Band 6
Provided by Michael Valo
Michael is a partner at Glaholt Bowles LLP and specializes in international construction arbitration, with a focus on large-scale infrastructure projects. He represents owners, contractors, and engineers in complex disputes, particularly in the energy, power generation, pipelines, refineries, tunneling, mining, and healthcare sectors. Michael’s expertise spans disputes under ICC and UNCITRAL rules, as well as ad hoc arbitration, and he regularly advises clients on disputes before project Dispute Resolution Boards. His practice also covers all major project delivery methods, including design-build, design-bid-build, EPC, EPCM, and Public-Private Partnerships (P3), with extensive experience in claims for disruption, delay, prolongation, designer negligence, and construction deficiencies.
Michael is a founding member of the Society of Construction Law North America and has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer to Watch by Lexpert, and by Who’s Who as a Future Leader in Construction Law. He is an Adjunct Professor of Construction Law at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law and has contributed to numerous publications. Michael also previously served as a co-editor for the IBA’s Construction Law International. His work in the field of international construction arbitration and public-private partnerships continues to set industry standards.
Michael is a member of the Society of Construction Law North America, and Regional Director for the Ontario region, the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law, the International Bar Association, and the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum. He is also active in the Ontario Bar Association’s Construction Law Section.
Michael has authored numerous articles on topics such as construction delay claims, expert evidence, arbitral award enforcement, and construction contract dispute resolution. He is the co-author of a chapter in "Review of Construction Law: Recent Developments" (Toronto: Carswell, 2012) on the subject of Building Information Modeling, and of the chapter “Sustainable Construction” in Modern Legal Landscape of Design Professional Practice (Toronto: Carswell, 2023).
Provided by Chambers
Michael Valo operates a burgeoning construction practice from his base in Toronto. He specialises in arbitration, particularly cases regarding infrastructure projects.
