Norm Streu
Associate Counsel
With over twenty-five years of experience, Norm is a sought-after leader in his field.
For nearly three decades, Norm has been a leader in British Columbia’s construction industry. During this time, Norm has been engaged in many of the largest construction projects undertaken in Western Canada and has helped resolve many of the industry’s most complex disputes.
Norm practiced construction, infrastructure, and engineering law for over a decade at a major Vancouver law firm where he served as Partner and Construction & Engineering Practice Group Leader. He then took an executive position in the industry, serving as President and Co-Principal of one of Western Canada’s largest construction companies with over 1,200 employees and up to 400 active construction sites across Western Canada and the U.S. He also spent time as a senior executive with an innovative, modular, sustainable building systems company with operations across Canada and the U.S., served as President of British Columbia’s largest producer of pre-cast concrete products, and currently sits on the Advisory Committee of a major North American producer of mass timber products.
Norm’s industry experience provides him with a unique insight and understanding of his clients’ issues. As a result, he has established a reputation for thinking like a business partner and providing straight-forward, business-focused advice.
Active in the community, Norm has served as Director and Chair of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, Director of the British Columbia Construction Association, and has contributed regular articles on construction law issues to Business in Vancouver, the Journal of Commerce, and Construction Business for over two decades.
Norm co-authored the Annotated Builders Lien Act of British Columbia published by the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (CLE) and since 2000 has annually updated a chapter he co-authors in CLE’s British Columbia Builders Lien Practice Manual.
University of Toronto, J.D.,1997
University of Victoria, B.A. History (Honours), 1994
- English
- Vancouver Regional Construction Association, Past Chair
- British Columbia Construction Association, Past Director
- Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch, Construction Subsection Chair
- Course Chair, Continuing Legal Education of B.C.’s 2017 “Tendering Law” course.
- Co-Author, with David Garner, Christopher Hirst, and Gregory Pun of the “Annotated Builders Lien Act of British Columbia” published by the Continuing Legal Education of BC in three editions.
- Co-Author since 2000 of annual updates to the “British Columbia Builders Lien Practice Manual”, chapter 2 – “Lien Claimants and How to File a Claim of Lien” published by Continuing Legal Education of B.C.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “It’s time to prepare for the worst to protect against a downturn” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Navigating the construction industry’s fierce cost escalation storm” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Three energy-compliance paths for projects three storeys or under” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “What contractors and owners need to know about changes to the industry-standard contract” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Legal Specs: The hidden pitfalls of reference clauses in trade contracts” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Mandatory vaccination may not be an option for construction employers” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Employers should be aware of their duty to accommodate employees” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Construction companies should check contracts, insurance for relief from potential pandemic losses” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Quantum of delay: proving a delay claim is more complex than it may seem” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “B.C. lags behind in push for prompt payment on construction projects” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “The legal risks of green innovation in design and construction” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Co-Author with Christopher Hirst “Courts guard holdback obligations of Builders Lien Act” published by Business in Vancouver.
- Course Chair, Continuing Legal Education of B.C.’s 2014 “Tendering Law” course.
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s “Construction Law 2009” course – “Delay Claims – Damages, Claims & Proof.”
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s “Construction Law 2009” course — “Key Lien Time Limits.”
- Course Chair, Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2009 “Tendering Law” course.
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2009 “Tendering Law” course – “Update on Recent Cases.”
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2009 “Tendering Law” course – “Tendering in the Trade Context.”
- Presenter at Buildex Vancouver 2008 — “Procurement Fundamentals and Solutions, Does One Size Fit All?”
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2008 “Let’s Talk Construction Law” course — “Builders Lien 2008 Update.”
- Presenter at Buildex Vancouver 2007 — “The Law of Tendering in 2007.”
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2007 “Tendering Law” course – “Tendering Basics.”Course Chair, Continuing Legal Education of B.C.’s 2007 “Tendering Law” course.
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2007 “Construction Law Jeopardy” course – “Construction Law – Experts.”
- Presenter at Buildex Vancouver 2006 — “Construction Law Update for Architects, Builders, Contractors and Engineers.”
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education of BC’s 2006 “Residential Construction & Renovation” course – “Residential Construction & Renovation – The Project Gone Wrong.”
- Presenter at Buildex Vancouver 2006 — “Construction Law Update for Architects, Builders, Contractors and Engineers.”
- Presenter at Continuing Legal Education’s “Construction Law 2005” course – “Builders Lien Update 2005.”
- Presenter: Construct Alberta 2005.
- Published “Balancing the Interests of Lien Claimants and Condominium Owners in Builders Lien Actions” (2000), 58 The Advocate 515.
- Law Society of BC, Member
- Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch Construction Law Subsection Past Member
- Surety Association of B.C. Regional Committee, Past Member
- Road Builders Association of B.C., Past Member
- Independent Contractors & Business Association of B.C., Past Member
- Electrical Contractors Association of B.C., Past Member
The Latest