Sahil Shoor

Sahil Shoor is a litigation and dispute resolution partner based out of Gowling WLG's Waterloo Region office. His practice is focused on construction and infrastructure projects (including public-private partnership), expropriation law, land use planning law and real property disputes. He brings a wealth of experience in helping clients ensure projects are put and stay on track and, where disputes are unavoidable, in the conduct of formal and informal dispute resolution proceedings. Most recently, Sahil was recognized by The Legal 500 Canada 2022 as a Next Generation Partner in Dispute Resolution – Ontario.

Personable and engaging, as well as organized and focused, Sahil puts his clients at ease while navigating them throughout the litigation and dispute resolution process. He brings a combination of creative thinking, meticulous preparation and strong advocacy to each of his cases. He combines effective written and oral advocacy skills, presentation, problem solving and interpersonal skills, with sound judgment and analysis to solve his clients' problems and advocate on their behalf. Sahil provides strategic litigation (and litigation avoidance) advice to his clients, with the goal of obtaining result oriented, practical and cost-effective solutions.

In his construction law practice, Sahil works in all sectors that involve construction projects, including commercial construction, real estate development, infrastructure and civil works, power and energy (nuclear, hydro-electric and power generating stations), and transit/transportation (P3). Sahil acts for owners, sureties, developers, engineers, contractors and subcontractors at various stages of project development and execution. He is a firm believer in proactive project management to avoid disputes or to protect his clients' positions should that not be possible, but is a seasoned fighter and formidable opponent where necessary. He is as comfortable managing large trials on highly technical disputes in litigation and arbitration as he is in conducting mediations, adjudications and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, whatever the jurisdiction or location of the project.

His experience includes providing contract administration advice during the course of completion of projects, strategic dispute management advice prior to the commencement of formal proceedings, negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation of construction disputes, including construction liens, breach of trust claims, priority disputes, breach of contract, negligence claims, delays, surety bonds, construction insurance, construction insolvency/receivership and architects' and engineers' error and omissions. Sahil has served as counsel to owners, consultants, and design-builders to successfully manage large delay claims, and other legal issues on high-profile transportation and other infrastructure projects. Sahil's construction and delay experience extends to maritime structures such as Navy Warships (including vessel superstructures and weapons systems retrofits), as well as offshore rigs and platforms.

Sahil drafts and negotiates all forms of construction, architectural and infrastructure contracts on behalf of owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, and is intimately familiar with the industry changes effected by Ontario's new Construction Act. Sahil also now provides advice on COVID-19 excusable and delay claims, force majeure events and compliance with Emergency Decrees.

Sahil's municipal litigation practice leads him to appear before municipal boards and councils, and a variety of administrative tribunals and courts, including the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, with a focus on municipal planning and expropriation matters. For private sector clients, Sahil acts for property owners, tenants and business owners with respect to planning, zoning and expropriation matters involving land development and public project/land acquisitions.

Sahil has a proven record of effective advocacy as counsel before courts in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and a number of administrative tribunals. Sahil is a regular speaker on construction and expropriation/municipal law, legal remedies, expert witnesses and legal professionalism. Sahil's legal commentary has been published by The Advocates' Quarterly, Daily Commercial News, Lexology and Mondaq.

Outside of the office, Sahil is actively engaged in the broader legal community. Since 2018, he has been promoting the interests of advocacy lawyers in their first ten years of practice with the Young Advocates' Standing Committee (YASC – a committee of The Advocates' Society).

Career & Recognition

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Memberships

  • The Advocates' Society (Young Advocates Standing Committee)
  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Ontario Bar Association 
  • Law Society of British Columbia