Construction Update 2025: Complex Projects in Challenging Times
June 17, 2025 at 9:00AM PDT
Downtown Vancouver and Live Webinar
Construction Update 2025: Complex Projects in Challenging Times
June 17, 2025
Overview
Join us for this must-attend conference for industry professionals seeking cutting-edge insights into the most pressing issues in modern construction. The landscape of construction projects has changed significantly in recent years. When complex issues arise, knowing how to deal with the new normal of the construction industry is crucial to keep projects moving on time and on budget.
This event will feature experienced professionals with in-depth knowledge of the construction industry, this program will equip you with tools to identify innovations coming to the world of construction law and how best to reduce and address problems arising throughout the construction process. Attendees will come away with essential tools and strategies to take advantage of the opportunities in this exciting market, and a proactive and informed approach to both project planning and dispute resolution that can save your budget and avoid protracted delays, litigation or relationship breakdowns.
Key Areas Addressed:
Mass timber construction and its challenges
Insolvency issues affecting the industry
Supplementary conditions in construction contracts
Construction litigation
Cross-border challenges
The latest on arbitration
Who Should Attend:
Lawyers
Construction and development company owners and c-suite officers
Construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers
Project control managers, prime contract managers and claims consultants
Designers, engineers and architects
Construction insurers and risk managers
Agenda
9:00 - Welcome and Introduction by PBLI
9:05 - Chairs’ Welcome and Introduction
David Mckenzie
Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
David Volk
Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
9:10 - Unique Challenges with Mass Timber Construction
David Volk
Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
Design, coordination, and the shop drawing process
Supply challenges
Moisture management during construction
10:00 - Questions and Discussion
10:10 - Morning Break
10:25 - Insolvency in Construction
David Mckenzie
Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
Review of bankruptcy and insolvency principles and processes
Discussion of current issues in bankruptcy and insolvency that are affecting the construction industry
11:15 - Questions and Discussion
11:25 - Complex Supplementary Conditions in Contracts
Rosalie Clark
DLA Piper
Nicholas Paczkowski
Construction Law Group
Discussion of general increased complexity of supplementary conditions in construction contracts
Review of example provisions
Discussion of judicial consideration of supplementary conditions (i.e. pertaining to delay, notice requirements, or limitations of liability)
12:15 - Questions and Discussion
12:25 - Lunch Break
1:25 - Litigating and Arbitrating Complex Construction Disputes
David Curtis
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Complex disputes
Delay claims
2:15 - Questions and Discussion
2:25 - Afternoon Break
2:40 - Cross-Border Challenges in Construction Projects
Vanessa Werden
Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP
Tariffs
Shipping issues
Communication problems between Canadian and American counterparts
3:30 - Questions and Discussion
3:40 - A View from the Arbitrator’s Desk
Laura Cundari
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Sarah McEachern
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Open discussion of what is happening in the world of arbitration in construction disputes
4:30 - Questions and Discussion
4:40 - Chairs’ Closing Remarks
4:45 - Forum Concludes
Meet the Co-Chairs
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Partner, Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver, BC
David Mckenzie is one of the leading construction lawyers in British Columbia. David has spent his career developing his knowledge of construction law while acting for developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers as legal counsel in all aspects of the construction industry. Both a litigator and solicitor, he advises clients at all stages of a project, from procurement to builders liens. David has represented clients in contract drafting and negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and court proceedings. He is also a frequent chair and lecturer at construction law conferences for both the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia and the Pacific Business and Legal Institute.
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Partner, Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver, BC
David Volk is a highly experienced construction lawyer. He provides advice and representation at all stages of a project, including contract drafting, tendering, negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and in court. He works with all types of clients in the industry, including owners (private and First Nations), general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. Much of David’s construction practice involves acting as litigation counsel in large, complex disputes which require strategic planning and close attention to detail. Aside from construction, David is developing a specialization in insurance matters, acting for clients challenging denials of insurance coverage by insurance companies and advising parties on maximizing recovery under insurance policies. David also has as a sizeable administrative law practice, which includes acting as prosecution counsel for professional regulatory bodies.
Meet the Faculty
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Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver, BC
Laura is an experienced advocate and one of Benchmark Litigation's Top 100 Women in Canadian Litigation. She has extensive experience litigating and arbitrating disputes in the energy, mining, cannabis, hospitality, entertainment, technology and infrastructure sectors. Laura also regularly advises or acts as dispute resolution counsel regarding disputes in the private equity and investment fund sector.
Laura is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) as well as the Construction Lawyers Society of America and has extensive expertise in the arbitration of complex domestic and international disputes. She was appointed in 2021 by the Government of British Columbia to serve a five-year term as a roster member for BC's Bid Protest Mechanism and Dispute Resolution panels, which were established under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Although she primarily acts as arbitration counsel, she occasionally serves as an independent neutral and has been appointed to the rosters of several arbitral institutions.
Laura is a member of ICDR's Canada Advisory Committee and a member of ICC Canada's Arbitrator Nominations Commission. She also sits on the board of CanArbWeek.
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Counsel, DLA Piper, Vancouver, BC
Rosalie has a practice that encompasses all aspects of construction and infrastructure law and represents a broad range of clients, including both public and private owners, general contractors, design professionals and specialized trade contractors and suppliers.
Rosalie has experience in providing practical and strategic advice on issues that arise throughout the life cycle of a project. Rosalie has experience in advising clients on procurement methods and contract models, strategy for negotiating the early resolution of disputes, and representing clients throughout the resolution of claims through mediation, arbitration or litigation.
