Sharon VogelFCIArb*

*Sharon Vogel Professional Corporation

Partner

(416) 585-8602 | svogel@singleton.com | |

Noelle Schneider, Assistant
(416) 585-8613 | nschneider@singleton.com

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

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 Lawyer, Who’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

Rankings

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

Related Lawyers by Expertise

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Elizabeth (Betsy) Segal
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Avon M. Mersey
Counsel

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Kathryn Irwin
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Warren Scrooby
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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.

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

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

Co-author, “Country Comparative Guides - Canada - Construction,” Legal 500/Legalease, May, 2024
Co-author, “Arbitration - Canada,” Lexology Panoramic, March, 2024
Co-author, “Country Comparative Guides - Canada - International Arbitration,” The Legal 500/Legalease, November, 2023
Author, Chapter: “Applying FIDIC Contracts in Canada,” FIDIC Contracts in the Americas: A Practical Guide to Application, Informa (London: Law from Routledge, 2023)
Co-author, “A Guide to Canadian Construction Insurance Law,” second edition, Thomson Reuters, 2023
Co-author, “Country Comparative Guides - Canada - Construction,” The Legal 500/Legalease, May, 2023
Co-author, “Country Comparative Guides - Canada - International Arbitration,” The Legal 500/Legalease, November, 2022
Co-author, “Getting the Deal Through Construction: Canada,” Lexology, June, 2022; June, 2023
Co-author, “Construction Canada Comparative Guide Chapter,” Mondaq, 2022
Co-author, “Construction Law (Canada) Chapter,” Chambers Global Construction Law Guide, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Co-author, “Building a Federal Framework for Prompt Payment and Adjudication,” prepared for Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2018
Co-author, “Striking the Balance: Expert Review of Ontario’s Construction Lien Act,” Independent Report to the Ministry of the Attorney General, 2016
Co-author, “A Guide to Canadian Construction Insurance Law,” Carswell, 2013
Author, Chapter: “Construction Insurance,” Bullen, Leake & Jacob’s Canadian Precedents of Pleadings, Second Edition, 2013
Co-author, Chapter: “Canada,” Construction and Infrastructure Disputes (London: Globe Law and Business, 2013)
Author, Chapter: “Recent Developments in Construction Insurance,” Review of Construction Law: Recent Developments, Carswell, 2012
Co-author, “Getting the Deal Through: Construction 2017,” Law Business Research Ltd, 2008-17
Co-author, “Doing Business,” World Bank 2009-15 (with Bruce Reynolds)

Articles

Co-author, “Eurobank Ergasias S.A. v. Bombardier Inc: Letters of Credit and the Fraud of Third Parties,” April, 2024
Co-author, “IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration: Recent Amendments,” March, 2024
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

Featured, “One size does not fit all,” Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure, May, 2023
Featured, “Construction disputes trends: design-build P3 risk, dispute boards, settlement disclosure,” Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure, May, 2023
Featured, “Sharon Vogel at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel on launching her firm and mentorship post-pandemic,” Canadian Lawyer Magazine, May, 2023
Featured, “Sharon Vogel: Titan and Teacher - A Tribute on International Women’s Day,” March 8, 2023
Featured in “A Report on the Introduction of Prompt Payment and Adjudication: Legislation in The Province of Ontario,” International Construction Law Review Journal, January 21, 2019
Interview, “Women in Construction and How They’re Paving the Way,” Osgoode PD Blog, November, 2018
Featured in “Adjudication justice analyzed at Osgoode Hall session,” Daily Commercial News, May 9, 2018
“CEO Power Breakfast, Striking a fine balance - The two masterminds behind the Lien Act Review discuss the challenges in balancing freedom of contract with the need for more regulation,” Builders’ Digest
Interview, “Meet the Women Rainmakers!,” Law Practice Today, September, 2017
Featured in “Women in Construction,” GTA Construction Report, September, 2014

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
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