Sharon Vogel concentrates her practice on dispute resolution, representing owners, contractors and developers before all levels of court. She also capably handles ADR, such as mediation. Market observers highlight her experience and knowledge of the space.

Chambers Global

Sharon Vogel receives widespread praise for her expertise in construction disputes related to infrastructure matters.

Who’s Who Legal

Sharon is a leading voice and changemaker in construction law. She is authoritative, engaged and dedicated.

Canadian Lawyer Magazine

Sharon Vogel is a “first-rate construction lawyer” who is recognized for her extensive expertise in construction disputes, which spans litigation as well as mediation and arbitration proceedings.

Who's Who Legal

A well-established construction lawyer with significant involvement in disputes in the sector. One client stated: “She understands how to analyse a problem, how to recognize the challenges of your position and how to strategize around that,” adding that “she’s very practical and gives very business-minded advice.”

Chambers Global

A long-standing figure in the market whose deep expertise in construction disputes distinguish her as a go-to player for a wide range of contentious matters.

Who's Who Legal

The “excellent” Sharon Vogel is a top construction disputes lawyer who leaves sources “very impressed” with her work on the litigation and arbitration of construction disputes.

Who's Who Legal

Sharon Vogel is “the model of a trusted adviser,” sources say, adding: “She has the ability to spot legal and commercial issues that others don’t.” She is highlighted for her prominent role in legislative developments, and has further practice expertise in handling disputes for a variety of municipal and private clients. Market participants consider her to be “a true expert in construction law, who is able to provide guidance in a business sense.”

Chambers Global

“Sharon Vogel is an experienced litigator in the construction field, and is able to synthesize information quickly.” “She takes that strategic vision and moulds it into something practical.”

Chambers Global

Sharon Vogel is a very hard working and intelligent construction lawyer. She is an internationally respected counsel and a brilliant advocate.

Who's Who Legal

Sharon Vogel enjoys a fantastic reputation in the market for her top-tier arbitration practice spanning major infrastructure, industrial and commercial projects.

Who's Who Legal

Sharon Vogel is a market-leading construction lawyer who earns widespread praise from international commentators highlighting her as “hardworking and incredibly intelligent”.

Who's Who Legal

Rankings

Sharon Vogel is top-ranked by Leading Global Rankings Agencies and Directories.

Professional Background

Sharon Vogel has been recognized for her success at settling disputes relating to large-scale infrastructure, industrial and commercial projects. Among the many professional acknowledgments she has recently received, she was recognized as one of the 25 most influential lawyers in Canada by Canadian LawyerWho’s Who Legal rates her one of the top three construction lawyers in Canada, Benchmark Litigation has named her Construction Lawyer of the Year (twice) and one of the top 25 women in litigation, and she is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global. She is certified as a specialist in construction law by the Law Society of Ontario and is a fellow of the Canadian and American Colleges of Construction Lawyers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Sharon is a named partner at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP, co-chairs the firm’s construction and infrastructure practice group, and is a member of the Management Committee. Her expertise includes negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation of construction disputes, including construction liens, breach of contract, delays, surety bonds, construction insurance, and architects’ and engineers’ errors and omissions.

She has served as counsel to numerous government agencies, municipalities, private owners, and contractors to successfully manage delays and other legal issues on high-profile transportation, transit, energy, hospitals, mines, manufacturing facilities, water and wastewater, schools, and industrial, commercial, and institutional projects.

Together with her colleague Bruce Reynolds, she has played an important role in helping the Ontario government modernize the province’s construction law and helping to shape the Construction Act. Among the changes to the legislation are the creation of a prompt payment framework and the introduction of a mandatory dispute resolution system.

Sharon was also retained as co-counsel by the federal government to assist in the introduction of new legislation on prompt payment and adjudication. She co-authored the independent expert report Building a Federal Framework for Prompt Payment and Adjudication.

She is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne, teaching International Construction Law. She is co-author of the text, A Guide to Canadian Construction Insurance Law.

