Reviewing a CCDC 2 or similar contract and the supplementary conditions before you sign.
Timing depends on the contract and negotiations; ideally the review is done before signing or bid closing. Ontario Done by an Ontario lawyer, by referral
What is included
Reviews or drafts the contract, including CCDC forms and supplementary conditions
Explains payment, change, delay, warranty and termination terms
Aligns the contract with the Construction Act's prompt payment and holdback rules
Reviews insurance, bonding and indemnity terms
Negotiates changes with the other party
What is not included
Reports from engineers, schedulers or quantity surveyors, and other disbursements
Court, adjudication or arbitration filing fees
Appeals unless added to the retainer
Project management or site inspections
Who this service is for
Owners and developers starting a project
General contractors and trades
Architects, engineers and design-build teams
Contractors arranging bonding
Information to have ready
1The draft contract or bid documents
2Project scope, schedule and payment terms
3Insurance and bonding requirements
4Any related subcontracts or consultant agreements
How a referral works
1Tell us in a few words what the matter is about, and who else is involved, so we can check for a conflict of interest.
2We recommend an Ontario lawyer for your matter, and at least one other you could choose instead.
3The lawyer runs their own conflict check, confirms the scope and quotes the fee, normally in a written retainer agreement.
4You pay the lawyer's fee to the lawyer. Any referral fee comes out of it, is disclosed to you in writing, and never increases what you pay.
A typical Ontario fee for this service is $1,500–$4,500, plus HST. The lawyer quotes the actual fee before any work starts. You pay the lawyer directly; the referral itself costs you nothing.
Are CCDC contracts ready to sign as is?+
They are widely used standard forms, but most projects add supplementary conditions. Those changes can shift risk significantly, so a review is worthwhile.
Can a contract override the Construction Act?+
Many parts of the Act, such as lien, holdback and prompt payment rules, generally cannot be contracted out of. The lawyer can check that your contract fits the Act.
General information only, not legal advice. NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.
Important limitations
No outcome can be guaranteed
Statutory and contract deadlines keep running during a referral
The lawyer confirms the scope, fee and steps in a written retainer before starting