Natasha Carew

Natasha Carew is a litigation partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office. She is well-versed in a range of commercial disputes involving construction, infrastructure, public private partnerships (P3s), business partnerships, shareholders, debtors and creditors, employment contracts, consulting contracts, commercial leasing, and insurance. Her clients range from multi-national corporations to start-up companies and individuals.

Natasha helps construction industry clients successfully navigate Ontario's Construction Act. She has expertise in adjudication, prompt payment, the prosecution and defence of construction lien actions, deficiency claims, delay claims, and priority disputes between lien claimants and mortgagees. She has represented contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, designers, developers, lenders, and joint venture partners in respect of disputes arising from construction and infrastructure projects, including P3 projects (stadia, tracks, residences, light rail transit & hospitals), condominiums, university campus residences, luxury properties, and wind farms.

Natasha seeks to achieve efficient and cost-effective results through alternative dispute resolution tools, including mediation and settlement conferences. When necessary, she is an aggressive advocate for her clients at Ontario's courts and at arbitrations across the country.

As a past adjunct professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School (teaching negotiation) and Windsor Law School (teaching legal remedies), Natasha is committed to mentorship and professional development. In addition to teaching, she frequently presents to clients and other lawyers on the topics of construction law, remedies, expert witnesses, and legal writing.

Natasha is passionate about volunteering and fundraising. She regularly acts as pro bono counsel, including advocating for the property rights of a single mother and the employment rights of a transgender man. In lieu of receiving wedding presents, Natasha and her partner - with the help of friends and colleagues - raised enough money to privately sponsor a refugee family's resettlement in Canada. Natasha led the sponsorship effort, finding housing for the family of four and supporting them financially and logistically during their first year in Canada.

A newly minted marathon runner, Natasha enjoys being outside and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Mandats représentatifs

  • Representing several Ontario based contractors and subcontractors in construction lien disputes pursuant to the Construction Act
  • Representing several Ontario based lenders in priority disputes pursuant to the Construction Act
  • Representing contractor in $85 million dispute with international joint venture partner arising from a P3 contract for the design and construction of stadia and running tracks
  • Acting for designer consortium in respect of claims by constructor consortium arising from a P3 contract for the design and construction of a light rail transit system
  • Acting for private equity investment firm in respect of a dispute with bid partner and the Crown arising from an RFP for a P3 contract
  • Representing an international contractor in a $30 million dispute with developer regarding change orders, delays and a force majeure event arising from the design and construction of a wind farm in Ontario; representing contractor with respect to associated subcontractor disputes
  • Representing multinational corrosion engineer and masonry contractor in $10 million arbitration arising from a failed component of a carbon capture plant
  • Representing a University in a $10 million dispute with its contractor and subcontractors arising from the construction of student residences
  • Representing supplier in construction lien dispute in respect of land owned by the Crown and administered by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
  • Representing condo corporation in respect of deficiencies arising from a church to condo conversion project
  • Representing a University in the expropriation of a parcel of land in Toronto
  • Representing a commercial landlord in a series of commercial leasing disputes
  • Acting for various municipalities in respect of insured claims
  • Representing a health technology startup in various commercial, shareholder and employment disputes
  • Representing a health care sector consultancy in a commercial contract dispute
  • Representing a consulting company in respect of the breaches of fiduciary duty and non-compete clauses by departed executives
  • Representing an investment dealer in a shareholder dispute
  • Representing marketing company in arbitration arising from a commercial contract dispute
  • On team representing plaintiffs in class action lawsuit against the Canadian government arising from improper deductions of disability pension benefits payable under the Pension Act from Veteran Affairs Canada income support programs: the Earnings Loss Benefit and Canadian Forces Income Support benefit