Education

• Bar Admission, Ontario
• Master of Laws, University of Auckland
• Bachelor of Laws, University of Toronto
• Bachelor of Arts, McMaster University

Rankings + Recognitions

  • Recognized as the Top Construction Projects Lawyer in Ontario by the Lexology Client Choice Awards.
  • Recognized in the Hall of Fame as a top lawyer in Canadian construction by The Legal 500.
  • Construction Lawyer of the Year Award, Benchmark Canada.
  • Female Trailblazer Excellence Award, Canadian Law Awards.
  • Award of Excellence, (The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors “RICS” and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators “CIArb.”).
  • Recognized in Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star” and one of the top 25, top 50, and top 100 women litigators in Canada.
  • Recognized in Chambers Canada — Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Construction) as a Band 1 practitioner in the area of Construction Law; and for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration.
  • Ranked in the areas of Administrative and Public Law, Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Public Procurement Law by Best Lawyers Canada®.
  • Recognized as a Leading Construction Lawyer (most frequently recommended) in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.
  • Recognized as a Leading Infrastructure Lawyer in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.
  • Recognized in the Lexpert® American Lawyer Guide as one of the leading 500 lawyers in Canada (Construction Law).
  • Recognized in the Lexpert®/Report on Business Infrastructure Special Edition on Infrastructure Law.
  • Recognized in the Lexpert® Special Edition on Litigation.
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as one of North America’s Best Construction Law Global Thought Leaders.
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as one of the Top Three Construction Lawyers in Canada.
  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as a Leading Lawyer in the area of Construction Law.
  • Recognized in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law.
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ 4.6 out of 5 peer review rated.

Memberships

  • Member, Board of Governors, and Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.
  • Vice Chair, International Committee, and Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers.
  • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
  • Certified Specialist in Construction Law, Law Society of Ontario.
  • Vice Chair, International Bar Association, International Construction Projects Group Dispute Resolution Committee.
  • Member, The Advocates’ Society.
  • Member, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Committee.

Community + Volunteering

  • Former Board Member, Habitat for Humanity
  • Rider and Fundraiser, Ride for Heart 2011-2014
  • Former Board Member, Youth Challenge International
  • Represents owners and general contractors in dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration and litigation.
  • Drafts and negotiates construction contracts for owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.
  • Represents surety bonding companies, including in relation to performance bond claims and labour and material payment bond claims.
  • Advises construction clients on construction projects in Canada’s North.
  • Served as counsel to:
    • A general contractor, defending 56 claims for lien amounting to more than CDN$80-million.
    • An engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) project manager in a CDN$300-million arbitration regarding an international mining dispute.
    • A joint venture design-builder in respect of its CDN$200-million claim in relation to a public-private partnership highway project.
    • An engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for a large hydro-electric project seeking CDN$100-million for cost over-runs.
    • A large institutional owner regarding a CDN$180-million claim of its general contractor.
    • An owner in relation to a dispute over a supply contract valued at more than $800-million.

