Optimizing Your Legal Spend: Best Practices for Working Effectively With Counsel – Hosted by McMillan LLP
June 16 at 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Managing legal costs effectively requires more than monitoring invoices—it begins with understanding how to collaborate strategically with your legal team. Join experts from McMillan as they outline practical approaches to reducing legal expenses while enhancing the quality and efficiency of legal services.
Annik Forristal and Kyle Lambert will discuss key drivers of legal cost, including the impact of involving counsel too late in the process, the cost impacts created by accelerated timelines, and the importance of obtaining estimates on the basis of a clear and complete scope of work.
Participants will leave with a set of best practices—and common pitfalls to avoid—when engaging external legal support, helping ensure better outcomes and more predictable, manageable costs.
Who Should Attend?
This session is ideal for consulting engineering professionals who work with external counsel, as well as emerging leaders seeking to develop a stronger understanding of how to collaborate effectively with legal professionals.
Date: June 16, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 12:45 PM
Meet the Experts from McMillan LLP
Annik Forristal
Annik is a Co-Group Head of McMillan LLP’s National Infrastructure and Construction Group whose practice is dedicated to the construction, infrastructure and development industries. A practicing engineer before becoming a lawyer, Annik provides considered advice on project delivery, contractual allocation and management of risk, land use planning and related approvals, project administration and claims management. Annik has highly specialized expertise drafting and negotiating complex construction contracts and development agreements, including custom-drafted and standard form construction contracts (e.g., CCDC, CCA, RAIC, OAA and ACEC). Her extensive project experience includes residential and mixed-use developments, universities, hospitals, recreation and entertainment centres, industrial facilities, and district energy installations. Annik is also fully versed in the front-end approvals and permitting necessary for development and construction projects. She helps clients obtain official plan amendments, rezonings, site plan approvals, minor variances, and authorizations from heritage and conservation authorities. Annik fervently supports clients in managing claims and other issues arising on their projects with a view to achieving timely, cost-effective resolution and avoiding disputes.
Kyle Lambert
Kyle is an accomplished complex arbitration and trial lawyer, offering practical advice in construction, infrastructure, and employment law. With in-depth knowledge of arbitration practice and legislation, he represents Canadian and multinational businesses in both international and domestic arbitrations and has represented clients in litigation before all levels of Ontario courts, the Federal Court, in adjudication proceedings under the Construction Act, and in administrative tribunals.
Kyle has extensive experience representing contractors, OEMs, and owners in a range of dispute proceedings, including delay, productivity, owner interference, and acceleration claims. He frequently advises parties in P3 and large infrastructure projects on risk management and dispute avoidance, including in hydroelectric projects, hospitals, public transit, highway construction, and commercial developments.