Legal Counsel - Canada Infrastructure

Arcadis; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global engineering company is seeking a Legal Counsel to support its Canadian operations, particularly in infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will have a strong background in construction law, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to work autonomously. This role is pivotal in managing legal risks and ensuring effective contract administration.

Qualifications

• Experienced in construction litigation and contract disputes.
• Proficient in claims management, particularly for infrastructure projects.
• Solid understanding of Canadian contracting laws.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on major infrastructure projects.
• Assist in claims handling and dispute resolution.
• Negotiate and review contracts for compliance and risk.

Skills

Claims Handling

Dispute Resolution

Risk Management

Contract Negotiation

Communication

Education

Licensed to practice law in Ontario

4 to 8 years of experience in litigation

Job description

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Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

Arcadis seeks to add a high-performing and experienced Legal Counsel reporting to the Legal Director – Canada to support the continued growth of its Canadian in-house Legal Team. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on self-starter, highly motivated, proactive and energised by solving complex problems independently. Experience supporting major infrastructure, particularly involving transit, rail, or large public-private partnerships, is essential. This role requires excellent interpersonal skills, superior oral and written communication, and the ability to anticipate and deliver legal support for a dynamic, diverse, and global business team.

The position is flexible, located in any Canadian Arcadis office.

Role accountabilities:

Claims Handling and Dispute Resolution:

• Assist on high stakes Infrastructure Projects providing legal advice on interpretation of contractual and technical documents, drafting legal correspondence, such as claims letters, notices disputing delay/ breach of contract.
• Manage disputes pertaining to fees, changes and project related disagreements.
• Familiarity with project insurance structures such as professional indemnity, PSPL, and surety bonds, particularly as they relate to complex infrastructure projects and alternative delivery methods is required.
• Coordinate with Arcadis’ North America Claims Counsel to notify insurers of potential or actual claims.
• Handling professional negligence/ indemnity and construction claims arising from design, engineering, project management, and construction management services.
• Advise on and resolve insurance coverage disputes.
• Advise on dispute resolution strategies including negotiation, litigation, adjudication, arbitration and construction liens.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to minimize or avoid contractual disputes.
• Strategically coordinate the efforts of outside counsel and experts on a case-by-case basis as required, including challenging scope, negotiating alternative fee arrangements and transparent budget forecasting.
• Drive internal knowledge-sharing, lessons-learned sessions, and contract administration training to reduce future disputes.
  
  

Contract Review and Negotiation:

• Provide comprehensive commercial legal support during pursuit, negotiation and delivery of contracts such as Design-Build-Finance, Progressive Design-Build, Target Cost Contracts, or Alliance Contracting.
• Provide proactive guidance on legal and contractual risks to project and bid teams.
• Support bidding processes by reviewing and negotiating client contracts and agreements from initiation to closure.
• Experience working in multi-party governance environments, including with joint venture partners, lenders, and public authorities.
• Partner with business leaders, including Partners, Business Directors, and Senior Managers, to deliver strategic business objectives while mitigating risks.
  
  

Objectives and Key Results

• Maximises early assessment of potential claims to determine merit, business impact, and resolution strategy before formal escalation reducing legal spend and project interruption.
• Improves in-house control over litigation strategy and reduce reliance on external spend where possible and in compliance with insurance protocols.
• Embeds dispute-related knowledge into project delivery and commercial practices.
  
  

Qualifications & Experience:

• 4 to 8 years of experience in private practice at a leading Canadian law firm, or as in-house counsel, with experience in construction litigation and contract disputes.
• Licensed to practice in Ontario or another Canadian province.
• Experience supporting major infrastructure projects in a legal capacity, particularly involving transit, rail, or large public-private partnerships.
• Familiarity with PDB, Alliancing, and other alternative delivery contracting models, with an ability to advise on contract negotiation, implementation, and dispute matters.
• Experience in claims and risk management, assisting Project teams with disputes and claims prior to formal dispute resolution process.
• Familiarity with project insurance such as project specific professional liability (PSPL).
• Aptitude for identifying and managing risk for large infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills to interact effectively across organizations, including with clients, contractors, and subcontractors.
• Solid knowledge of Canadian federal, provincial, and local public contracting laws.
  
  

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis, including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

The salary range for this position is CAD 150,000 - CAD 180,000. The base salary represents Arcadis’ hiring range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as location, skills, experience, and qualifications for the role.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Other

• Industries

  Professional Services

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