Managing Risk in Canada’s Growing High-Rise Sector: Insight from Axis Insurance’s Rob McLeod

As high-rise projects across Canada continue to grow in scale and complexity, engineering firms are facing increasing contractual, liability, and claims-related challenges. A recent article authored by Rob McLeod, Senior Vice President of Professional and Financial Services at Axis Insurance, explores why claims on high-rise construction projects are becoming more common and what engineers can do to better protect themselves.

While issues such as water ingress, HVAC failures, building envelope deficiencies, and frozen pipes have long been familiar risks, today’s projects bring higher costs, more stakeholders, and less room for error. According to the article, many claims stem not from a single mistake, but from a combination of project pressures, evolving scopes, and increasing complexity.
One of the key takeaways from the article is the importance of documentation and risk management throughout the project lifecycle.

“Success is defined not only by what is built, but by how well the process is managed, recorded and protected.”

— Rob McLeod

McLeod and Kate Genest, Claims Manager at Beazley’s Toronto office, also emphasizes that clearly defined scopes of work, strong contractual language, thorough documentation, and early engagement with insurers can help engineers reduce their exposure and better navigate potential disputes.

Read the full article, “High-rise building claims“, published by Canadian Consulting Engineer, here.

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