FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
“Washington hosts the 18th Annual CCCL Conference”
Washington, DC – [June 10, 2015] – The Canadian College of Construction Lawyers held their
Eighteenth Annual Conference at The Willard InterContinental, Washington, DC, from May 28 to
31, 2015. Fellows and special guest speakers gathered under the theme of “CAPITAL Projects:
From Policy to Practice,” focusing on recent trends and developments in the dynamic world of
Canadian construction law. The Program Coordinator and Assistant Program Coordinator for
this year’s conference were, respectively, Matthew Alter (Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP) and
Ian Houston (Borden Ladner Gervais LLP).
Major themes of this year’s Conference included Good Faith in Construction Contracts;
Construction Scheduling Trends; and The Evolution of the P3 Delivery Method. A unique military
perspective was provided by luncheon speaker Major General John W. Peabody of the United
States Army Corps of Engineers.
The second day of the Conference focused on Hot Topics in Construction Law, and included
presentations on the use of technology in construction trials and arbitration, provincial lien
statutes, insurance coverage issues, and new and evolving surety bond forms. Doug Stollery
(Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP, Edmonton) provided an interesting account of his work
as co-chair of national fundraising campaign contributions with CARE Canada, one of the
world’s largest international humanitarian and development organizations.
The 2015 Conference also included a robust social itinerary allowing ample opportunities for
networking and comradery. On their first evening in Washington Fellows and their guests
enjoyed a welcome reception and small group dinners at various Washington restaurants
followed by a Monuments by Moonlight tour. Following Friday’s business session, the group
enjoyed a private evening at the Canadian Embassy sponsored by Monique Smith, Ontario's
Representative in Washington at Government of Ontario, with featured entertainment provided
by a dynamic duelling piano performance.
Highlights of Day Three included a tour of the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress, and a
discussion with both a former and sitting member of Congress. In the evening, the College
enjoyed a Gala Dinner at the Willard which included a keynote speech by The Honourable Peter
MacKay, PC, QC, MP, Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
“It was particularly exciting to take the Conference south of the border this year,” said outgoing
President Richard H. Shaban (Borden Ladner Gervais LLP). “It is always beneficial to examine
our business from a different vantage point, and coming to Washington, DC provided us with the
perfect venue to consider legal topics of importance to the construction industry from an
international perspective.”
Incoming President Marina A. Pratchett, Q.C. (Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver)
says she looks forward to convening the 2016 Conference at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
in St. John’s, May 26 to 29, 2016.
In addition to inducting Nicolas Gagnon (Lavery, de Billy, Montreal), Patricia Morrison (Borden
Ladner Gervais LLP, Calgary) and Sharon Vogel (Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Toronto) as new
Fellows of the College, and Howard Ashcraft Jr. (Hanson Bridgett LLP, San Francisco) as an
Honorary Fellow, the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers elected the following Officers at
their Annual General Meeting:
PRESIDENT
Marina A. Pratchett, Q.C.
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Vancouver
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Richard H. Shaban
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Toronto
VICE-PRESIDENT
Olivier Kott
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Montreal
SECRETARY
T. Arthur Barry, Q.C.
Stewart McKelvey
Halifax
TREASURER
Matthew Alter
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Toronto
PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR
Ian Houston
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Toronto
ASSISTANT PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR
Bernard Quinn
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Montreal
The Canadian College of Construction Lawyers strives to facilitate and encourage the
association of outstanding lawyers who are distinguished for their skill, experience and high
standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice or teaching of construction law, and
who are dedicated to excellence in the specialized practice of construction law.
For more
information about the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and its Fellows, visit their
website at http://www.cccl.org or contact:
Marina A. Pratchett, Q.C.
CCCL President
Tel: 604-631-4781
Email: mpratchett@van.fasken.com