“Big Hitter” Bruce Reynolds excels in the construction field, where he is renowned for his excellent representation of clients in a range of complex construction and projects disputes. He is the most highly regarded Construction Lawyer in Canada.

Who's Who Legal

Bruce Reynolds is sought after for his experience advising on construction mandates. One source appreciated that he was “able to explain complicated concepts in a simple way, citing practical examples based on his extensive relevant experiences.” He is often cited for his in-depth expertise in construction liens and prompt payment.

Chambers Global

Bruce Reynolds is described as “the best of the bunch”, both nationally and internationally, for the resolution of construction claims, with one source calling him “one of the most capable construction lawyers Canada ever produced.”

Who's Who Legal

Bruce is a meticulous, professional and absolutely innovative individual.

Canadian Lawyer

The very cerebral Bruce Reynolds is “one of the first people that comes to mind for any dispute in Canada” with sources highlighting him as a “distinguished advocate and an experienced arbitrator. He continues to be regarded as one of the foremost construction practitioners in the world.”

Who's Who Legal

I was very impressed with Bruce Reynolds and his team’s preparedness, strategic thinking, and meticulous attention to the nuanced but important details of the file. I’ve been involved with some renowned lawyers, and Bruce’s carriage of this case was exemplary.

President
Leading Surety and Construction Insurance Brokerage Firm

A standout construction lawyer who regularly acts in complex transactional and dispute proceedings, as peers note that he is “gold standard in leadership”.

Who's Who Legal

Bruce Reynolds is renowned for his significant role in the development of federal legislation in the construction space. He is often called upon to assist a number of public authorities and private entities across the energy, natural resources and infrastructure spaces, with sources reporting: “He has the mature judgment and clarity of purpose of the most senior and trusted counsel in the field.”

Chambers Global

Bruce Reynolds is a “distinguished construction specialist” who is “vastly experienced counsel in complex construction disputes. He is always a leading force to look to. He is a fantastic practitioner who really knows his field.”

Who's Who Legal

“Bruce Reynolds provides a wealth of knowledge and experience and is exceptionally strong in providing experience-based advice, as well as providing advice that is understandable to our broader group.” “He is the strategic thinker and creator in the group.”

Chambers Global

“Bruce Reynolds is a fair, articulate and smart construction lawyer. He is an excellent
arbitrator and mediator.”

Who's Who Legal

“Bruce Reynolds is a first-rate arbitrator who excels in construction and insurance disputes, in addition to product liability claims.”

Who's Who Legal

“Bruce Reynolds receives worldwide endorsements for his top-tier construction practice which sees him advise on construction and insurance claims, including architects’ and engineers’ errors.”

Who's Who Legal

“Bruce Reynolds is a strategic thinker who is able to find practical solutions to complex problems. He has a vast knowledge of surety and construction law. He is Canada’s top construction lawyer.”

Who's Who Legal

“Bruce is an excellent communicator. He is a very strategic and results-oriented mediator. He is pragmatic and always delivers good results.”

Who's Who Legal

Rankings

Bruce Reynolds is top-ranked by Leading Global Rankings Agencies and Directories.

Professional Background

Bruce Reynolds has earned a stellar reputation in the construction industry for settling disputes and drafting and negotiating contracts. Who’s Who Legal has recognized him as “one of the foremost construction practitioners in the world,” while his clients have praised him for his legal skills, integrity and clarity of insight.

Bruce is Co-Managing Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s International Construction Projects Group. He specializes in the resolution of construction and insurance claims, liens, surety bond claims, product liability issues, and architects’ and engineers’ errors and omissions issues. He advises clients on construction projects in Canada, the United States and overseas. In addition to his practice, he also acts as a mediator, arbitrator and facilitator helping to resolve construction industry disputes.

Together with his colleague Sharon Vogel, he played a significant role in helping the Ontario government modernize the province’s construction law and helped to shape the Construction Act. Among the changes to the legislation are the creation of a prompt payment regime and the introduction of a mandatory interim binding dispute resolution system. He was also retained as Counsel by the federal government of Canada to assist in the introduction of new legislation on prompt payment and adjudication, co-authoring the independent expert report Building a Federal Framework for Prompt Payment and Adjudication.

He has been certified as a specialist in construction law by the Law Society of Upper Canada. He is a Fellow of both the Canadian and American Colleges of Construction Lawyers, and past Co-Chair of the International Construction Projects Committee of the International Bar Association.

Bruce has been recognized twice as Global Construction Lawyer of the Year by Who’s Who Legal and as Toronto Construction Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. He is listed in Chambers Global (Band 1) and Martindale-Hubbell (AV), and he is also recognized in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (construction law) and the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.

Education

  • Called to the Manitoba Bar, 2019
  • Certificate in Mediation, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Caruso School of Law, Pepperdine University, 2017
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, 2012
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Toronto, 1981
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto (Victoria College), 1978

Rankings + Recognitions

Rankings


Recognitions

  • Hall of Fame Award Winner, 2023 Benchmark Canada Awards Gala
  • Exclusive Winner, 2022 Lexology Client Choice Construction Award, Canada
  • Construction Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada.
  • Toronto Construction Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Canada.
  • Award of Excellence, The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
  • Lexpert® Zenith Award (Change Agent in Law).
  • Jock Tindale Memorial Award, Ontario General Contractors Association.
  • Global Construction Lawyer of the Year (twice), Who’s Who Legal.
  • Construction Litigator of the Year (twice), Benchmark Canada.
  • Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada, Canadian Lawyer.
  • Donald P. Giffin, Sr. Construction Industry Achievement Award, Toronto Construction Association.
  • Recipient of a 2017 award from the Council of Ontario Construction Associations for outstanding contributions to the construction industry.

