British Columbia

Firm overview

Founded in 1907, Harper Grey LLP is a Vancouver, BC based full-service law firm with a large and experienced commercial litigation group. Our firm has a long tradition of excellence and is one of the most well-established law firms in Western Canada.

Harper Grey’s litigators offer sharp insight and extensive expertise to ensure that matters are resolved efficiently and effectively either by agreement or through the courts. Our approach to dispute resolution begins with the premise that a matter will go to trial. The best litigation strategies anticipate every angle, twist and turn that may crop up if a dispute is argued before a judge and possibly a jury. Our lawyers strategize from the strongest possible position, regardless of whether the issues are resolved before or after court.

Harper Grey’s litigators have an exceptional reputation. They are committed to delivering the highest quality legal work and counsel and many of them are repeatedly recognized among the top practitioners in their areas of expertise by Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers in Canada, Chambers Canada and Lexpert.

Administrative Law: Public scrutiny over ethical issues for professionals has increased dramatically over the past several years. Harper Grey provides advice and assistance to professionals in their dealings with governance issues, ethical obligations and responsibilities, and represents them before a wider range of regulatory bodies.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring: Acting for individual and corporate debtors in financial difficulty, Harper Grey has the skill, insight and experience to resolve debt problems. The group also provides advice and representation to secured and unsecured creditors, receivers, liquidators, and trustees in bankruptcy.

Complex, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Complex claims that threaten a company’s survival present unique challenges, both in the courtroom and in the boardroom. Successful resolution of these claims therefore requires counsel who are not only effective as a courtroom advocate, but also have the necessary experience to provide sound strategic advice. Our lawyers have that experience and have handled some of Canada’s most significant, complex and challenging cases.

Commercial Litigation: This group has significant experience working with large corporations, medium-sized firms and owner-operated companies. Client needs served include: contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, including oppression remedies and derivative actions, securities litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, including builders’ liens actions, estate litigation, employment litigation, products liability litigation, enforcement of security, including foreclosures and debenture holders’ actions, and municipal disputes.

Construction Law: Harper Grey takes a practical approach to disputes arising from the construction industry, enabling effective solutions in matters such as allegations of professional negligence, professional disciplinary matters, contractual disputes, leaking condominium issues, commercial real estate disputes and risk management advice.

Environmental Law: Clients seek Harper Grey’s advice on a wide range of environmental issues from contaminated sites to sick building syndrome to cross-border disputes. Harper Grey has senior, experienced counsel who provide a practical approach to the most complex environmental matters, including cost recovery actions, directors’ and officers’ liability, property development and transactions, and environmental insurance coverage issues.

Health Law: Harper Grey is the leader in civil litigation defence for medical practitioners in British Columbia and has been involved in all leading litigation regarding the standard of medical care, medical products, litigation consent issues and limitation issues.

Insurance Law: Harper Grey works with insurance companies and their insureds in all areas of insurance law. Members of the group have developed specialized expertise in various areas, such as: professional errors and omissions, commercial and personal general liability, property damage, directors’ and officers’ liability, life and disability insurance, defamation, subrogation, sexual abuse claims, and transportation related issues.

Professional Liability Defence: Harper Grey has, for many years, been the recognized leader in the defence of professionals facing liability issues. They act for doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects and engineers. They also provide administrative law advice for professionals facing disciplinary action.

Real Estate Law: This cross-disciplinary team of experienced legal advisors, are deeply invested in the success of their clients. Balancing high-level technical expertise with business savvy real-world experience they deliver results relating to commercial real estate issues including acquisitions/dispositions, commercial leasing, property development and real estate dispute resolution.

Securities Regulation & Litigation: We represent securities clients whose reputation, ability to operate, and share value are seriously threatened. Broker dealers, investment advisors, mutual fund salespeople, brokerage firms, public companies, directors and officers rely on our lawyers to resolve their securities law issues fairly and efficiently. Our lawyers handle securities matters involving both civil and criminal law. We take an objective, pragmatic view of your best options, and rely on strong, respectful relationships with authorities to negotiate a solution.

