Lawson Lundell’s BC operations span offices in Vancouver and two locations in Kelowna. The Vancouver office houses one of the city’s largest and most comprehensive litigation benches, composed of lawyers attending to a diverse array of practices encompassing several specialties – particularly, aboriginal law, energy and resource law, and labor and employment – in which the firm has long held dominant positions. “Lawson still is and always has been a significant player in this market,” asserts a peer, who goes on to note, “With all of the changes and movement happening in Vancouver at the moment, Lawson just seems to be one firm that doesn’t get affected. They tend to keep everyone happy and busy. And they are growing! They are beefing up their commercial litigation group, whereas a lot of other firms around here are not.” Another insists, “Lawson is very strong, and they appear to be making smart moves in the market. They brought in Scott Boucher, who does insolvency.” Boucher, a future star in this edition, is also known for commercial and trust and estates work.
Keith Bergner elicits unwavering peer support as an authority in the aboriginal law community. “He’s really good in this space,” insists a peer. “He knows how to treat people, and he knows the law.” Among several appointments, Bergner was retained as lead counsel by the Government of British Columbia to defend an aboriginal title claim brought by the Cowichan Nation regarding private lands held in fee simple title, arising from various Crown grants issued over 100 years ago, land which is currently home to residential and commercial developments. “I’m against Keith right now,” testifies a Toronto-based peer, “and he is a gentleman. He’s from Manitoba, I’m from Saskatchewan. So, there’s common ground there – we’re Prairie boys! That’s not to say we’re giving each other any quarter – it’s a huge fucking dust-up.” Another frequent opponent confirms this: “Keith is a very upstanding guy. We’re often against each other but we’re collegial and go for a drink when we reach a resolution.”
Will Roberts and Laura Bevan acted for the BC Securities Commission regarding an alleged “pump-and-dump” market-manipulation scheme, for which the masterminds were ordered to pay disgorgement orders and administrative penalties totaling $19 million to the Commission, before which they declared bankruptcy. The Lawson pair successfully applied for an order that the Commission’s orders against the masterminds survive their eventual discharge from bankruptcy. An appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada was heard in December 2023, and a decision was issued in July 2024. The SCC held that the Commission’s disgorgement orders survived discharge from bankruptcy. Bevan also acts with all-purpose trial luminary
Craig Ferris for the Law Society of British Columbia, which challenges the constitutionality of the new Legal Professions Act in BC, which when brought into force will eliminate the Law Society and replace it with a new single legal regulator. The Law Society claims that the features of the new Act undermine the independence of the bar, which should be recognized as an unwritten constitutional principle in Canada and therefore undermines all constitutional rights. Ferris also works with
Marko Vesely act on behalf of Canada on a national class action proceeding brought on behalf of Métis and non-status Indians. The plaintiff class claims that Canada breached its duty of care and fiduciary duty to protect them from losing their aboriginal identity when they were apprehended and put into care with non-aboriginal adoptive parents during the period of 1951-1991. “I’ve worked with and against Marko, and it’s been a pleasure either way,” commends a peer.
