Edward (Ted) G. Betts
Ted Betts is a lawyer and partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office. He practises corporate, construction and infrastructure law and is the co-head of the firm's Infrastructure and Construction Group. A Certified Specialist in construction law, he has more than 20 years of experience in the construction and infrastructure sectors.
In particular, Ted regularly acts as quarterback on large-scale construction and development projects co-ordinating and supervising the timely and cost-effective delivery of project documents, regulatory and government approvals, tax structuring, OHS planning, insurance and risk advice and strategic advice from other legal specialists.
Ted acts on all aspects of tendering, negotiating and drafting of construction contracts, structuring, project management, financing and sales. He has developed specialized expertise in negotiating and drafting construction contracts on large-scale construction, P3/infrastructure and development projects. He 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 solar power generating stations), mining and transit/transportation. He has drafted and negotiated all types of contracts and project structures, including construction management, design-build, EPC/EPCM, and consulting agreements.
Ted's recent construction and infrastructure projects include the rehabilitation of a major Canada-US cross-border bridge, a US$35 billion nuclear power plant in the Middle East, the campus expansion and property development for a major Canadian university, the Revitalization Project for Toronto Community Housing, and several light rail transit projects.
He also has a broad corporate/commercial practice which consists of all aspects of the purchase and sale of businesses, corporate and project finance, private equity investments and commercial transactions. He advises a number of clients, particularly financial service providers and technology companies, on their corporate development and growth, and their acquisitions and financings, as well as their commercial activities and regulatory matters.
Ted is recognized as a leading construction, infrastructure and projects lawyer by Lexpert and Legal 500 Canada and as a leading corporate lawyer in The Best Lawyers in Canada. He has also written papers and presented seminars on tendering and construction, shareholders agreements and general corporate law. Ted currently sits as the vice-chair of the executive of the Construction and Infrastructure Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA). He is also the chair of the OBA's Construction Lien Act Reform Committee.
Ted is spearheading Gowling WLG's efforts to report and advise on Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017 and the Ontario government's efforts to introduce significant reforms and changes to the Construction Lien Act (Ontario).
Ted is president and chair of the Board of Directors of Family Service Toronto, one of the largest and oldest charitable organizations in Toronto. He also coaches community-level hockey. In 2013, Ted was recognized by the province of Ontario for his volunteer services, receiving a Volunteer Service Award.