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Matthew N. Craig

Partner

Suite 1100, Cabot Place
100 New Gower St.
St. John’s, N.L.
A1C 6K3

+1.709.570.8827

+1.709.722.4565

mcraig@stewartmckelvey.com

Language(s) spoken: English

Bar Admission(s): Newfoundland and Labrador, 2013

Legal Assistant(s): Sharon Tucker

Matthew provides corporate, commercial and litigation services to construction, energy and natural resources clients, amongst others. Matthew has significant experience advising a broad range of clients on construction and procurement matters in both the public and private sectors and leads seminars on procurement best practices.

With nearly two years’ experience as in-house counsel in the energy sector, Matthew understands client expectations and the value of practical solutions.

Matthew’s representative experience includes:

  • Procurement: Drafting requests for expressions of interest, requests for qualifications, tenders and requests for proposals. Advising owners and bidders on all matters related to procurement, including public procurement requirements, methods of bid solicitation, bid evaluation procedures, bid compliance, subcontractor issues, contract award, bid rejection procedures, and disputes related to bid rejection.
  • Construction: Advising owners, contractors, engineers, subcontractors and suppliers on a range of issues, including tendering and procurement, contract drafting and negotiation, mechanics’ liens, disputes, and commercial and subdivision development. Matthew has successfully negotiated the resolution of a multi-million dollar dispute between an owner and contractor, saving his client the time and expense associated with formal mediation and arbitration. Matthew also provides clients with strategic advice for navigating changes to contractual and commercial circumstances while projects are ongoing, with a view to avoiding future disputes.
  • Energy: Advising owners and developers of clean energy projects on a range of issues, including regulatory processes for securing land and development rights, regulatory frameworks for the purchase and sale of energy, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts related to the purchase, sale, and transmission of energy.
  • Natural Resources: Advising mining clients on transactional, contract and regulatory matters, and representing client interests in administrative proceedings.
  • Commercial Transactions: Acting for buyers and sellers of businesses in asset and share transactions. Acting for lenders and borrowers in financial transactions.
  • Corporate Formation/Reorganization: Advising on corporate organization and governance.
  • Litigation: Acting for clients in court proceedings and private arbitrations on a wide range of commercial matters.

Education & Career

Education

University of New Brunswick, Juris Doctorate in Law, 2012
University of New Brunswick, Bachelor in Education, 2009
University of New Brunswick, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, 2008

Activities

Member, Canadian Bar Association
Director and VP Community Relations, East Coast Trial Association
Member, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), 2023
Legal Governance Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association

Accolades

2010 Trilateral Moot Best Written Submissions, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010 Harrison Shield Moot Winner, Fredericton, New Brunswick
2010 Starr House Award
2009 Marie La Forest Scholarship
2008-2009 Norris Hayward Memorial Scholarship
2004 Governor Thomas Carleton Entrance Scholarship

Publications

Author, Municipal News, Tendering: The Court of Appeal Weighs In (2014)

Co-Author, NLCA Construction Journal, RFP versus tender call: What can you expect from a project owner? (2014)

Author, Trains, Planes and Automobiles: Vacation in Atlantic Canada (2013)

Author, Municipal News, Dealing with Subdivision Development Part 2: During and Post-Construction (2013)

Author, Municipal News, Dealing with Subdivision Development Part 1: Pre-Construction (2012)

Presentations

Co-presenter, “Competitive Bidding and Procurement: A Seminar on Best Practices”, The Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association webinar

February 24, 2022

Guest speaker, “COVID-19 Delays and Contractual Notice Periods”, The Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association electrical/mechanical contractors virtual section meeting

February 17, 2022

Nalcor Energy – Changes to Public Procurement Law in Newfoundland and Labrador (2018)

Stewart McKelvey – Bill 46 – A New Newfoundland and Labrador Public Procurement Act (2017)

Metro Business Opportunities Group – Corporate and Commercial Law for Start Ups (2015)

Professional Municipal Administrators – Public Tendering in Newfoundland and Labrador (2014 and 2015)

 
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