Bio
Jessica is committed to helping clients achieve their goals through effective advocacy. Jessica has experience representing owners, general contractors, design professionals, subcontractors and suppliers in a wide range of construction disputes.
Jessica has appeared before numerous courts and tribunals, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Alberta Court of King’s Bench, Alberta Court of Appeal, and the Landlord and Tenant Board. Additionally, Jessica has advocated for clients through a variety of alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation, arbitration, and construction adjudications.
Prior to joining the firm in 2023, Jessica articled and practiced at a prominent mid-sized, full-service firm. Since then, Jessica’s practice has evolved to include complex, multi-party construction disputes. Jessica applies her business background to provide practical business-oriented advice.
Jessica is a co-editor of the firm’s Building Insight newsletter and acts as a summer student mentor.
Memberships
- Toronto Construction Association
- Ontario Bar Association, Construction Law Section
- The Advocates Society
Teaching Activities
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science – Graduate Studies, Negotiating Legal, Regulatory and Contractual Issues (Guest Lecturer) (November 2024)
- Osgoode Professional LLM, Construction Law Course (Guest Lecturer) (June 2024)
- Osgoode Hall Law School, Construction Law Course (Guest Lecturer) (February 2024)
Representative Work
- Bridge: Counsel to engineer in disputes arising from bridge failure.
- Diamond Mine: Representation of contractor in mediation of disputes with owner.
- Hotel: Representation of contactor in dispute with subcontractor involving cost overruns and project delays.
- Mining: Counsel for contractor in dispute with owner regarding financial assurances.
- Railway facility: Defence of subconsultant related to design of railway facility.
- Hospital: Counsel for contractor in disputes with maintenance provider.
- Performing Arts Centre: Representation of contractor in mediation of disputes with owner.
- Successfully acted for a subcontractor in an adjudication seeking payment of unpaid invoices.
- Successfully acted for a contractor in dismissing two adjudications on the basis that there was no jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute.
- Acted for owner in defending a motion to quash the summons of a witness.
- Counsel for other lawyers respecting alleged professional negligence in handling of construction law matters.
- Counsel for engineers respecting alleged professional negligence matters.
- Advising clients on prompt payment and adjudication changes to the Construction Act.
Speaking
- Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC), Construction Law Course (Guest Speaker) (September 2024)
- Keeping Current for Civil Litigators, Ontario Bar Association, Session Co-Chair (January 2022)
Representative Publications
- “Defining ‘Immediate’ in the Context of the Duty to Disclose Partial Settlement Agreements in a Multi-Party Litigation” Building Insight – Glaholt Bowles LLP Newsletter, Summer 2024 (Issue 26).
- “Understanding Notice Holdback" Building Insight - Glaholt Bowles LLP Newsletter, Spring 2024 (Issue 25).