Joel is a partner in Osler’s Toronto office, practising in the area of construction law. He has significant experience advising on domestic and international projects of all sizes and across a variety of industries including energy (including electrical power generation and transmission projects, and natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline construction), infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, transportation, education and healthcare.
Joel’s practice includes advising and assisting clients with respect to such matters as risk identification, allocation and mitigation, project structuring and teaming arrangements (including traditional, design-build, EPC, construction management, public-private partnerships, alternative financing and procurements, joint ventures, consortia and subcontracts), procurement, contract negotiation and documentation, project execution issues, and claims analysis and avoidance.
Prior to joining Osler, Joel was a partner at a major Canadian law firm and worked as in-house counsel for several years at one of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies before establishing his own boutique firm focused on construction and commercial projects.
Latest Insights
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Webinar Nov 9, 2023
AI in the Construction Industry – Insights, Advantages and Risks
Osler’s construction and technology law experts Andrew Wong, Joel Heard and Sam Ip explore the ways AI is impacting the construction industry.
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Webinar Mar 9, 2022
Progressive Design-Build – A better way to build your project – Part 2
Osler’s Andrew Wong and Joel Heard, partners, Commercial, take a deeper dive in their exploration of this increasingly popular project design...
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Blog Jul 9, 2021
Insights on new CCDC contracts
CCDC contracts have been updated to reflect changing legislation and evolving industry practices. Osler’s Construction and Infrastructure Group...
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Blog Jan 13, 2021
Canada’s Hydrogen Strategy: Key considerations for infrastructure players
On December 16, 2020, Canada’s federal government released its Hydrogen Strategy for Canada (the “Strategy”). In a previous Osler...
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Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Construction (Nationwide – Canada)
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Construction Law; Infrastructure Law
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Best Lawyers In Canada: Recognized in Construction Law
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Construction Law Society of America: Fellow
Media Mentions
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Osler News Jun 6, 2023
16 Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2023
Congratulations to 16 of our lawyers for their inclusion in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2023.
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Osler News Jun 15, 2022
25 Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2022
Congratulations to 25 of our lawyers for their inclusion in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2022.
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Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Canadian Bar Association National Construction and Infrastructure Law Conference
Read moreThe Osgoode Certificate in Contract Management for Construction and Infrastructure Projects
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- Practice Gems: Construction Contracts for Real Estate Lawyers, Law Society of Upper Canada CPD, January 2015.
- Practice Gems: Construction Contracts for Real Estate Lawyers, Law Society of Upper Canada CPD, January 2014.
- Construction Law Best Practices, Informa Canada, Fall 2013.
- Deconstructing the Construction Pyramid: An Introduction to Construction Law, The Advocates Society, 2013.
- Construction Law: Don’t Let a Good Construction Contract Go to Waste, Ontario Bar Association, 2012.
- The Intensive Course in Construction Law, Osgoode Professional Development, 2009-2011.
Credentials
Education
- University of Toronto, J.D.
- Queen’s University, B.Comm. (with Honours)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Ontario Bar Association, Construction and Infrastructure Section; former Executive Member.
- American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law.