Workplace Law: We help organizations and individuals resolve employment law issues in a way that minimizes risk to business operations and reputation. The lawyers in this group all practice business litigation and are very experienced in matters relating to workplace law, such as corporate finance, white collar crime, human rights insurance and directors and officers liability.

Firm overview

Firm overview

BLG is widely recognized as Canada’s foremost litigation law firm, with a national team of more than 400 advocates helping clients with everything from appellate advocacy to trade disputes.

• More than 400 advocates
• 500+ trials, arbitrations, tribunal hearings
• Defended 100s of class actions
• 32 specialty areas
• 2022 Benchmark Highly Recommended Firm in all of our regions
• 2022 Benchmark Insurance Firm of the Year
• 2021 and 2022 Benchmark Health Law/Medical Firm of the Year
• Offices in Canada’s 5 largest cities
• Bilingual in English and French
• Celebrating 200 years in 2023

When the stakes are highest, organizations from across Canada and around the world trust us to help solve their problems. From claims that interrupt day-to-day activities to bet-the-company litigation, we understand the issues that keep our clients up at night, using this knowledge as the foundation for responsive, strategic and practical advice. Complex, precedent-setting, novel cases in specialized areas of the law - particularly when they make it to the Supreme Court - are how we’ve built our reputation. We use this experience to advocate for the best outcomes for organizations of all sizes, from tech start-ups defending their IP to global automakers facing a class action. We use mediation, arbitration and eDiscovery technology, when appropriate, to increase efficiency and decrease cost. We are smart, resourceful, creative, driven, humble and always civil.

We are the external partner that feels like part of the in-house team. And clients never get just one of us -because behind every BLG advocate is the most powerful group of litigators and legal staff in Canada.

Firm overview

Hunter Litigation Chambers has been consistently recognized as one of the premier firms in British Columbia practicing in the field of dispute resolution. The senior counsel have developed their reputations as leading litigation and arbitration counsel during their respective tenures at some of Canada’s leading corporate/commercial law firms.

Randy Kaardal K.C., Bill Smart, K.C., Claire Hunter, K.C., and Brian Duong have consistently been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the legal profession, and have been identified in peer-reviewed publications as leading counsel in various litigation-related categories. Bill Smart, K.C. and Claire Hunter, K.C. are both Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Randy Kaardal, K.C. and Claire Hunter, K.C. are both Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America. Bill Smart, K.C. is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers.

Randy Kaardal, K.C. has once again been recognized for his exceptional legal skill and advocacy. He has been honoured a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation Canada and listed among Canada’s Best Employment Lawyers in the 2025 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, where he is consistently recommended. Randy is listed as a member in the Lexology Index report on Employment & Labor, recognizing his expertise in labor and employment law. He represents both employers and employees and has extensive experience in wrongful dismissal, human rights, collective bargaining, and pension matters. Kaardal regularly appears before Canadian courts and administrative tribunals, affirming his standing as a leading practitioner in the field.

Claire Hunter, K.C. has been recognized among Canada’s Top 50 Trial Lawyers, the Top 100 Women in British Columbia, and the Top 100 Women in Canada, a powerful reflection of her leadership, advocacy, and outstanding contributions to the legal profession. Bill Smart, K.C has also been honoured as a Litigation Star by Benchmark, underscoring his outstanding advocacy. In addition, Brian Duong has been named a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, recognizing his standing among the country’s leading litigators.

The firm’s depth and expertise are enhanced by the involvement of retired judge and Associate Counsel, the Hon. Russell Brown, recently retired from the Supreme Court of Canada. Building on this foundation, the firm benefits from a team of recognized leaders across its practice areas, including Aubin Calvert, Nicole Gilewicz, and Paul Heisler, each named Future Stars by Benchmark Litigation, reflecting their growing influence and legal acumen. Monique Evens, also a Future Star, has earned consistent national recognition with a Nationwide – Canada ranking in Chambers Canada for four consecutive years, demonstrating sustained excellence.
Rebecca Robb’s skill and impact have been acknowledged by both Best Lawyers and Benchmark Litigation, reinforcing her reputation as a trusted legal professional.
The firm’s rising talent is equally impressive, with Julia Ross and Caitlin Ehman named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, highlighting the strength of the firm’s emerging talent.

