribunals including workplace safety, insurance and human rights, and all levels of court.

A reputation for exceptional service.

We strive to know and understand every client, their business, and all the background details of their construction matter. It’s why our clients have trusted us for decades to guide them with practical advice and straightforward communication.

We represent a broad spectrum of construction owners, suppliers, investors, and consultants across Western Canada and the North. We assist developers, builders, designers, engineers, architects, as well as general contractors, sub-contractors, and tradespeople in all sectors, including oil and gas, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, environmental, agribusiness, clean technology, and life sciences.

Our construction clients are busy, so we emphasize turnaround time and clear communication. We keep our teams focused and streamlined. We put the right people in the right chairs on the right files.

Our reputation for exceptional service is based on our decades of good work. We are highly responsive, pragmatic, and driven by bottom-line considerations. It’s about steering our clients in the right direction for results. We don’t pursue avenues where there is no upside. Instead, we pride ourselves on going above and beyond in every situation to find the best and most cost-efficient solutions.

Contact us today for assistance with any construction issue, no matter the size or complexity. We’re always ready to help.

Our construction experience includes:

• Alternative dispute resolution
• Arbitration and mediation
• Builders’ liens
• Collections and debt recovery
• Commercial transactions
• Contract negotiation and preparation
• Contract review and interpretation
• Contracting
• Delays and other claims
• Environment and regulatory
• Insurance
• Labour & employment
  • Human rights
  • Workers' Compensation Board
• Litigation
• Occupational health & safety
• Project disputes
• Risk management
• Tax