Ian Bendell

About
Professional qualificationsRoll of Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Judicature of England and WalesOntario Foreign Legal Consultant

EXPERIENCE

  • Acted for the winning joint venture that will operate and maintain the new Ontario Line system in Toronto Ontario, that closed in November 2022.
  • Acted for the winning joint venture that will operate and maintain the Hurontario LRT system in Toronto, Ontario, that closed in October 2019.
  • Acted for Transport for New South Wales on the procurement of a new fleet of regional and inter-city ‎trains and related bespoke maintenance facilities in Sydney, New South Wales that closed in ‎February 2019.‎
  • Led the team that acted for the consortium that will operate and maintain the Confederation Line LRT ‎Project in Ottawa, Canada following a major East/West extension.‎
  • Led the team that acted for the winning consortium on the $2 billion financing of the New Bridge over ‎the Saint Lawrence Crossing Project in Montréal, Québec that closed in June, 2015.‎
  • Led the team that acted for the winning consortium on the $1.4 billion financing of the Eglinton ‎Crossrail LRT Project in Toronto, Ontario that closed in July, 2015.‎
  • Acted for the Rideau Transit Group Partnership on the commercial and financial close to design, ‎build, finance and maintain the $2.1 billion Confederation Line, the City of Ottawa's first light rail ‎transit system that closed in February, 2013.‎
  • Acted for the successful proponent on the North Island Hospitals Project on Vancouver Island, ‎British Columbia that closed in June, 2014.‎
  • Acted for the successful proponent on the construction of 16 new detachments, regional command ‎centres and forensic identification units in 15 communities across Ontario, the Ontario Provincial ‎Police Modernization PPP Project that closed in September, 2010.‎
  • Acted for the successful proponent on the construction of a new complex in Ontario to ‎accommodate autopsies and forensic science cases, the Forensics Services and Coroner’s Complex ‎PPP Project that closed in June, 2010.‎
  • Led the team that acted for the successful proponent on the construction of the first major acute ‎care hospital DBFM project in Canada to reach financial close, the William Osler Health Centre that ‎closed in November, 2004.‎
  • Selected over seven legal advisory firms from the UK and North America with extensive PPP ‎experience to act for the Bermuda Hospitals Board in connection with the $315 million upgrade of the ‎King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.‎

Awards

  • Leading Partner, The Legal 500 Canada (Infrastructure and Projects), 2014–2025
  • The Legal 500 Canada (Infrastructure and Projects), 2023-2025; (Public Procurement), 2014–2023
    • 'Ian Bendell – he came in at a critical point and at the close of a procurement. His ability to understand, synthesise, lead and negotiate complex issues was remarkable.' Legal 500 2021
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Infrastructure) - Most frequently Recommended, 2017–2025
  • Lexology Index Canada (Project Finance), 2012–2023 Global Leader; (Government Contracts), ‎‎2015–2022, 2025 Global Leader and National Leader; (Public Procurement), 2010–2022 National Leader‎
  • Chambers Canada (Projects: PPP & Infrastructure), 2016–2026; (Project Finance), 2018-2026
  • Chambers Global (Projects: PPP & Infrastructure), 2013–2025; (Project Finance), 2024-2025
    • "Highly client-focused and has incredible commercial acumen." Chambers 2024
    • "He is tremendous at digging in and attacking problems." Chambers 2022
    • "His technical abilities are exemplary, as are his negotiating skills." Chambers 2021
Education
  • Pembrooke College, Oxford, 1981 – 1984