Karen Martin KC

Practice Areas

Karen Martin is National Co-leader of Dentons Canada's Construction group, and is also a prominent member of our Infrastructure and PPP and Litigation and Dispute Resolution groups. She currently sits on the Canada Region Board and the Firm's Global Board. Based on deep experience and the latest developments in the law, she provides strategic advice to clients to minimize legal risk during procurement and construction. She advises on the preparation of construction contracts to assist in the avoidance of disputes, and during the construction phase she helps clients to develop pro-active solutions to project issues. When disputes arise, she negotiates resolutions, and she acts as counsel in the mediation, arbitration and litigation of construction claims, including on P3, mining and energy sector projects.

Karen’s experience as counsel on large construction trials in the last three decades allows her to quickly understand the technical aspects of a construction claim, and to provide creative advice as to the appropriate methods to efficiently resolve disputes. She has extensive experience in disputes involving tenders, RFPs, construction contracts, builders’ liens, engineering issues, and negligence claims involving architects and engineers.

The author of many publications on topics of interest to the construction industry, Karen is also a frequent speaker on complex litigation and construction issues including procurement, builders’ liens, delay claims, construction disputes, and settlement of multi-party litigation.

Career

Called to the bar: British Columbia, 1985; Yukon, 2011

Professional Memberships

Immediate Past President of Canadian College of Construction Lawyers

Elected Governor, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers

Member, BC Law Institute’s Builders Lien Act Reform Project Committee, 2014 to present

Member, Canadian Bar Association (British Columbia Branch) Special Committee on Contribution after Settlement under the Negligence Act

Member, Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, Construction Law subsection

Member, Certified Professional Committee, City of Vancouver, 2003-2005