Date: May 25, 2016
Matthew R. Alter
Toronto
Suite 2100, Scotia Plaza
malter@casselsbrock.com 40 King Street West
t: 416 860 6764
Toronto, ON
f: 416 640 3083
Canada
M5H 3C2
"A first-rate litigator and astute advisor."
- Client Testimonial, Who's Who Legal
Matthew Alter* is a partner in the Construction, Advocacy, Infrastructure, Land Development, Mining and
Renewable Energy and Clean Technology Groups at Cassels Brock. His practice focuses on representing
public and private owners and developers, general contractors and other construction industry participants in
all aspects of construction and procurement. He advises clients on project delivery methods and procurement
processes, and drafts and negotiates various agreements for construction and infrastructure projects and
related acquisitions, including Private Public Partnership arrangements. Matthew also represents participants
in all types of contract and project disputes and litigation, including: tendering claims and defences, contractor
defaults, interference and delay claims, liens, trust claims, insolvency claims and surety bond claims.
Matthew has been recognized internationally as a top construction and procurement lawyer by the
Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert
Directory, Best of the Best (Global) 2014 Expert Guide, the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers,
Chambers Canada, Chambers Global and Best Lawyers in Canada. He has also been included in the Lexpert
Special Editions on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers (2012–2015) and Leading Lawyers in Global
Mining (2014–2015). Matthew was named the 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” for Public Procurement Law by Best
Lawyers in Canada for Toronto – only a single lawyer for each practice area in any given city is selected for
this award.
Publications, Conferences and Speaking Engagements
Select Recent Publications
Journal of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers 2015, Editor (Thomson/Carswell, May 2015)
Journal of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers 2014, Editor (Thomson/Carswell, May 2014)
Journal of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers 2013, Editor (Thomson/Carswell, May 2013)
Journal of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers 2012, Editor (Thomson/Carswell, May 2012)
Kirsh and Alter: A Guide to Construction Liens in Ontario, 3rd Edition, (LexisNexis, September 2011)
"Ontario's BPS Procurement Directive", Summit, co-authored (December/January 2011-12)
"The Evolution of Construction Lien Legislation in Ontario from 1873-2011", The Advocates' Quarterly,
co-authored (May 2011)
"Securing Payment and Performance on International Projects", Chapter 9 of American Bar Association
book, International Construction Law – A Guide for Cross-Border Transactions and Legal Disputes,
co-authored (October 2009)
"International Arbitration Rules and Procedures", Chapter No. 61 of American Bar Association book,
Construction Checklists – A Guide to Frequently Encountered Construction Issues, co-authored (2008)
Select Recent Seminars and Presentations
Program Coordinator, Annual Conference of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Washington,
D.C. (May 2015)
Speaker: The Tender Trap: Understanding the Risks and Avoiding Claims, International Municipal
Lawyers Association in Canada (April 2015)
Lecturer/Faculty: Bidding and Tendering: Advanced Issues, Osgoode Certificate in Construction Law
program (November 2011-2014)
Assistant Program Coordinator, Annual Conference of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers,
Vancouver (May 2014)
Co-Chair: Capital Projects: P3s, Design-Build, and Beyond, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry's 2013
Fall Meeting presented by the American Bar Association (September 2013)
Lecturer/Faculty: A-Z Guide to EPCM Contract Management: Exploring Critical Issues Throughout the
Project Management Lifecycle, EPCM for Mining Energy and Infrastructure presented by The Canadian
Institute (June 2013)
Speaker: Strategies Used for Construction Tender/Procurement Claims, The 10-Minute Construction
Lawyer program presented by The Advocates' Society (May 2013)
Lecturer/Faculty: P3s/Contracts/Bidding & Tendering, Osgoode Certificate in Construction Law program
(November 2012)
Lecturer/Faculty: "Construction Liens", lecture to 4th year Students of George Brown College’s Schools of
Construction Management and Trades and Architectural Studies (November 2012)
Speaker: Hospital Projects and the Ontario Construction Lien Act, Ontario Hospital Association sponsored
conference on Health Care Capital Planning and Implementation: Enabling Excellent Care for All (June
2012)
Speaker: Recent Amendments to the Ontario Construction Lien Act and Ontario’s BPS Procurement
Directive, The Property Management Exposition & Conference, “Legal Roundtable For Building Owners &
