Background

Chris O'Connor was the National Litigation Department Leader, and is a commercial litigation partner in our Vancouver office. Chris was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1977. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Juris Doctor in 1976. Prior to that, he received a Bachelor of Arts with distinction from Carleton University in 1973.

Areas of Practice

• Chris practises in the area of commercial litigation with a focus on construction law, fidelity and surety bonds, insurance defence, commercial fraud, banking, arbitration and mediation (emphasis on commercial disputes).

Rankings and Recognitions

• Recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada® as the 2012 Vancouver Director and Officer Liability Lawyer of the Year. Was also the 2011 Vancouver Construction Lawyer of the Year
• Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada® 2012 (Construction Law; Director and Officer Liability; Insurance Law)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rating
• Recognized in The 2012 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Construction Law)
• Recognized in the 2011 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Construction Law; International Commercial Arbitration; Litigation – Commercial Insurance)
• Recognized in the 2012 edition of The International Who's Who of Construction Lawyers
• Recognized in the 2013 edition of The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Construction)
• Recognized in Who's Who Legal: Canada 2011 (Construction)

Professional Experience

• Has extensive experience in advising owners and contractors with respect to construction disputes, delay claims and all forms of construction disputes.
• Advises sureties with respect to contractor defaults and L&M bond claims.
• Advises fidelity insurers with respect to coverage issues under brokers blanket bonds, bankers blanket bonds, and subrogation claims arising from such disputes.
• Has acted in the field of arbitrations and mediations and sits frequently as an arbitrator; has extensive experience as a mediator and as an arbitrator in all manner of international and domestic commerical disputes.
• Is active in major matters such as the Capilano Twin Tunnel Project, the Lions Gate Bridge Re-Decking, The Millenium Line, the Save-On Foods roof collapse, construction of manufacturing plants, construction of the Expo 86 ALRT guideway, the failure of post-tension cables in buildings, claims arising out of the construction of hydro facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and bridges, highways and recreational centres.
• Acts for various parties in the leaky condo crisis in British Columbia including the Ministry of Education with respect to leaky schools.

Professional and Community Activities

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London, England.
• Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers and a founding Governor of the College.
• Accredited the designation Chartered Arbitrator by the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada.
• Accredited arbitrator at the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre.
• Member of the Western Canada Arbitrator's Round Table (WCART).