John R. SingletonK.C., C.Arb

Counsel

(604) 682-7474 | jsingleton@singleton.com | | |

Maggie Barnetson, Assistant
(604) 682-7474 ext. 2283 | mbarnetson@singleton.com

John Singleton is a very experienced litigator who has resolved matters for many clients to their satisfaction. He knows what is needed to be done and gets it done quickly.

Chambers Global

John Singleton K.C. is endorsed as a long-standing figure in Canadian construction. He has advised on the construction of key development across Western Canada from the firm’s BC office. His practice includes a focus on ADR and he is often involved in arbitrations and mediations in the sector.

Chambers Global

John Singleton K.C. is a standout figure at the construction bar with deep expertise in handling complex disputes.

Who’s Who Legal

The “formidable” John Singleton K.C. boasts significant expertise in the sector and is highlighted by peers as a “first-class construction lawyer” who stands “at the top” of the field.

Who's Who Legal

A distinguished construction practitioner in Western Canada who enjoys an excellent reputation as an arbitrator and mediator. He is described as “one of the best,” and is appreciated for offering “straightforward advice.”

Chambers Global

John Singleton, K.C. is highly esteemed for his “significant expertise in insurance claims and construction disputes”.

Who’s Who Legal

John Singleton K.C. is highly esteemed for his “significant expertise in insurance claims and construction disputes”.

Who’s Who Legal

John Singleton K.C. impresses peers with his long-standing experience representing construction clients in large, complex disputes.

Who's Who Legal

John Singleton K.C. is held in high esteem for his accomplished litigation practice which sees him advise clients on disputes arising from insurance claims.

Who's Who Legal

John Singleton, K.C. has real expertise in construction law. He excels in complex and challenging construction disputes.

Who's Who Legal

Professional Background

John Singleton is a principal legal figure in the country’s construction industry, having played key roles in major developments across Western Canada. He founded the firm in Vancouver, in 1982, with a vision of creating a practice that would stand out for its expertise in construction and infrastructure law. Today, Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP serves clients across the country and is recognized internationally for its knowledge and insight.

John has acted as Counsel in precedent-setting cases involving insurance, construction, liability and environmental matters. He offers extensive experience in major infrastructure projects and public private partnerships, as well as complex commercial disputes.

John is an accomplished Mediator and Arbitrator. He earned the chartered arbitrator designation (C.Arb) from the ADR Institute of Canada, and over the past decade has served as fairness advisor on more than 85 infrastructure projects, ranging from the construction of hospitals and hydro energy enterprises, to the building of the RCMP headquarters in Surrey, B.C.

He has dedicated significant time to sharing his knowledge through academia and professional journals. He is an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia and the Thompson Rivers University, and was a visiting lecturer at Stanford University’s law school.

John is consistently recognized as a leader in the construction legal field, regularly earning top rankings from Lexpert, Best Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal, Martindale-Hubbell and others. Benchmark Canada has designated him a “litigation star” and Chambers Canada recently labelled him a “top gun.”

Outside of the firm, John maintains a long-term relationship with Arts Umbrella, the not-for-profit arts education centre dedicated to inspiring children and young adults. Over the past 20 years he has served as a member of the organization’s board, as President and as Legal Advisor.

Education

Called to the: Alberta Bar, 1970; Saskatchewan Bar, 1981; British Columbia Bar, 1982; Yukon Bar, 1984
Master of Laws: University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, 1971
Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta, 1969
Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Alberta, 1966
Member of the Law Societies of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon

Rankings + Recognitions

Recognized in the Hall of Fame as a top lawyer in Canadian construction by The Legal 500.
Recognized as a leading lawyer in the Lexpert® Special Edition on Litigation.
Ranked in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Product Liability Law, Public Procurement Law, and Transportation Law by Best Lawyers Canada®.
Recognized as a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Construction (most frequently recommended), Commercial Arbitration, Commercial Insurance, Product Liability, Infrastructure in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.
Recognized in the Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Construction Law).
Recognized as a Leading Lawyer for Infrastructure Law in the Canadian Lexpert® /Globe and Mail Special Edition.
Recognized as a Leading Lawyer for Energy Law in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Globe and Mail Special Edition.
Recognized by Benchmark Canada Awards as “Hall of Fame Lawyer of the Year”.
Recognized in Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star”.
Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as one of the top construction lawyers in Canada.
Recognized in Who’s Who Legal as one of the top insurance lawyers in Canada.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ 5 out of 5 peer review rated.
Recognized in the Chambers Canada — Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Construction) as a Band 1 practitioner in the area of construction law. Sources describe John as a “real top gun” and praise him as a “perceptive, experienced and knowledgeable” practitioner.

