Description
A construction law specialist with over 20 years experience, Marie-Claude Carrier frequently argues cases in this area and serves a clientele of general and special contractors, material suppliers, manufacturers and project managers. Marie-Claude Carrier's practice is focused exclusively on construction law and she is an expert in all types of construction-related  litigation, including construction defects, legal construction hypothecs (builder’s liens), extra work and related claims, surety bonds, calls for tenders, and claims arising from the rules of the Quebec Bid Depository System.

Marie-Claude has had many articles on construction law published and frequently serves as a conference presenter and instructor in her field. At the annual CEGQ convention of Quebec general contractors in Mont Tremblant in February 2008, she made a presentation on a precedent-setting decision she successfully argued in Superior Court and in the Court of Appeal that recognized the latitude of general contractors to accept noncompliant bids.

Appreciated for her rigour, tenacity, accessibility and eminently practical approach, Marie-Claude manages her files with remarkable efficiency that consistently benefits her clientele. She is included in the prestigious The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 directory in Construction Law. 
   

Associations & Achievements
2001-2007 - Member, American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)

Since 2000 - Member, Corporation des entrepreneurs généraux du Québec (association of Quebec general contractors)

Since 1988 - Member, Canadian Bar Association, Construction Law Section

Presentations & Conferences
2012 – "Abusive proceedings: what are they and what are the possible consequences?" (CEGQ annual convention)

2011 - "What should a general contractor do if the trustee makes a claim following the bankruptcy of a subcontractor?" (CEGQ annual convention)

2010- "Is it possible to publish a legal construction hypothec (builder’s lien) against the immovable of a public project manager?" (CEGQ annual convention). 

2009 - "Examination and cross-examination of expert witnesses", Langlois Kronström Desjardins.

2009 - "Is it possible to publish a legal construction hypothec (builder’s lien) against the immovable of a public project manager?", Langlois Kronström Desjardins. 

2009 - "Site Completion by Contractors" (CEGQ annual convention).

2009 - "Choice of Residence Clauses" (CEGQ annual convention).

2008 - "Training on Legal Construction Hypothecs, the New QBDS Code, and Construction Bonds".

2008 - "Ruling of the Court of Appeal in HMI-Promec: Discharge of a legal hypothec against Hydro-Québec".

2008 - "In defence of article J-6 of the QBDS code" (CEGQ annual conference).

2008 - "Professional liability (architects and engineers) "(Canadian Department of National Defence).

2007 - "The obligation of good faith in contractual matters under article 1375 of the Civil Code of Québec" (annual CEGQ conference).

2005 - "Article J-8 of the QBDS code" (CEGQ annual conference).

2005 - "Equivalences" (ASPE symposium).

2005 - "What you should know about legal construction hypothecs."

2004 - "Bankruptcy and Construction Sites".

2004 - "Delays: Who Gives What?"

2004 - "Unilateral termination of a construction contrac"t (CEGQ annual conference).

2004 - "A project manager’s obligation to provide information".

2003 - "Possible Recourse Regarding QBDS (ASPE) Rules"

2003 - "Training session for general contractors".

2003 -  "Training session for special contractors."

2002 - "Obligations and liability of contractors under the Civil Code of Québec."

2002 - "Construction surety bonding."

2002 - "Warranties and hidden defects."

2002 - "What you should know about calls for tenders."

2002 - "Practical guide to construction."

2001 - "What to do in the case of excessive holdbacks by the owner upon completion of work" (CEGQ annual conference/Mont Tremblant).

2001 - "Legal construction hypothecs"  (ASPE/Quebec technical symposium).

Publications

2003 - La portée de l’article J-8 selon la Cour d’appel (The Scope of Article J-8 according to the Court of Appeal)

2003 - Bref survol de certaines modifications récentes au Code de procédure (Brief Overview of Some Recent Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure)

2003 - Réclamation de perte de profit pour contravention aux règles du BSDQ (Claims for Lost Profit due to Breach of QBDS Rules)

2002 - Guide pratique de la construction (Practical Construction Guide)

2002 - Les règles de l’art (Best Practices)

2002 -L’hypothèque légale de la construction et l’abandon des travaux (Legal Construction Hypothecs and Abandonment of the Work)

2002 - La responsabilité de l’administrateur et actionnaire d’une compagnie (Liability of Company Directors and Shareholders)

2002 - L’absence d’ordre de changement est-elle fatale? (Is the Lack of a Change Order Fatal?)

2002 - Un donneur d’ouvrage peut-il défendre à un entrepreneur qui est partie à une procédure judiciaire contre lui de soumissionner?(Can a Project Manager Prevent a Contractor who is Party to Legal Proceedings Against It from Bidding?)

2002 - Un débiteur peut-il reprocher à son créancier de ne pas avoir inscrit une hypothèque légale de la construction sur l’immeuble de sa compagnie? (Can a Debtor Reproach a Creditor for Not Registering a Legal Construction Hypothec against its Building?)

2002 - Clause d’élection de domicile dans un contrat de construction (Election of Domicile Clauses in Construction Contracts)

2002 - L’ACQ et le pouvoir d’imposer des amendes (The Quebec Construction Association and the Power to Impose Fines)

2002 - Des changements en matière d’hypothèque légale de la construction relativement aux frais d’avocats (Changes in Legal Construction Hypothecs with respect to Legal Fees)

2001 - L’hypothèque légale de la construction (Legal Construction Hypothecs), with Simon Rainville

2001- Que faire en cas de retenue exagérée du propriétaire à la fin des travaux  (What to Do in the Case of Excessive Holdbacks by the Owner upon the Completion of Work)

2001 - La radiation de l’hypothèque légale de la construction d’un entrepreneur pour défaut de licence (Deregistration of a Contractor’s Legal Construction Hypothec for not Having a Licence)

2001 - La transaction ou l’entente de règlement(Settlement Agreements)

Representative mandates
Acted as lead counsel in numerous complex construction litigation cases where the amounts at issue totalled many millions of dollars.

Brought or defended against numerous legal claims concerning the five-year liability for serious defects in construction or design.

Brought or defended against numerous legal claims on behalf of general contractors and subcontractors in connection with the Quebec Bid Depository System Code, including many cases successfully argued in defence of one of the largest general contractors in Quebec.

Took out legal construction hypothecs and instituted hypothecary recourses on behalf of many general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on multiple projects throughout Quebec, notably Québec City’s Palais Montcalm and Saint-Hyacinthe’s Honoré Mercier Hospital.

Negotiated many construction contracts, in English and French, with project managers on behalf of general contractors.

Handled numerous litigation files involving calls for tenders, including the successful challenge on behalf of one of the largest general contractors in Quebec of an interim injunction application from a competitor seeking to prevent a major construction contract from going ahead.