Property Managers: Eight Issues in Sixty-Five Minutes” (November 2011)
Moderator: Construction Project Opportunities Abroad: The Things You Don't Know You Don't Know, ABA
Forum on the Construction Industry Fall Conference (October 2011, Atlanta)
Course Leader and Speaker: Case Law Update”, Tendering and Procurement: Navigating the Maze,
Lexpert Program (June 2011, Calgary)
Chair: Module 2: Following the Project Funds, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers 2011 Conference,
"Emerging Legal Issues – Moving the Yardsticks" (June 2011, Ottawa)
Speaker: The Proposed New Amendments to the Construction Lien Act and the Lienability of Equipment
Supply , Law Society of Upper Canada CLE Program, “Practice Gems: Construction Lien Essentials
2011”(March 2011, Toronto)
Speaker: Hospital Procurement and Ontario 's Supply Chain Guideline, Conference for Board Finance
Committee Members, Ontario Hospital Association (April 2010, Toronto)
Speaker: Making a Strong Start with an Effective Tendering Process, Canadian Institute Conference
"Essential Elements and Critical Updates of Key Business Agreements" (February 2010, Toronto)
Speaker: Recent Developments in Liens and Trusts, LSUC CLE Program "Advanced Roundtable in
Construction Law 2009" (September 2009, Toronto)
Speaker: Risk Management for International Construction Projects: What You Need to Know Before
Contracting Across National Borders, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry and the Construction
Litigation Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation, Midwinter Meeting, "Coverages, Disputes and Tactics
for Survival: Critical Insurance and Litigation Issues and Insights" (January 2009, Florida)
Client Commentary
“A first-rate litigator and astute advisor. He provides a brilliant advisory service to clients and is also adept at
handling complex disputes.” – Who’s Who Legal (Construction)
“He is extremely thoughtful and evaluates the entire picture. He certainly watches out for our interests and
makes sure we don’t miss anything.” – Chambers Global (Construction)
“His knowledge base is his strength; he is very experienced and knows what he is doing.” – Chambers Canada
(Construction)
“Matthew Alter is a fine lawyer. He is experienced, bright and possesses a keen knowledge of complex
construction law issues. In addition, he provides timely and practical legal advice.” – Best Lawyers of Canada
(Construction/Public Procurement)
“Matthew Alter is one of the top lawyers that I have worked with in my professional career. He is a true
expert in construction law, and has the unique ability of being able to simplify difficult concepts, and then
recommend suitable solutions.” – Best Lawyers of Canada (Construction/Public Procurement)
*denotes Professional Corporation
Achievements
Certified as a Specialist in Construction Law
The Legal 500 Canada (Public Procurement)
Legal Media Group Guide: Best of the Best (Global) 2014 and 2015 (Construction)
The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012–2016 (Construction Law; Public Procurement Law)
The Best Lawyers in Canada: Lawyer of the Year 2015 (Public Procurement Law – Toronto)
Chambers Canada 2016 (Construction)
Chambers Global 2014 and 2015 (Construction)
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (Construction Law)
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating (named one of the 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in
Canada)
Who's Who Legal: Canada 2010–2015 (Construction and Public Procurement)
The 2012, 2013 and 2016 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
(Construction Law)
2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Infrastructure Lawyers
2014 and 2015 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Lawyers in Global Mining
Featured on the cover of Lexpert Magazine's April 2011 edition on "Procurement Pros"
Call to the bar
Ontario, 1987
Associations
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian College of Construction Lawyers – Treasurer and Editor of the Journal of the Canadian College of
Construction Lawyers
American Bar Association – Past Chair, International Construction Division of the Forum on Construction
Law (2011–2013)
Law Society of Upper Canada – Past Chair, Construction Law Specialty Committee (2006–2007)
Ontario Bar Association – Past Chair, Construction Law Section (2004–2005) and Former Editor “Nuts &
Bolts” Newsletter (1994–2000)
Past Executive Member, National Construction Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association
Toronto Construction Association – Past Member of The Construction Institute Professional Development
Committee (1996–2008)
Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers Association
Expertise
Construction
Education
Infrastructure
Land Development
Litigation
Mining
Renewable Energy & Clean Technology