Publications

Books and Reports

Articles

  • Featured, “Judicial Vacancies Holding Up Construction Litigation: Litigators,” Law Times, February, 2024
  • Co-author, “Update: Federal Prompt Payment Legislation Comes Into Force,” December, 2023
  • Co-author, “Construction Arbitration in Canada,” The Guide to Construction Arbitration, Global Arbitration Review, October, 2023
  • Co-author, “Special Issue: Delay Experts,” Construction Law Letter, May/June, 2023
  • Co-author, “Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration,” Lexology, March, 2023
  • Co-author, “Ontario Appeal Decision Reaffirms Court’s Reluctance to Set Aside Private Arbitral Awards,” The Lawyer’s Daily, February, 2023
  • Co-author, “Tall Ships Development Inc. v. Brockville (City): The Ontario Court of Appeal Reaffirms the Court’s Narrow Basis for Setting Aside Arbitral Awards,” January, 2023
  • Co-author, “Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration,” Lexology, February, 2022
  • Co-author, “Pair of Ontario Decisions Demonstrate Importance of Adherence to Contractual Notice Requirements,” October, 2021
  • Co-author, “Getting the Deal Through – Arbitration,” Lexology, July, 2021
  • Co-author, “Concurrency Clarified: Ontario Superior Court of Justice Favours Flexible, Practical Approach to Assessing Concurrent Delays,” April, 2021
  • Co-author, “Wastech v Greater Vancouver Sewerage: Uncertainty Remains,” March, 2021
  • Co-author, “The Ontario Government Suspends Limitation Periods Effective March 16, 2020,” March, 2020
  • Co-author, “COVID-19 – Health and Safety Implications,” March, 2020
  • Co-author, “The Repercussions of COVID-19 on the Execution of Construction Contracts,” March 12, 2020
  • Co-author, “Case Comment: A Narrow Interpretation of the Coverage Available Under a Builder’s Risk Insurance Policy: Pre-Eng v. Intact,” (2009) 37:6 Can. J. Ins. L. 61, originally published in the Ontario Bar Association’s Construction and Infrastructure Section Newsletter, August 13, 2019
  • Co-author, “Managing Utilities Risk in Urban Transit Infrastructure Projects,” ReNew Canada Magazine
  • Co-author, “A Thousand Pounds a Word: Following Ledcor, Policy Wording Continues to Govern in Insurance Policy Disputes,” CCCL Legal Update, L.U. #151, March, 2019
  • Co-author, “A Report on the Introduction of Prompt Payment and Adjudication Legislation in The Province of Ontario,” ICLR, Volume 36, Part 1, January, 2019
  • Co-author, “Security of Payment in the Construction Industry: Does International  Experience Provide a Crystal Ball for North America?,” Construction Law Journal, November 22, 2018
  • Co-author, “I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found: Ontario Government to Amend the Construction Act via Bill 57, the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act,” November 16, 2018
  • Co-author, “A New Construction Act – What Has Changed and How Will It Affect P3 Projects?,” Lexpert® Special Edition on Infrastructure, September, 2018
  • Co-author, “Still a Little Lost in Transition?: the Construction Act Transition Provisions and the Regulations,” August 2, 2018
  • Co-author, “Duty to Notify Bond Beneficiaries: Valard Construction v. Bird Construction 2018 SCC 8,” July 19, 2018
  • Co-author, “Somewhat Lost in Transition?: A Review of the Intent and Operation of the Transition Period in Ontario’s Construction Act,” May 30, 2018
  • Co-author, “Are Construction Defects Covered Property Damage in an Insurance Contract?,” Construction Law Letter, Volume 33 no. 5, 2017
  • Co-author, “Mind the Gap-Professional Liability Insurance and Possible Regulatory Changes to the Standard of Care,” Construction Law Letter, Volume 33 no. 3, 2017
  • Co-author, “Legal Aspects of Building Information Modelling: A World View (Part 1),” CLInt, December, 2016
  • Co-author, “Changing the Legal Landscape of the Interpretation of Builder’s Risk Insurance Policies in Canada: Life after Ledcor,” Construction Law Letter, November/December, 2016
  • Author, “Evolution of Builder’s Risk Insurance in Canada: A Brave New World for Resulting Damages,” Journal of Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, 2016
  • Co-author, “Renovating Construction Liens,” The Lawyers Weekly, November 18, 2016
  • Co-author, “No Satisfaction: Limitations of Liability in Condo Deficiency Case,” Online: Construction and Infrastructure Law Section, Ontario Bar Association, April, 2014
  • Author, “Condominium Construction Deficiencies — Buyer Beware,” Building.ca, February, 2014
  • Co-author, “The Legal Side of Green,” ReNew Canada, September, 2013
  • Co-author, “What goes up sometimes comes down hard,” The Lawyers Weekly, June 7, 2013
  • Author, “Green building risk: Insuring a green construction project,” Skylines, June, 2013
  • Author, “Ensuring projects are adequately insured key to project success,” Daily Commercial News, April, 2013
  • Author, “The “Hired Guns” have been silenced: Courts cracking down on the Admissibility of Expert Reports,” Nuts & Bolts, Volume 27, No. 2, February, 2013

