William Curtis Aaron Hunter

Aaron Hunter is a partner in Gowling WLG's Infrastructure and Construction Group, based in Toronto.

Aaron’s practice is focused on helping owners, engineers, architects, contractors, and suppliers develop and build major capital projects in Canada and around the world. He has extensive experience structuring, drafting, and negotiating the complex commercial contracts at the core of large projects.

No project is ever risk-free, but when the key contracts are clear, fair, and practical, all parties benefit, and the project is much more likely to come in on time, on budget, and performing to specifications. Good contracts encourage long-term strategic thinking, build strong relationships, and make a project much more resilient than it would otherwise be.

Companies in mining, manufacturing, transportation, energy, food and beverage, and other industries look to Aaron for legal leadership at all stages in the life cycle of greenfield and brownfield projects, from the earliest structuring decisions to studies, design, construction, testing, commissioning, handover, and the start of commercial operations. He helps clients understand and make effective use of performance security, including standby letters of credit, bank guarantees, and surety bonds. He routinely advises clients on holdback, prompt payment, and other aspects of construction lien legislation. When the unexpected happens, he works with clients to resolve high-value change orders, claims, and warranty issues.

In addition to creating bespoke structures and agreements for large industrial projects in Canada, the US, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Mauritania, Ghana, Namibia, Australia, and other countries, Aaron has considerable experience working with standard forms developed by industry organizations. He has worked on commercial and residential construction projects of all sizes using CCDC, CCA, RAIC, and OAA standard forms with varying degrees of modification. He is well-versed in all major project delivery models but has a special interest in and familiarity with EPCM and EPC agreements.