Tips for Mitigating Disputes and
Disruptions through Contracts
Robyn Blumberg, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Stephanie Garraway, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Over the past three years, the construction industry has been rocked by numerous unforeseen market forces, resulting a unique confluence of challenges, from supply chain disruptions to labor shortages. Many owners and contractors were left out-of-pocket, as these matters were not appropriately addressed in their contracts, if at all. The presenters will identify five issues they anticipate will continue to affect construction projects during 2023 and beyond, and discuss how these issues can be managed in construction contracts. These include: supply chain disruptions, commodity price fluctuations, labor shortages, rising borrowing costs, and increased use of technology and cybersecurity. They will workshop with attendees to identify the impact(s) to any given project, and discuss potential strategies to mitigate against the impacts of these disruptions on the progress of a project. This workshop is designed for everyone from owners, to owners reps, contractors and subcontractors, project managers, and construction lawyers.
About Robyn
Robyn Blumberg is a Senior Associate in the Construction & Infrastructure Groups at Cassels. Blumberg assists construction industry clients navigating the civil litigation and dispute resolution process. She advises owners, contractors, and subcontractors on commercial, institutional and residential construction issues, including bidding and tendering, deficiencies, delay, termination, construction liens, breach of contract, and breach of trust. She has regularly appeared on construction lien and other matters before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
About Stephanie
Stephanie Garraway is a Senior Associate in the Construction & Infrastructure Groups at Cassels. Garraway works daily with clients to advise on all aspects and stages of Canadian and International infrastructure development and construction projects, including pre-design, project structure, procurement, and project delivery models, identifying the best contractual model to suit their project. She has experience with an endless number of standard and bespoke forms of contract, ranging from AIA, CCDC, and FIDIC documents, through to FEED and EPC(M), and continues to work collaboratively on either side of the negotiating table to get projects “shovel-ready.”