Erin Cutts

Partner

Calgary
ECutts@blg.com
403.232.9615

Erin’s practice focuses on the construction and surety industry in Alberta. She provides measured advice to owners, developers and contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects and sureties on construction related matters ranging from the formation and execution of the contract to the completion of the project and beyond.

Erin has widespread experience in negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation of construction disputes on significant commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects. Specifically, she advises clients on large-scale disputes involving the preservation and enforcement of builders’ liens, procurement and tendering, construction contracts and the design and construction of infrastructure, such as hospitals, highways, bridges, apartment complexes and railways.

She also provides front-end advisory and risk management services to clients during the course of construction.

Erin also has experience with construction insurance-related matters, including:

  • course-of-construction and wrap-up liability;
  • general liability; and
  • commercial general liability claims.

Erin is a former Member-at-Large of the Canadian Bar Association, Construction Section Executive and publishes regularly on a range of construction related law matters.

Erin provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Experience

  • Counsel in an arbitration for a design-build contractor in a complex and multifaceted dispute arising out of the design and construction of a highway infrastructure project in Alberta
  • Counsel in a multi-party arbitration, acting for a construction manager in a dispute arising out of the construction of a large hospital project in northern Alberta, with claims and cross-claims involving the public owner and a number of subcontractors
  • Counsel for a general contractor involved in disputes with various subcontractors arising out of certain deficiencies that materialized during the construction of a large hospital project in Saskatchewan
  • Defended a general contractor against subcontractor claims in relation to the construction of a light rail transit line in Alberta
  • Defended a subcontractor involved in a dispute with a general contractor over alleged mechanical deficiencies in the construction of an apartment complex
  • Defended an electrical contractor against claims from its subcontractor during the construction of a power station in Saskatchewan
  • Counsel for a lender involved in a dispute with purchasers of a residential complex over the application of caveat emptor

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association
  • Member at Large, Canadian Bar Association, Construction Section Executive

Community Involvement

  • Volunteer, Dress for Success Calgary
  • Former volunteer, Big Brothers and Sisters of Canada
  • Former volunteer instructor teaching English as a second language, Calgary Immigrant Educational Society

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Construction Law)
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2021) of Benchmark Litigation Canada as a Future Star.
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of Lexpert® Special Edition: Infrastructure.
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2023) of Benchmark Litigation Canada's “40 & Under Hot List”.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Alberta, 2011
  • JD, University of Calgary, 2010
  • BA (first-class Hons.), University of Calgary, 2007
  • Certificate, Eastern European studies, University of Economics, 2005