Sonia is a municipal solicitor with over ten years of professional engineering experience in civil and geotechnical matters. Called to the Bar in 2006, Sonia provides advice to municipal clients on a variety of local government matters, including construction contracts, procurement processes, tendering compliance, RFP evaluation, infrastructure development, building construction, environmental liability, "green" legislation and climate change impacts to local governments. Her recent work includes:

 

• advising on and assisting with the RFP drafting, process administration, evaluation, post-selection negotiation in respect of a geoexchange utility project
• advising on strategies for negotiating with and securing land tenure from major utility companies for the development of transportation infrastructure
• providing strategic advice with and drafting of development agreements such as no-build covenants and servicing agreements, geotechnical and other section 219 covenants, statutory rights of way, easements and licenses related to development and construction of private-owned lands
• managing the application for and registration of a subdivision application, including drafting and registration of covenants, responding to preliminary approval requirements and securing approval from utility interest and financial charge-holders
• assisting with administration and application of an internal appeal process employed by proponents following an public procurement process for supply commercial services
• advising on requirements for geotechnical reports for building permit applications
• drafting and assisting with negotiation of sporting complex operating agreement
• advising on remediation obligations under environmental legislation and providing strategies to owners for minimizing liability for purchasing/receiving contaminated sites
• advising on the liabilities associated with flood risk and similar extreme hazard conditions and the legislative tools available to local governments for planning against such risks.

 

Sonia has spoken at many seminars and conferences, including the APEGBC, and was an Instructor in Contracts and Law at the BCIT civil engineering degree program.  In the balance of 2011, Sonia will be presenting at the NCLGMA, Annual Fall Conference.