Dentons

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Partner, Global Vice Chair of the Dentons Global Board

Karen Martin is the co-leader of the Dentons Vancouver Construction Group, the national co-leader of Dentons Canada's Construction group, and a prominent partner in the Infrastructure and PPP and Litigation and Dispute Resolution groups. She serves as the Global Vice Chair of Dentons’ Global Board.

Karen is recognized as one of Canada’s leading construction and infrastructure lawyers. She has held several leadership positions in the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, including President. Drawing from extensive experience and the latest legal developments, Karen provides strategic advice to clients to minimize legal risk during procurement, design and construction. She provides valuable input into 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, Karen negotiates resolutions and acts as counsel in the mediation, arbitration and litigation of construction claims, including on P3, mining and energy sector projects.

Clients have praised Karen for her pragmatic approach, impressive trial experience, and deep sector knowledge, establishing her as a highly regarded figure in the construction industry. Over the past three decades, her role as counsel in large construction trials has equipped her with the ability to quickly grasp the technical aspects of  construction claims and offer creative and tailored advice to clients on 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.

An accomplished author and speaker, Karen frequently addresses complex litigation and construction issues, including procurement, builders’ liens, delay claims, construction disputes and settlement of multi-party litigation.

English

Past President, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers Chair, Arbitration and Mediation Committee, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers Member, BC Law Institute’s Builders Lien Act Reform Project Committee, 2014-present Member, Canadian Bar Association (British Columbia Branch) Special Committee on Contribution after Settlement under the Negligence Act Member, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Construction Law subsection Member, Certified Professional Committee, City of Vancouver, 2003-2005

ADR Institute of BC, 2019, Certified Arbitrator

Harvard Law School, 2003, Mediation Workshop

University of British Columbia, 1984, LLB

University of British Columbia, 1979-81, Faculty of Commerce

Dalhousie University, 1978-79, Faculty of Arts

Centre for Conflict Resolution, Justice Institute of B.C., Negotiation and Mediation Courses, 1997, 1999