Lawyer
Brendan Dawes
Profile
Brendan is an experienced construction lawyer who represents clients in all aspects of construction disputes, including claims involving delay and disruption, defects and deficiencies, warranty coverage, negligent design, builders liens, and changes and extras. He acts for owners, developers, general contractors, trades, and suppliers in complex, multi-party litigation, and provides strategic counsel through alternative dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Brendan has regularly appeared before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and his arbitration practice includes representing owners and general contractors in arbitrations administered by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre (VanIAC). He also has experience representing clients in construction disputes in other Canadian jurisdictions, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
In addition to his litigation and dispute resolution work, Brendan’s practice includes contract drafting and advising on project delivery for a wide range of developments, including single-family residential projects and multi-unit residential towers.
Brendan also has a burgeoning administrative law practice, with experience acting as counsel for professional regulators. He has acted as prosecutor for Engineers and Geoscientists BC in numerous discipline matters involving allegations of professional misconduct, including complaints involving complex structural engineering.
Before joining Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Brendan articled and practiced at a national law firm, gaining experience in commercial litigation, insurance defence, employment law, and construction law.
Expertise
Experience Highlights
- Counsel for the design-builder in an arbitration administered by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for delay, disruption, and allegations of design defects arising out of an energy infrastructure project
- Prosecution counsel for Engineers and Geoscientists BC in multiple professional discipline proceedings, including a 2025 hearing before the disciple panel
- Counsel for the project engineer in a Supreme Court of British Columbia action for damages arising from the failure of the transmission line component of a 31 MV hydro-electric power project
- Co-counsel for the architect in a water-ingress clam involving a multi-story townhouse and condominium development
- Co-counsel for the manufacturer of wall components in a claim for the replacement cost of a 600 m retaining wall
- Litigation counsel for residential general contractors and home owners in all manner of payment disputes and claims of builders lien
- Litigation counsel for a large, multi-national product certification and testing firm in product liability and professional negligence claims advanced in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
- Co-counsel for a US-based plastics manufacturer in a Supreme Court of British Columbia action for damages arising from crop damage
- Litigation counsel for a residential property insurer in a coverage claim arising from a water loss event
- Counsel for a structural engineering firm in a professional negligence claim arising from the renovation of a multi-unit residential complex
Education & Bar Admissions
- B.A., Simon Fraser University, 2012
- J.D., University of British Columbia, 2015
- Called to the Bar of British Columbia, 2016
Rankings & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers (Construction Law – British Columbia) since 2024
Memberships & Associations
- Member of the Law Society of British Columbia (2016)
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, “The Employer’s Duty of Good Faith”, Workplace Law Seminar, March, 2019
- Presenter, “Working Your Way Into Canada“, CLEBC, October, 2017
Publications
- Co-author, British Columbia Builders Liens Practise Manual – Chapter 9: Priorities and Builders Liens – 2025 BC
- Continuing Legal Education Society
- Co-author, Expert Evidence in British Columbia Civil Proceedings – Chapter 7: Calling Expert Evidence – 2018 BC Continuing Legal Education Society
Personal
In his free time, Brendan enjoys archery, cooking, and listening to his ever-growing collection of vinyl records.