Memberships

  • President, International Academy of Construction Lawyers.
  • Past Co-chair, International Construction Projects Committee, International Bar Association.
  • Past Governor, American College of Construction Lawyers.
  • Co-chair, International Committee, American College of Construction Lawyers.
  • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
  • Founding Governor, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers; president (2002-03).
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association, Construction Law Section.
  • Associate Member, American Bar Association, Torts and Insurance Section, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee (FSLC); Vice-chair, FSLC (1998-2001); Member, Forum on the Construction Industry (1994-present).
  • Member, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Committee.
  • Certified Specialist in Construction Law, Law Society of Ontario.
  • Member, International Council for Commercial Arbitration.
  • Represents owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration and litigation.
  • Drafts and negotiates construction contracts on behalf of owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.
  • Represents surety bonding companies in claims related to construction projects, including performance and labour and material payment bond claims.
  • 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 Project Co. in respect of its CDN$125-million claim as developer of 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 surety in respect of a US$50-million cross-border performance bond claim arising out of a high-rise luxury condominium project in New York City.
    • A large institutional owner regarding a CDN$50-million claim of its general contractor.
    • A major hospital defending 36 claims for lien amounting to more than CDN$50-million.
    • A design-build subcontractor working on a major sports facility in a CDN$47-million lien litigation.
    • A mechanical and electrical subcontractor in respect of its CDN$30-million claim related to wrongful termination.
    • A major hospital regarding a CDN$25-million total cost claim of its general contractor.
    • A surety in respect of the restructuring of a bus manufacturer with contracts for the production of 800 transit buses in Canada and the United States.
    • An EPC contractor in respect of a major claim arising out of the boiler refurbishment program for a nuclear generating facility.

Publications

Legal Textbooks

  • Co-author, A Guide to Canadian Construction Insurance Law, 2nd Edition, Thomson Reuters, (with Sharon Vogel)
  • Co-author, Construction Builders’ and Mechanics’ Liens in Canada, 8th Edition, Thomson Reuters
  • Co-author, A Guide to Canadian Construction Insurance Law, Carswell, (with Sharon Vogel)
  • Co-author, Construction Builders’ and Mechanics’ Liens in Canada, 7th Edition (two volumes), Carswell
  • Co-author, Scott and Reynolds on Surety Bonds (two volumes, supplemented twice annually), Carswell, (with K.W. Scott, KC)

Additional Publications

Presentations

  • Presenter, “The Life Cycle of the Expert,” Manitoba Bar Association, February, 2024
  • Lecturer, “Intelligent Dispute Resolution Design for Construction Projects,” Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, July, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “Collaborative Contracting in the Delivery of Construction Projects: The International Experience,” joint program presented by the Singapore International Commercial Court and the Singapore Academy of Law, April, 2023
  • Moderator, “Riding a Slippery Slope: The Balancing Act of Risk Allocation in Major Construction and Infrastructure Projects,” International Construction Projects Committee meeting, International Bar Association Annual Conference, November, 2022
  • Panelist, “Construction Dispute Symposium 2021,” Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, August, 2021
  • Speaker, “Construction Contracts in Canada from an Owners’ Perspective,” International Federation of Consulting Engineers Official Contract Users Conference, May, 2021
  • Presenter, “Adjusting to Cultural Differences in ADR,” 32nd Annual Conference, American College of Construction Lawyers, March, 2021
  • Co-Presenter, “Security of Payment,” University of Melbourne Law School Masters Program in International Construction Law, December, 2020
  • Presenter, “Construction and Infrastructure Law: The New Landscape,” Canadian Lawyer Webinar, June, 2020
  • Keynote Speaker, “Prompt Payment and Adjudication,” Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors 2020 Construction and Adjudication Symposium, February, 2020
  • Speaker, “Construction Disputes,” ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) Conference: Realizing ADRs Full Value, November, 2019
  • Speaker, “A concurrent session at the CPPC Forum: Prompt Payment Regime,” Canadian Public Procurement Council, November, 2019
  • Speaker, “Successfully Using DBs,” Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) Conference in Stockholm, Sweden; October, 2019
  • Speaker, “Ontario’s New Construction Act: Transitioning and Applying the Modernization Provisions,” Osgoode Hall Professional Development Program, December, 2018
  • Co-Chair and Presenter, “The New Construction Act: What you Need to Know,” Lexpert® Executive Course, November, 2018
  • Co-Speaker, “Focus on Forward: Doing Things Better or Doing Things Differently,” 3rd Engineering and Construction of Mining Projects Conference, November, 2018
  • Co-Speaker, “Termination issues: action for damages versus actions for wrongful termination,” International Bar Conference, October, 2018
  • Speaker, “Introduction of the Interim Adjudication System,” 3rd Annual Managing Risk in Construction Contracts and Projects, February, 2018
  • Co-Speaker, “Ontario Construction Lien Act Reform,” 91st Annual ORBA Convention & AGM, February, 2018
  • Speaker, “Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce,” The Senate of Canada
  • Speaker, “Construction Lien Act – Report Overview,” Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, September, 2016
  • Co-Chair, “Unlocking Disputes: Construction Topics,” The American and Canadian Colleges of Construction Law, London
  • Guest Lecturer, “International Contracting,” University of Melbourne Law School, Masters Program in Construction Law
  • Speaker, “The Future of Construction Law is not what it used to be,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyers Annual Conference, San Francisco
  • Presenter, “The Collaborative Settlement of Construction Disputes,” Fourth International Construction Law Conference, Melbourne, Australia

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