Features

Presentations

  • Workshop Co-Chair, “Breaking up is hard to do? Lessons learnt and preparations that can be made to ease the pain of litigation and contract termination,” IBA Annual Conference, November, 2023
  • Instructor, “The Osgoode Certificate in Public-Private Partnership (P3) Law and Practice in Canada,” Osgoode Hall Law School – Professional Development, September-October, 2023
  • Speaker, “Eyes on the Project,” 2023 Forum on Canadian Infrastructure Law, October, 2023
  • Speaker, “Procedural Order No. 1: Parties’ tactics and strategies”, 23rd Construction Law Summer School, Cambridge, September, 2023
  • Panelist, “Top tips for making an impact in a hearing,” American Bar Association, 2023 International Arbitration Skills Masterclass, June, 2023
  • Moderator, “Construction Insolvencies,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Virtual Mid-Winter Seminar, January, 2023
  • Speaker, “Developments in Construction Law,” Ontario Bar Association, Top Appeals 2022, January, 2023
  • Guest Speaker, “Interim Measures, Cross Examination Demonstration,” Construction Law Summer School, Cambridge University, September, 2022
  • Panelist, “Contract Termination for Default: The Nuclear Option,” Society of Construction Law North American Inaugural Annual Conference, July, 2022
  • Panelist, “International Construction Projects (ICP) Session: COVID and the War Impact and Project Learned Lessons,” International Bar Association, May, 2022
  • Panelist, “2 Fast 2 Furious: Arbitration in an Hour,” GAR Live: Construction Disputes 2022, March, 2022
  • Panelist, “Finding your Leadership style and Niche as you Rise in your Career,” Women in Law Leadership Forum, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, September, 2021
  • Moderator, “Construction Dispute Symposium 2021, Litigation Session,” Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), July, 2021
  • Panelist, Co-Speaker, “Recent Developments in Prompt Payment and Adjudication,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyer (CCCL) Mid-Winter Seminar, January 23, 2021
  • Speaker, “Hot Topics – Good Faith: Recent Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Callow v. Zollinger,” American College of Construction Lawyer (ACCL) 31st Annual Meeting, March, 2021
  • Panelist, “Legal Trends in Construction,” Osgoode Certificate in Construction law, November, 2020
  • Panelist, “Public infrastructure delivery: alternative procurement challenges and opportunities,” International Bar Association Annual Conference – Virtually Together, November, 2020
  • Panelist, “Overview of the Industry – Construction law updates, government priorities and other critical legal and industry issues heading into 2021,” Lexpert Roundtable – Overview of the Industry, October, 2020
  • Co-speaker, “Unforeseen subsurface conditions: eternal dilemma,” International Bar Association, International Construction Projects Committee of the Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL) Webinar, September, 2020
  • Moderator, “Construction disputes in pandemic times,” IBA International Construction Projects Committee Webinar, August, 2020
  • Speaker, “Meeting Meeting Bonding Requirements for Public Projects,” The Canadian Institute’s 5th Annual Conference on Managing Risk in Construction Contracts & Projects – Meeting Bonding Requirements for Public Projects, July, 2020
  • Co-presenter, “The role of insurance in construction projects and unique claims that may arise in this time of financial uncertainty,” Osgoode Webinar: Managing Financial Uncertainty in Construction Projects During Extraordinary Times, May, 2020
  • Speaker, “COVID and Construction: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Affected the Construction Sector in the Americas,” International Centre for Dispute Resolution (IDCR), May, 2020
  • Co-presenter, “Alternative Financing Projects (AFP) Under the Construction Act ‐ Anticipated Application, Gaps, and Anomalies,”  The OBA The Next Decade in Project Delivery: A Time for Transition Webinar, May, 2020
  • Speaker, “The New Canadian Adjudication Procedures,” American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL), February, 2020
  • Speaker, “A concurrent session at the CPPC Forum: Prompt Payment Regime,” Canadian Public Procurement Council, November, 2019
  • Panel Chair, “Hardship Laws in Times of Uncertainty: When might Contractors Successfully rely upon such Laws?,” International Bar Association, 7th Biennial Conference on Construction Projects from Conception to Completion, October, 2019
  • Co-Speaker, “Recent Developments in Prompt Payment and Adjudication,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyer (CCCL) 2019 Conference, May, 2019
  • Co-Speaker, “Prompt Payment Reforms Gather Momentum Across Canada,” Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb): 2019 Symposium – Construction Adjudication: Significant Change, May, 2019
  • “The New Adjudication Regine, What you Need to Know,” Society of Construction Lawyers of North America Special Presentation, April, 2019
  • Speaker, “Ontario’s New Construction Act: Six Months In,” Ontario Road Builders Association Conference: Past Present Future, February, 2019
  • Speaker, “Construction Defects Claims,” CDL Insurance Coverage Symposium, February, 2019
  • Speaker, “Ontario’s New Construction Act: Modernization and Coming this Fall – Adjudication and Prompt Payment,” 92nd Annual ORBA Convention & AGM – Harmonizing the Future, February, 2019
  • Speaker, “Ethics and Professionalism in Arbitration Advocacy,” Advocates’ Society ADR Advocacy: Advanced Techniques, December, 2018
  • Co-chair and Speaker, “Ontario’s New Construction Act: Transitioning and Applying the Modernization Provisions,” Osgoode Hall Professional Development Program, December, 2018
  • Co-chair and Speaker, “The New Construction Act: What You Need to Know,” Lexpert® Conference, November, 2018
  • Speaker, “Construction Insurance: Top 5 Things You Need to Know,” Osgoode Certificate in Construction law, November, 2018
  • Panelist, “Counsel Perspectives: How to Best Represent Your Clients,” OBA Valuable Strategies for Mediating Multi-Party Disputes, October, 2018
  • Co-speaker, “Performance security alternatives and effectiveness: show me the money,” International Bar Conference, October, 2018
  • Speaker, “Construction 101,” OBA/CBA: Construction Bonding and Insurance: A Primer on Construction Risk Management, October, 2018
  • Panelist, “Security Of Payment In The Construction Industry: Does International Experience Provide A Crystal Ball For North America?,” The 8th International Society of Construction Law Conference, Chicago, September, 2018
  • Speaker, “Construction Act,” CISC Steel Conference, Halifax, September, 2018
  • Podcast, “Construction Law,” Lawyered, July, 2018
  • Speaker, “Innovative Dispute Resolution for Ontario Construction Projects,” Society of Construction Law – North America Launch, June, 2018
  • Speaker, “Hot Topics in Construction Law: Surety Matters,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyers (CCCL) 2018 Conference, May-June, 2018
  • Panelist: “Anti-Corruption and Compliance during Construction,” International Construction Project Committee Working Weekend, International Bar Association, May, 2018
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Adjudication: Fast-Track Interim Binding Resolution of Payment Disputes,” Osgoode Conference on Ontario’s New Construction Act: Managing the Change, April, 2018
  • Co-speaker, “Overview of the Changes,” CBA Construction and Infrastructure Law Program – Key Update on the New Construction Act, April, 2018
  • Co-speaker, “The How and Who of ‘Adjudication,” Canadian Construction Association 100th Annual Conference, March, 2018
  • Speaker, “Prompt Payment Legislation,” Construction Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association, February, 2018
  • Co-speaker, “The Effect of a Reservation of Rights on the Control of a Defence,” 14th Annual Insurance Symposium – Canadian Defence Lawyers, February, 2018
  • Co-speaker, “Ontario Construction Lien Act Reform,” 91st Annual ORBA Convention & AGM, February, 2018

