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Leanne C. Krawchuk KC

Corporate, Mining & Construction Lawyer | Capital Markets

Partner

Alex Payne

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Vasilis F. L. Pappas, FCIArb

International Arbitration Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver and Calgary

Partner 

Prompt payment and dispute resolution reforms are changing how construction project participants are to be paid, their disputes determined and when liens are to be filed and holdbacks released.

Updates to Prompt Payment Legislation

An At-a-Glance Comparison: Have You Been Keeping Up with All the Changes?

Updates to Prompt Payment Legislation in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta

Melanie Teetaert

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Geoffrey P. Stenger

Energy, Infrastructure & Construction Lawyer | Bennett Jones Calgary

On October 7, 2025, British Columbia introduced Bill 20, the Construction Prompt Payment Act. If enacted, it will overhaul payment timelines and create a fast-track adjudication process for construction disputes. The legislation is expected to significantly impact owners, contractors and subcontractors across the province.

BC Introduces Prompt Payment Legislation

David J. Wahl, FCIArb

Construction Arbitration & Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Christopher Petrucci

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The Alberta Court of Appeal in Husky Oil Operations Limited v Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology Inc, 2024 ABCA 369 recently held that parties attempting to impose an arbitration requirement on third-party beneficiaries of a contract that contains an arbitration clause must make the obligation to arbitrate clear and explicit in the contract.

Clear and Explicit Contractual Language Required to Impose Arbitration on Third Party Beneficiaries

Clear and Explicit Contractual Language Required to Impose Arbitration on Third-Party Beneficiaries

Brian P. Reid

Litigation, Construction, Joint Venture Agreement and Builder's Lien Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Brian Reid, Vasilis Pappas, Chris Petrucci and Chris Abtosway write in ReNew Canada about how the wave of prompt payment legislation sweeping across the country offers construction stakeholders adjudication, a new dispute resolution that comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. They take an in-depth look at why strategic decisions made before, during and after the adjudication process can have far-reaching implications. Pitfalls may await those navigating the intersection of adjudication, court and arbitral processes.

Understanding Prompt Payment Adjudication in Construction

Artem N. Barsukov FCIArb

International Arbitration Lawyer

Edward W. Hulshof

Associate

Paige Lutz

Articling Student at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Articling Student

The Alberta Court of Appeal clarified that broadly worded arbitration clauses can extend to statutory claims, including those under the Tort-Feasors Act. Overturning the uncertainty created by Orica, the Court confirmed that parties will be held to their agreement to arbitrate, even where claims arise by operation of law. The decision reinforces commercial certainty and helps avoid parallel proceedings and inconsistent outcomes.

Alberta Court of Appeal Provides Antidote to Consternation on Scope of Arbitration Clauses

Anu Nijhawan

M&A, Corporate Financing and International Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Lead Director and Partner

Hennadiy Kutsenko

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Counsel

Talia K. Bregman

Management-side Employment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Recent guidance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development provides important clarity on when cross-border remote work arrangements may give rise to a permanent establishment under international tax treaties. The analysis focuses on key indicators such as the duration of remote work and whether there is a commercial reason for an employee&rsquo;s presence in a jurisdiction. The article also outlines practical steps employers can take to mitigate tax risk and manage a globally distributed workforce.

Remote Work Without Borders But Not Necessarily Without Tax Consequences

Remote Work Without Borders—But Not Necessarily Without Tax Consequences: OECD Guidance for a Post-Pandemic World

Ethan Z. Schiff

Class Actions & Commercial Litigation Lawyer

Pavan Pasha

In Cervantes v. Pizza Nova Take Out Ltd., the Ontario Divisional Court clarified that civil conspiracy claims must allege an agreement or common design among defendants. The Court held that compliance with a franchisor&rsquo;s requirements alone does not constitute conspiracy. This decision reinforces the need for precise pleadings and upholds the principle of corporate separateness in class action claims.

No Agreement No Conspiracy Ontario Court Affirms Civil Conspiracy Requires a Pleaded Agreement

No Agreement, No Conspiracy: Ontario Court Affirms Civil Conspiracy Requires a Pleaded Agreement

Cheryl M. Woodin

Commercial Litigation & Trial Lawyer

Emrys Davis

Competition & Antitrust Litigation Lawyer

Kolding Larson

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Federal Court dismissed a proposed C$5B class action alleging a nationwide conspiracy to fix generic drug prices, finding no basis in fact and denying certification. The decision underscores the Court&rsquo;s gatekeeping role and confirms that US enforcement actions and generalized market theories are insufficient to support competition claims in Canada without clear, particularized evidence.

Federal Court Dismisses 5 Billion Generic Drug Price Fixing Class Action

Federal Court Dismisses C$5 Billion Generic Drug Price-Fixing Class Action 

Edwin G. Kroft KC

Tax Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones

Andrew Young

Mackenzie Thomas

Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Issue 41 of Bennett Jones on Tax Disputes examines recent developments in Canadian tax litigation, with a focus on jurisdictional limits, procedural compliance, and case management in the Tax Court of Canada. Featuring commentary from members of the Bennett Jones Tax group, this edition analyzes key decisions including MEGlobal, Culig, and Opheim, and provides practical guidance for taxpayers and advisors navigating tax disputes.

Bennett Jones Named to the Global Arbitration Review 100

Authors


Bennett Jones Announcement Bennett Jones Named to the Global Arbitration Review 100 March 27, 2026 Authors Vasilis F. L. Pappas, FCIArbPartner Martin J. ValasekPartner Bennett Jones has been named to the Global Arbitration Review 100 (GAR 100) for 2026, marking the firm’s first time being recognized among the world’s leading international arbitration practices. The GAR 100 is an annual guide that identifies top arbitration firms worldwide based on independent research, including case work, client feedback and practitioner reputation. The firm’s inclusion reflects the strength of its International Arbitration practice, co-led by Vasilis F.L. Pappas and Martin J. Valasek. Bennett Jones’ dedicated arbitration lawyers provide legal services to clients worldwide in international commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration, with a practice distinguished by its depth of experience, global reach, and sustained engagement with leading arbitral institutions, rules, and legal systems worldwide. See the full GAR100 list. Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Bryan Canning at canningb@bennettjones.com. For informational purposes only This publication provides an overview of legal trends and updates for informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, please contact the authors. Authors Vasilis F. L. Pappas, FCIArb, Partner Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto • 604.891.5114 • pappasv@bennettjones.com Martin J. Valasek, Partner Montréal, Toronto • 514.985.4528 • valasekm@bennettjones.com