Education

Osgoode Hall, 2004, LL.M. University of Western Ontario, 1988, LLB University of Waterloo, 1985, BA (Hons)

Associations

Ontario, 1990

Founding Member, Sedona Conference Working Group 7 (WG7), Sedona Canada which produced the Sedona Canada Principles on Electronic Document Retention and Production in Canada Past Member, Sedona Canada Editorial Board and Steering Committee Past Member, Electronic Discovery Sub-Committee of the Task Force on the Discovery Process in Ontario, which produced the Guidelines for the Discovery of Electronic Documents in Ontario Member, OBA Construction Law and Infrastructure Executive, since 2011 Member, Advocates Society Presentations Presentation at Osgoode Construction Law Certificate Program, National (Winter Edition): February 2022, Live Demonstration: Negotiating Key Terms in Design Contracts Co-Presenter at 9th International Society of Construction Law 'Building for Change' Conference on the topic of "Is there a case for mandatory independence of contract administrators?", November 5, 2021 Chair of panel presentation on Technology in Construction at Canadian Institute Program on Construction Law, 2021 Co-Chair, OBA Infrastructure and Construction Law Group presentation on Modular Construction, 2021 Presentation at OBA Construction and Infrastructure Law Program on "Critical Construction Law Issues: Force Majeure Clauses, Limitation Periods and Project Challenges" held April 7, 2020 Speaker for The Canadian Institute Virtual Program entitled "COVID-19 and your

Awards & Recognition

First recognized in 2016, Karen has been commended for her extensive knowledge and experience in a variety of respected publications, including: Chambers Canada: Construction The Legal 500 Canada: Construction The Best Lawyers in Canada: Construction Law The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Construction Law Lexpert Special Edition - Canada's Leading Lawyers: Infrastructure In the Media Quoted, " ‘Let's horse trade': How tariffs are impacting Canadian construction contracts ," Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect , June 2025 Quoted in " Legal Notes: The critical matter of timely and proper notice of claims ," Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect , August, 2024 Quoted in " Legal Notes: Holdback liens allow claimants only one piece of the pie ," Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect , September 2022 Quoted in "Focus: Cloud services create challenge for e-discovery," Law Times , December 7, 2015

Articles & Speeches

Co-author, " Fairness in construction contracts: Understanding the prevention principle after CIMIC Morningstar Investments Ltd. v. Chandos Construction Ltd. ," Dentons Insights , May 2026 Co-author, " No easy exit: Ontario Divisional Court confirms high bar for setting aside adjudication decisions ," Dentons Commercial Litigation Blog , March 2026 Co-author, " Ontario's Construction Act amendments now in force: Key changes to the annual holdback regime and related updates ," Dentons Insights , February 2026 Co-author, " Building under pressure: How tariffs are reshaping Canada's construction landscape ," Dentons Insights , April 2025 Co-author, " Changes to Ontario's Construction Act : Mandatory annual holdback release, expanded adjudication and more ," Dentons Insights , November 2024 Co-author " Complying with contractual notice requirements: Lessons from Crosslinx Transit Solutions v. Ontario " Construction Law Letter, Vol 40, pp 3-6 (September/October 2023) Co-author, " Complying with contractual notice requirements: Lessons from Crosslinx Transit Solutions v. Ontario ," Dentons Commercial Litigation Blog, May 1, 2023 Co-author, " It's the construction bond that binds... so long as equity agrees ," Dentons Commercial Litigation Blog, March 2, 2023 Co-author, " No notice? No claim! A primer on the importance of giving notice of claims under your construction contract ,"

Selected Decisions

Plaintiffs and defendants: Advising in connection with lien actions, claims for delay, claims involving bonding and surety issues, competing claims between secured creditors in insolvency proceedings and trust claims made under Construction Act , as well as claims made against landlords concerning improvements made to leased premises. Confidential clients: Advising and handlings disputes involving P3 Projects, including appearing at arbitration and adjudication hearings on behalf of subcontractors and suppliers of maintenance services. Confidential client: Drafting of RFP and other documentation involving market testing provided for in P3 Project documents. Confidential client: Representing client with respect to various construction projects including large hospital project involving insolvency issues arising from major subcontractor which resulted in model lien regularization order used in CCAA proceedings. Municipal Utility Company: Negotiated and drafted utility relocation agreement with respect to large infrastructure project. Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation: Advised on the drafting and settlement of construction documentation involved with a site revitalization