Scott R. Harcus

Scott Harcus is a Partner at Alexander Holburn and leads the firm’s Environmental Law Practice. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Scott is a trusted advisor and litigator in environmental law, construction law, and insurance coverage disputes, with a focus on complex, high-stakes matters.

Scott regularly acts as counsel in multi-party construction litigation and environmental disputes, representing developers, contractors, insurers, and businesses in British Columbia and across Canada. His litigation practice includes contaminated sites, environmental liability, construction deficiencies, delay claims, cost overruns, and tendering disputes, often involving technically complex evidence and multiple stakeholders.

In his advisory practice, Scott provides strategic legal guidance on environmental compliance, regulatory risk, and contaminated site management, helping clients navigate British Columbia’s environmental regime. He also advises on construction contracts, insurance policy wording, indemnities, and warranties, with deep experience drafting and negotiating agreements that allocate risk effectively.

Scott’s construction law practice spans the full project lifecycle. He advises developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers on residential, commercial, and industrial projects—from contract formation and procurement to dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration, and litigation. He has extensive experience with standard form construction contracts, including those published by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) and the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

As insurance coverage counsel, Scott provides strategic advice on a wide range of policies, including commercial general liability (CGL), environmental liability, wrap-up insurance, homeowners’ policies, and boiler and machinery coverage. He is frequently retained to interpret policy wording and advise on coverage disputes arising from construction and environmental claims.

Scott is a recognized thought leader in his field. He is a frequent speaker on construction law, environmental regulation, and insurance coverage issues, and a regular contributor to industry publications. He has also contributed to the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia’s BC Builders Lien Practice Manual.

Scott is a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America and serves as a Director of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA). He is known for delivering practical, business-focused legal advice and for providing effective advocacy in both the boardroom and the courtroom.