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Riccardo Del Vecchio

Partner | Vaughan

905.532.6617

Portrait of Riccardo Del Vecchio

Overview

Rick Del Vecchio practices construction and commercial litigation, with specialized experience in construction-related claims and disputes, real estate litigation, and general debt-recovery and contractual disputes.

Rick advises and represents participants in the construction industry (in both the private and public sectors) with respect to construction liens, surety bond claims, claims for breach of contract and breach of trust, warranty disputes, deficiency claims, negligence, and delay, including in the context of traditional litigation, settlement negotiations, mediations and arbitrations.

Rick provides legal advice and representation with respect to all aspects of construction-related litigation, such as the preservation and perfection of construction liens and in connection with motions, settlement negotiations, references and mediations in respect of construction lien claims, surety bond claims, claims for breach of contract and breach of trust, warranty disputes, deficiency claims, negligence claims, and delay claims.

Rick has been involved in proceedings (including trials, references, motions and applications) at various levels of court, including the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (including the Divisional Court), the British Columbia Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Rick has developed expertise in electronic discovery, including planning and implementing electronic evidence strategies, and leading and coordinating teams for large scale documentary review and production.

Rick is currently a Specialty Co-Lead for Miller Thomson’s National Construction Litigation practice group, and was the National Leader of Miller Thomson’s Construction Litigation Group from 2021-2022.

Rick was named in Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under List and Future Star Categories for 2020-2023, and recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Litigation- Corporate Commercial).

Rick earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Arts from York University. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 2008.

Professional achievements & leadership

  • Benchmark Canada, Future Star, 2021-2024
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada, 40 & Under Hot List, 2020-2022
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Litigation - Corporate Commercial, 2021
  • Benchmark Canada, Future Star: Dispute Resolution, 2020

Notable matters

  • Iron Fort v. Ger-Mor, 2023 ONSC 6183
  • Counsel to the construction manager with respect to the successful defence of an appeal in the context of two competing summary judgement motions, which proceedings found that the client was entitled to a construction lien and payment for its share of cost savings under its construction management contract with a developer (Dominus Construction Corporation v. H&W Development Corp, 2022 ONSC 1240)
  • Counsel to the construction manager with respect to a successful summary motion against a developer, related to issues of lienability and the interpretation of a construction contract (Dominus Construction Corporation v. H&W Development Corp, 2020 ONSC 8134)
  • Counsel to the project owner in a $50+ million construction lien reference, consisting of over 40 trades and involving fraud allegations and matters and motions with respect to court-supervised distribution of holdback ($27+ million), posting of reasonable reduced security, sealing orders, and various discovery-related relief (Multiplex Const. Can. Limited v. Princes Gates Hotel Limited Partnership, 2019 ONSC4367)
  • Counsel to the construction manager in a $7.5+ million construction lien proceeding, involving matters and summary judgment motions with respect to a lienability challenge and contractual interpretation (Dominus Construction Corporation v. H&W Development Corp, 2019 ONSC 7235)
  • Counsel to the Royal Bank of Canada with respect to the successful dismissal of an appeal to overturn an order, which related to a contest between two PPSA registrations and held that the appellant’s security interest was unperfected and that the bank’s perfected security took priority over the appellant’s interest in the accounts (Fairbanx Corp. v. Royal Bank of Canada, 2010 ONCA 385)

Thought leadership

Publications Presentations
  • Co-presenter, "Extreme Weather Events in a Construction Project: Are You Prepared?", Lexology, July 26, 2022
  • Co-presenter (with Lori Goldberg), "Contract Law, COVID-19, and Prompt Payment Legislation", BILD, February 16, 2021
  • Moderator, "COVID-19 and Construction in Ontario: Updates and Considerations", Miller Thomson Construction Law Group Webinar, April 23, 2020
  • Panelist, "How Does Ontario’s Construction Act Affect Me? Navigating Allowances and Liens in the New World”, ICSC Law Conference, April 21 - 22, 2020 (postponed due to Covid-19)
  • Speaker, "Construction Act: Phase II October 1, 2019 Changes (Part 1 – Prompt Payment)", Miller Thomson Winter/Spring 2019 V-Series: Roundtable Seminar, April 25, 2019
  • Presenter, "Breaking Ground: The New Construction Act - What You Need to Know About the New Act and How it Will Impact Your Project", Miller Thomson seminar, February 28, 2018

Community involvement

  • Board Member, Vaughan YMCA Youth Executive Cabinet/Capital Campaign Committee, August 2019 - present
  • Cyclist/Rider, Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer, 2018
  • Volunteer Lawyer, Ryerson Pro Bono Legal Clinic, Ryerson University
  • Member, Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario's (ICCO) Golf Tournament Committee
  • Teacher, Civil Trial Procedures and Advocacy course, paralegal program, Sheridan College Institute
  • Volunteer trial judge, Mock Trial Assignment, paralegal program, Sheridan College Institute

Professional memberships

  • Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO)
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • The Advocates’ Society
  • Canadian Italian Advocates Organization

Bar admissions & education

  • Ontario, 2008
  • Certificate, The Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, Professional Development Program, 2015
  • LL.B., University of Windsor, 2007
  • B.A. (honours), York University, 2003