A Global Perspective – Built in Construction
Paul Winfield is an arbitrator, adjudicator, mediator and expert witness with ADR Chambers in Canada, bringing over 35 years of hands-on construction experience to the alternative dispute resolution table. His career spans every tier of the industry – from site level operations to executive leadership – across commercial, industrial, transportation, infrastructure, oil and gas, processing plants, airports, rail, civil engineering and nuclear facilities.
His global portfolio includes early works planning and procurement, contract negotiation, project delivery, and advocacy under both bespoke and standard form contracts. Whether navigating FIDIC, CCDC, NEC, JCT, ICE, or custom frameworks, Paul understands not just the legal structure but the operational realities behind them.
Dual Perspective: Contractor & Owner
Paul has served as both contractor and owner representative, managing administrative and strategic functions on complex builds across jurisdictions. His insight into risk allocation, contracting strategy, and dispute dynamics is informed by decades of direct involvement – not just observation.
He has advised on, and compiled claims, narratives and quantum assessments for disputes for senior executives, leading counsel, and King’s Counsel. His advocacy experience spans both domestic and international forums, where he brings clarity and credibility to technically complex matters.
Legal Credentials and Industry Recognition
Barrister-at-Law (England & Wales) – Called to the Bar in July 2010
Member – Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Fellow – Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Resolving Disputes with Insight and Integrity
Paul is uniquely positioned to understand the context and constraints that shape construction disputes. He knows how to build a compelling, evidence-based claim – and just as importantly, how to deliver a fair, reasoned decision that parties can trust and accept.
His approach blends technical fluency with legal precision, ensuring that outcomes are not only justifiable but grounded in the realities of how construction truly works.
“I have the privilege of working with Paul in for more than a year. He is very sharp, proactive, result oriented, responsible and technically sound commercial expert. He is always ready to put all his energy and time to get the job done. He has an exceptional troubleshooting and analytical skill in commercial & claim management. Paul is a great asset to any company.”
Settling Disputes
There is no standard way in which a construction arbitration or adjudication should be conducted. Every project is, to some greater or lesser extent, unique, and the disputes that arise from it should be catered for appropriately.
Despite this, many construction arbitration and adjudication processes incorporate a common approach. This is because, at the outset of the process, the decision-maker and the parties may not have considered all the practices and procedures available to them.
The practices and procedures in construction arbitration and adjudication must be expeditious and cost-effective, and the concept of party autonomy should be balanced against the insight and experience of the tribunal to find a procedure which allows it to discharge its duties without unnecessary delay or expense.
Construction disputes are usually factually and technically complex, they comprise difficult points of law and procedure and generate a multitude of documents, some of which are relevant to the matters at hand. A cross-functional construction professional with the ability to understand the following issues is key to the successful determination of a construction dispute.
Standard form contracts are increasingly used on construction projects, all of which have their own particular mechanisms for administration, dispute avoidance and resolution as a condition precedent to arbitration or adjudication.
In recent years, the advancement of computer aided design, building information modelling and integrated digital design, together with software for scheduling, procurement, document control and record keeping have all been adopted into the construction process. These software packages are usually key to claims for delay and disruption and the resultant quantum, and it is essential that a third-party neutral has an appreciation of their capabilities and methods for demonstration of causation and impact.
In addition, an appreciation of the management and allocation of risk and responsibilities, a familiarity with the industry itself, together with an understanding of the procurement strategy, the terms and conditions of contract, the complexity of the work, contract management/administration, and the need for experts on legal or technical matters, to name but a few, should all be in the tribunal’s toolbox.
Construction disputes may involve a plethora of claims and counterclaims, and it may be desirable to split the case, not only in terms of jurisdiction, liability and quantum but also between issues relevant to some parties but not others. It may also be appropriate to separate factual or core legal issues in order to examine them separately, this is especially so in high complex, high value projects.
The tribunal is duty bound to advise the parties of the best route the arbitration or adjudication should take, to do so takes an appreciation of these key factors related to the dispute. This insight is crucial to securing a cost-effective process whilst maintaining the confidence and co-operation of the parties.
The parties should carefully consider the selection of its arbitrator(s) or adjudicator, who will not only decide on the merits, but will also have broad powers to determine the procedure of the process, including the manner in which the evidence is to be presented and considered.
Professional Profile Overview
Core Expertise
◊ 3 rd Party Neutral (Adjudication, Arbitration & Mediation)
◊ Contract Drafting
◊ Expert Reports
◊ Contract Negotiation (Terms & Conditions/Scope)
◊ Claims Identification, Preparation and Articulation
◊ Risk and Opportunity Management
◊ Forensic Analysis, and Determination
◊ Project Commercial Management
◊ Contract Administration
◊ Project Controls, Schedule/ Programme
◊ Procurement
Qualifications
◊ Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
◊ Certified ODACC Adjudicator in Ontario
◊ Qualified Arbitrator – ADRIO
◊ Qualified Mediator – ADRIO
◊ Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society – Gold Standard in Commercial Arbitration
◊ Barrister at Law – Bar Vocational Course – Call July 2010
◊ LL.B. Law (England & Wales)
◊ ADRIC-RICS Adjudication Advocate
◊ HNC Construction (Building & Quantity Surveying)
Arbitration Affiliation and Training Rosters
Designations/Affiliations
Vocational Training
◊ ODACC Certified Adjudicator Training
◊ SCDRO (Saskatchewan) Certified Adjudicator Training
◊ CIArb – Accelerated Route to Fellowship
◊ Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society – Gold Standard in Commercial Arbitration
◊ ADRIO – Qualified Arbitrator
◊ ADRIO – Qualified Mediator
◊ Negotiating Contracts in the Oil & Gas Industry
Professional Designations and Affiliations
- Vice Chair & PR Officer- Ciarb Canada Branch
- Panel Member – ADR Chambers
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- ADRIC-RICS Adjudicator and Advocate
- Unregistered Barrister at the Bar of England and Wales
- Member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- Member of the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society (TCAS)
- ODACC Adjudicator
- ADRIO Referee – MTO and ORBA
- ADRIO Qualified Arbitrator
- ADRIO Qualified Mediator
- Member of the ADR Institute Ontario (ADRIO)
- Member of the ADR Institute Canada (ADRIC)
- Member of the ADR Institute of Saskatchewan (ADRSK)
- ADRSK Adjudicator
- Member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Society of Construction Law – North America
Let's Resolve Something
Hire a qualified adjudicator, arbitrator and mediator in Ontario who also has extensive Domestic and International on-site construction experience.
Resolve your construction dispute legally without costly litigation.
Paul Winfield LL. B (Hons), BVC
(905) 301 9160
pwinfield@mail.com