John Singleton is a principal legal figure in the country’s construction industry, having played key roles in major developments across Western Canada. He founded the firm in Vancouver, in 1982, with a vision of creating a practice that would stand out for its expertise in construction and infrastructure law. Today, Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP serves clients across the country and is recognized internationally for its knowledge and insight.
John has acted as Counsel in precedent-setting cases involving insurance, construction, liability and environmental matters. He offers extensive experience
in major infrastructure projects and public private partnerships, as well as complex commercial disputes.
John is an accomplished Mediator and Arbitrator. He earned the chartered arbitrator designation (C.Arb) from the ADR Institute of Canada, and over the past decade has served as fairness advisor on more than 85 infrastructure projects, ranging from the construction of hospitals and hydro energy enterprises, to the building of the RCMP headquarters in Surrey, B.C.
He has dedicated significant time to sharing his knowledge through academia and professional journals. He is an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia and the Thompson Rivers University, and was a visiting lecturer at Stanford University’s law school.
John is consistently recognized as a leader in the construction legal field, regularly earning top rankings from Lexpert, Best Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal, Martindale-Hubbell and others. Benchmark Canada has designated him a “litigation star” and Chambers Canada recently labelled him a “top gun.”
Outside of the firm, John maintains a long-term relationship with Arts Umbrella, the not-for-profit arts education centre dedicated to inspiring children and young adults. Over the past 20 years he has served as a member of the organization’s board, as President and as Legal Advisor.
Education
- Called to the: Alberta Bar, 1970; Saskatchewan Bar, 1981; British Columbia Bar, 1982; Yukon Bar, 1984
- Master of Laws: University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, 1971
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta, 1969
- Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Alberta, 1966
- Member of the Law Societies of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon
Updated April 2024
