Ian Gosselin

Senior Partner Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Québec +1 418 640 5029

Ian Gosselin

Ian Gosselin has in-depth experience in infrastructure and construction law as well as product liability, areas in which he has been practicing for over 30 years. His extensive experience has allowed him to take part in a wide range of large-scale projects at different stages of their development and implementation.

Ian's skills are sought after by players in the sector to try to defuse difficult, complex situations early, before disputes arise. In these situations, he frequently acts as a strategic advisor to the members of the project team, simultaneously with the work being carried out, with regard to relations with the client, subcontractors and suppliers, as well as with public and regulatory bodies.

Ian has established a reputation for resolving complex disputes. He has frequently pleaded before civil courts and arbitration tribunals and has cumulated more than 600 days before the courts over the course of his career, which gives him a particular perspective when serving as a mediator to prevent disputes. He also acts as mediator in civil and commercial disputes.

Ian was a member of the firm's partnership committee from 2013 to 2024. He is listed in Best Lawyers in Canada and in the Canadian legal directory Lexpert. He is also a Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.

Professional experience

Representative experience

Ian has represented the following clients:

Groupe Dallaire inc., in connection with the development and implementation of its innovative, mixed-use project Le Phare, in Quebec City, valued at $750 million
Réseau de Transport de la Capital (RTC), in connection with the realization of Quebec City's impactful Réseau's public transit project, which includes a 23-km tramway line, valued at more than $3 billion
Medicago Inc., in connection with the development and construction of its manufacturing complex in the Espace d'innovation d'Estimauville, valued at more than $245 million
A large, multidisciplinary general contractor, in connection with a multifunctional amphitheater in the Greater Montreal area, targeted by disputes of more than $45 million between all the project stakeholders, including the surety company, following a major delay of more than two years in the completion of work
Quebecor Group, in negotiations with the City of Québec for the management and operation of a $400-million multifunctional amphitheater and in legal proceedings taken by opponents of the project
The Sept-Îles port authority in defence as part of a claim of over $50 million for additional costs by the general contractor in relation to the construction of its multi-user, deep-water port facility, valued at more than $200 million
Mammoet in defence as part of a $70 million claim brought by its competitor, Guay Limitée, for profits lost as a result of an alleged breach of a non-compete clause
The port authority of Quebec, in defence as part of two class actions regarding an alleged dispersion of dust and contaminants in the neighbouring environment
Major engineering firms in multiple disputes involving claims relating to construction projects and involving, in particular, alleged professional liability issues
Defence of the surety bonds company Intact in the context of an action for more than $25 million brought by the general contractor for additional costs and alleged damages in the context of construction work on Route 167

Rankings and recognitions

•    Best Lawyers in Canada: Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2024-2025
•    Construction Law, 2006-2025; Litigation - Corporate Commercial; 2012-2025; Director and Officer Liability Practice, 2011-2025; Construction Law "Lawyer of the Year," Québec, 2010, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2025
•    Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: most frequently or constantly recommended in Construction Law, 2012-2024; Litigation - Corporate Commercial, 2013-2024; Litigation - Product Liability, 2014-2024; Infrastructure Law, 2022-2024; 2024: Commercial Arbitration and Litigation, 2024
•    Lexpert Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyer, Special edition, Infrastructure, 2024
•    Lexpert Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyer, Special edition, Litigation, 2024
•    Lexpert Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyer, Special edition, Litigation, December 2019
•    Lexpert /The American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2008
•    Martindale-Hubbell — BV Peer Review Rating

Education

LL.B., Université Laval, 1991

Admissions

Quebec 1992

Speaking engagements

•    "Revue de la jurisprudence récente concernant l’obligation de renseignement du donneur d’ouvrage et la méthode d’analyse de retards "n’eût été" (but-for test)," 23e journée d’étude sur les réclamations sur contrats, Quebec City, February 21, 2024.
•    "La protection des créances des sous-traitants dans les contrats en droit public," 21e journée d’étude sur les réclamations sur contrats, Québec, February 16, 2022
•    "Comment préparer et négocier une entente de répartition des responsabilités lors de délais de chantier," Journée d'étude sur les délais de construction, Quebec City, November 14, 2018 and Montreal, November 21, 2018.
•    "Analyser, évaluer, interpréter et gérer les risques avant, pendant et après la formation de vos contrats de construction," The Canadian Institute, advanced conference on claims and dispute management in the construction industry, Montreal, April 24, 2013.
•    "L'élaboration de votre code d'éthique : la mise en œuvre de vos valeurs et de vos propriétés," 16th annual conference of the Corporation des entrepreneurs généraux du Québec (CEGQ), February 21, 2013, Quebec City.
•    "Développer un code d'éthique au sein de votre organisation, son contenu, son essence et ses avantages," The Canadian Institute, Montreal, April 25, 2012.
•    "Ce que vous devez savoir quant aux pénalités pour retard en matière de construction," 15th annual conference of the CEGQ, Quebec City, February 2, 2012.
•    "Des obligations fondamentales des intervenants de la construction, de leur responsabilité au cas d'un manquement à celles-ci et des modalités de la mise en œuvre des réclamations afférentes," presentation of the master's in construction law courses given at Laval University, Quebec City, November 28 and 30, 2011.
•    "Revue des obligations légales et contractuelles du professionnel visé aux contrats normalisés de l'industrie de la construction," 14th annual conference of the CEGQ, Montebello, Quebec City, February 18, 2011.
•    "Rôle et responsabilités de l'ingénieur sur un chantier de construction," 67th conference of the Association des constructeurs de routes et grands travaux du Québec (ACRGTQ), Quebec City, January 20, 2011.