Rosalie has assisted clients across an array of industries, including residential and commercial development, marine construction, infrastructure and transportation, energy and natural resources, mining, and innovative hydrogen facilities. She has appeared before various arbitrators and the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and numerous administrative tribunals in British Columbia and Ontario.
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Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver, BC
David Curtis is a litigation and dispute resolution Partner in the Vancouver office. His practice is focused exclusively on the construction industry. David is a Fellow with the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and is recognized as a leading construction lawyer by various ranking agencies.
David has extensive experience acting for construction owners, design-builders, general contractors, subcontractors, insurers and designers. He has advised clients on numerous types of projects in various industries including high rise residential, public infrastructure, energy and mining, hospitals, dams, transmission lines, water treatment facilities and pipelines. He provides advice on all ends of the construction spectrum, from helping clients with tendering disputes, to resolving disputes during construction, to post-construction litigation and arbitration. He has experience litigating cases in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, and extensive mediation and arbitration experience.
David has lectured and written extensively on various topics related to construction law. He is currently an adjunct professor with the Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, and co-teaches construction law every fall.
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Partner, Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver, BC
Vanessa S. Werden is an experienced construction lawyer that advises construction and infrastructure project participants during all phases of project procurement, contracting, and construction. Vanessa has experience reviewing and negotiating all forms of standard contracts, including CCDC contracts and supplementary conditions specific to various methods of project delivery. She has also guided clients through referee processes and interim dispute resolution. Vanessa regularly acts as counsel at mediations and arbitrations. Vanessa’s experience includes the arbitration of delay, extra work and deficiency claims following the construction of hydroelectric power facilities, telecommunications infrastructure, and stadium construction litigation. Proficient at managing lengthy and complex documentation, she incorporates the most current technology to maximize efficiency in the handling of construction disputes, which are inherently document intensive.
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Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver, BC
Sarah has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration disputes. She focuses her practice on helping clients resolve complex disputes in the commercial, construction, mining, health and energy sectors. She has expertise in both domestic and international disputes and has acted or advised on proceedings under the rules of the ICC, ICDR, AAA, SCC, HKIAC and BCICAC (now VanIAC).
Sarah is BLG’s regional manager of commercial and construction disputes. Sarah has experience negotiating commercial agreements with health authorities, as well as resolving related disputes through mediation and arbitration. She has acted for online pharmacies and pharmaceutical development companies dealing with financing and licensing disputes. Sarah, an experienced arbitrator, was selected as one of 12 arbitrators to sit on the inaugural roster of Arbitration Place's NextGen Arbitrators. In 2021 the Government of British Columbia appointed Sarah to serve a five-year term as a roster member for BC's Bid Protest Mechanism and Dispute Resolution panels, established under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
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Lawyer, Construction Law Group, Vancouver, BC
Nick is an architect as well as a lawyer. He has extensive experience with virtually all aspects of major project construction at an executive level. He was, for example, the Manager of Contract Administration for Vancouver’s first ‘Skytrain’ project, the Director of Contracts for the highly successful Expo ’86, a Vice President of BC, Enterprise Corporation and for many years has been involved in the development and construction of the landmark Concord Pacific Place waterfront redevelopment project in Vancouver. Formerly a partner with the international law firm of Stikeman Elliott LLP, Nick now practices with the Construction Law Group as a senior advisor to several clients on a full range of contentious and non-contentious construction related matters.
Registration Form
Program:
Construction Update 2025: Complex Projects in Challenging Times
Date:
June 17, 2025
Location:
UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street - Classroom level), Vancouver, BC
Registration:
The registration fee is $890.00 plus GST of $44.50 totalling $934.50 for webinar and in-person attendance. Registration fee covers your attendance at the program and electronic materials. In-person attendance includes a catered lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Early Bird Discount:
Register by May 20, 2025 and receive a $100 discount on the registration fee ($790.00 plus GST). Discounts cannot be combined.
Group Discount:
Register four persons from the same organization at the same time and you are entitled to a complimentary fifth registration. Discounts cannot be combined.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form and email it to registrations@pbli.com:
Payment:
You may pay by VISA, Mastercard or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to the Pacific Business & Law Institute and mailed to Unit 2-2246 Spruce Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 2P3. Please do not send cheques via courier with signature required.
When and Where:
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9:00 a.m. (PDT). UBC Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street in Vancouver, BC, and our event will take place on the classroom level. Please visit https://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/find-us/ for directions.
Materials:
The faculty will prepare papers and/or other materials explaining many of the points raised during this program. Materials will be distributed electronically. Please contact us at registrations@pbli.com if you are unable to attend the program and wish to purchase a set of materials.
Cancellations/Transfers:
Refunds will be given for cancellations (less a $60.00 administration fee) if notice is received in writing five full business days prior to the program (June 10, 2025). After that time we are unable to refund registration fees. Substitutions will be permitted. We reserve the right to cancel, change or revise the date, faculty, content, availability of webinar or venue and transfer in-person registration to webinar registration for this event.
To register by phone:
Telephone us: 604-730-2500
Your Privacy:
We will keep all information that you provide to us in strict confidence, other than to prepare a delegate list containing your name, title, firm and city for our faculty and the program delegates. We do not share our mailing lists with any non-affiliated organization.
Course Accreditation:
Attendance at this course can be listed for up to 6 hours of continuing professional development credits with the Law Society of BC. For practitioners in other jurisdictions, please check your governing body’s CPD requirements.
If you would like to register a group, please fill out this form (DOWNLOAD FORM) and email it to registrations@pbli.com (*This form is for registrations of 5 or more and cannot be combined with any other promotions/discount codes.)
For individual registration, please continue with form below.