A Vancouver litigation boutique that is composed of “some of the nicest court fighters you will ever meet,” Sugden McFee &
Roos is routinely revered as a
firm housing litigators whose “combined IQ has got to be in the high quadruple digits” and who are “civil and ethical beyond reproach.” The respectful approach displayed by the firm’s partners apparently is frequently reciprocated. “They command respect from all their peers and the judges.” The firm is also unique in its balance of criminal and civil work, taking on a diverse and novel basket of cases ranging from commercial disputes to personal injury claims. “They are the dark horse among all the firms you recognize, they are a different type of firm,” opines one peer, “but they belong there, and they deserve the highest rating simply because of the sheer talent. They have people there who
could handle anything. They are just solid across the board.”
While decidedly small, the firm illustrated its measured growth strategy when it hired Jean
Whittow in mid-2017. “Jean was a great hire,” opines a peer. “She was lead discipline counsel at the Law Society. She practices in professional regulation. It’s time she got more notice.” Robin McFee remains one of the firm’s figureheads as well as a trusted trial advocate. “Robin often gets politically sensitive cases that don’t use in-house counsel,” states a peer. “And no one has more credibility in these types of cases than he does. He is a true gentleman of the legal community, and everyone gives him instant respect to his arguments, no matter how much they might disagree with his position.” McFee is also involved in a case dealing with public access rights over private land and has succeeded
on a family trust case
concerning the transfer of ownership of an apple orchard in the Okanagan region of BC. Errin Poyner tends to a largely personal injury-based practice. “Jack of all trades” Mike Shirreff acted with McFee on a shareholder and oppression case regarding a mineral entity. On his own, he acted as the local BC counsel for Ontario counsel in a historic sexual assault case.