News + Insights | Dec 13, 2023

Update: Federal Prompt Payment Legislation Comes Into Force

News + Insights | Jan 9, 2023

Tall Ships Development Inc. v. Brockville (City): The Ontario Court of Appeal Reaffirms the Court’s Narrow Basis for Setting Aside Arbitral Awards

Articles | Oct 18, 2021

Pair of Ontario Decisions Demonstrate Importance of Adherence to Contractual Notice Requirements

Publications | Jul 16, 2021

Singleton Reynolds Contributes Construction and Arbitration Chapters to Lexology’s Global Getting the Deal Through Series

Articles | Apr 29, 2021

Concurrency Clarified: Ontario Superior Court of Justice Favours Flexible, Practical Approach to Assessing Concurrent Delays

Articles | Mar 10, 2021

Wastech v Greater Vancouver Sewerage: Uncertainty Remains

Articles | Mar 23, 2020

The Ontario Government Suspends Limitation Periods Effective March 16, 2020

Articles | Mar 18, 2020

COVID-19 - Health and Safety Implications

Articles | Mar 12, 2020

The Repercussions of COVID-19 on the Execution of Construction Contracts

Articles | Oct 18, 2019

A Guide to Prompt Payment and Adjudication in Ontario

News + Insights | Jul 26, 2019

The Authorized Nominating Authority Has Been Appointed

Articles | Jul 22, 2019

Case Comment: A Narrow Interpretation of the Coverage Available Under a Builder's Risk Insurance Policy - Pre-Eng v. Intact.

Articles | Jul 8, 2019

Update on Federal Prompt Payment – Royal Assent

Publications | Jan 21, 2019

Singleton Reynolds’ Report on Ontario Prompt Payment and Adjudication is featured in the International Construction Law Review Journal

Articles | Nov 23, 2018

Fall Economic Statement 2018: Federal Prompt Payment and Adjudication To Be Introduced

Articles | Nov 20, 2018

Prompt Payment and Adjudication in Manitoba: The Ontario Approach Adopted

Articles | Nov 16, 2018

I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found: Ontario Government to Amend the Construction Act via Bill 57, the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act

Articles | Aug 10, 2018

Discretion and Fairness in Contractor Debarment: Interpaving Limited v City of Greater Sudbury, 2018 ONSC 3005

Articles | Jul 19, 2018

Duty to Notify Beneficiaries Under a Labour and Material Payment Bond

Articles | Jun 29, 2018

Ontario's New Construction Act: Key Changes Coming into Force on Canada Day