Memberships

Member, Society of Construction Lawyers
Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
Member, Diversity Law Institute
Member, Trial Law Institute
Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
Member, Federation of Defence and Corporate Counsel
Member, Defence Research Institute
Member, Arbitrators Institute of Canada
Arbitrator, American Dispute Resolution Center
Member, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Member, panel of arbitrators of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
Member, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore International Arbitration Centres

Community + Volunteering

John has served as board member, president and legal advisor during the past two decades to the Arts Umbrella, a remarkable organization offering music, dance and visual and performing arts programs to over 20,000 children and young adults each year.

Rankings

John Singleton is top-ranked by Leading Global Rankings Agencies and Directories.

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Construction and Infrastructure Law

Founded in 1982 on a construction litigation platform, Singleton Reynolds has established itself as a leading construction firm in Canada, and continues to draw a large volume of assignments related to all aspects of the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Professional Liability

Singleton Reynolds provides legal services to a number of professions, including architects and engineers, accountants, land surveyors, insurance professionals and finance professionals.

Directors and Officers Liability

Singleton Reynolds has been representing insurers and defending directors and officers for the past four decades.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

We have significant expertise and experience with multiple forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including arbitration, mediation and adjudication in the construction, infrastructure and insurance industries. We regularly appear before, and our lawyers act as, arbitrators, mediators, and dispute board members. Our experience in construction-related arbitrations, both domestic and international, is extensive.

Experience

Legal counsel on precedent-setting cases in the construction and insurance industries.
Chartered arbitrator and mediator.
Fairness advisor on dozens of infrastructure projects in the past decade.
Active lecturer and speaker at courses on construction, insurance and environmental law.
Visiting lecturer at Stanford Law School.
Adjunct professor, University of British Columbia, faculty of law.
Adjunct professor, Thompson River University, faculty of law.

Publications

Co-author, “First Past the Post – What’s at Stake for the Industry in Surespan Structures Ltd. v. Lloyds Underwriters,” Canadian Underwriter, May, 2021
Co-author, “Keeping a lid on it: Managing Your Communication to Effectively Preserve Privilege,” On-Site Magazine, March, 2021
Co-author, “Yongfeng Holdings Inc. v. Zheng: The Need for Strict Compliance when Registering a Claim of Builder’s Lien,” December, 2019
Co-author, “On Acts and Accidents,” Insurance People, November, 2018
Co-author, “A New Construction Act – What Has Changed and How Will It Affect P3 Projects?,” Lexpert Special Edition on Infrastructure, September, 2018
New Duty of Honest Performance of Contractual Obligations
How To Operate When You Cooperate
Keeping Out of Trouble in 2013
The Law of Tenders: Fair Today, Gone Tomorrow
When Is a Contract a Contract?
Thinking of Contracting in the United States?
Dealing Fairly with Subcontractor Bids
Building Information Modelling (BIM): the Good and the Bad
CLIENT ALERT- If It’s Brokered It Can’t Be Fixed
Class Dismissed
Public Private Partnerships: A Paradigm Shift
Thinking of Retiring?
No Insurance for Faulty Workmanship or Materials
Insurer Required to Defend Civil Lawsuit Involving Criminal Acts
New Client Identification and Verification Rules for BC Law Firms
CLIENT ALERT – When is a Design “Faulty”?
Computers Blackberrys and E-Discovery
Resolving Foreign-Interest Business Disputes in the People’s Republic of China: II
Resolving Foreign-Interest Business Disputes in the People’s Republic of China: I
Thoughtless and Careless Neighbours
Right to Negotiate with Bidders in the Procurement Process
CLIENT ALERT – Right to Negotiate with Bidders in the Procurement Process

Presentations

Panelist, “Managing Complex Coverage Claims,” Canadian Defence Lawyers, 16th Annual Insurance Coverage Symposium
Speaker, Construction Projects: Risk Management for Modern Challenges, Pacific Business & Law Institute
Coordinator of and frequent Speaker at courses on Construction, Insurance and Environmental Law
Active lecturer and author of papers on Loss Control, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Environmental Law and other subjects for trade and legal publications
Visiting Lecturer, Stanford University Law School, Palo Alto, California
Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law