Hunter Litigation Chambers has the depth and capability to handle the full range of commercial litigation, arbitration, product liability, aboriginal, administrative, labour and employment, public law litigation, and criminal and quasi-criminal matters. In addition to their trial level practice, counsel from the firm appear regularly in the British Columbia Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada, and in the federal courts, including the Federal Court of Appeal and Tax Court of Canada. Our senior lawyers are experienced appellate counsel and often provide specialized appellate services to lawyers whose practices are primarily at the trial level.

The firm’s senior lawyers are highly experienced appellate counsel and frequently provide specialized appellate services to lawyers whose practices are primarily focused at the trial level.

Committed to professional and academic excellence, many of the firm’s lawyers have clerked for justices of Canada’s superior courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Commercial Litigation is a primary practice area for Hunter Litigation Chambers. All of the counsel in the firm practice in this area. In addition to the experience of our senior lawyers, our junior and intermediate counsel are developing strong reputations as competent and creative commercial counsel. The firm is able to assemble a team capable of handling commercial matters of any size and complexity.

Products Liability – Counsel from Hunter Litigation Chambers have a history of handling a variety of complex products liability matters involving failed or allegedly dangerous products. Our cases have involved aircraft components, oil field equipment, machinery, roofing materials and motor vehicles. In addition, we have acted for pharmaceutical companies and handled cases involving allegedly defective medical devices and other allegedly dangerous products including tobacco.

Class Actions – Claire Hunter, K.C. has extensive experience in the field and acts regularly for defendants at the trial and appellate level in pharmaceutical, competition, constitutional and consumer protection class actions.

Arbitration – Randy Kaardal, K.C. and Claire Hunter, K.C. have acted as arbitration counsel in several commercial matters and also as litigation counsel in cases arising out of arbitration proceedings, including the leading case on judicial review of arbitral decisions. The Hon. Russell Brown is an in-demand arbitrator for domestic and international arbitration matters.

Administrative and Public Law – The firm has a diverse public law practice, which includes acting for and against provincial and federal administrative tribunals and ministries in judicial review proceedings, administrative appeals, marketing board proceedings, constitutional challenges, and permit hearings. Randy Kaardal K.C., has broad experience in administrative and public law disputes and representing public bodies and professional regulatory tribunals. He has extensive experience before administrative tribunals and courts in judicial review proceedings. Claire Hunter, K.C. acts regularly for the Province of British Columbia in significant constitutional matters, has an active marketing board practice and has acted in a wide variety of legal challenges to administrative decisions. Randy Kaardal, K.C., and Bill Smart K.C., have experience practicing before professional regulatory tribunals, including representation of both professional associations and their members. The Hon. Russell Brown is active in advising and providing opinions on significant public law matters across Canada.

Aboriginal Law – Counsel from Hunter Litigation Chambers have been in the forefront of the development of a body of Aboriginal Law in British Columbia, representing industry and government in responding to claims of Aboriginal rights and title.

Forestry Law – Nicole Gilewicz and Randy Kaardal, K.C. head the forestry law practice at Hunter Litigation Chambers. The Firm regularly represents licensees and other companies and individuals in matters before the Forest Appeals Commission, the British Columbia Supreme Court, and the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

Products Liability – Counsel from Hunter Litigation Chambers have a history of handling a variety of complex products liability matters involving failed or allegedly dangerous products. Our cases have involved aircraft components, oil field equipment, machinery, roofing materials and motor vehicles. In addition, we have acted for pharmaceutical companies and handled cases involving allegedly defective medical devices and other allegedly dangerous products including tobacco.

Labour and Employment Law – The firm’s labour and employment practice is headed by Randy Kaardal K.C. who has over 35 years of experience handling labour and employment matters. The labour and employment practice is supported by Paul Heisler, who has over 20 years of experience handling all matters arising in the labour and employment field. Mr. Kaardal and Mr. Heisler, together with a talented group of associates, have been counsel on many of the leading decisions in British Columbia related to employment law, labour law, and human rights law. The firm’s labour and employment practice is broad-based, dealing with the full spectrum of issues arising out of the employment relationship in both union and non-union environments.

Criminal and Regulatory Law –Hunter Litigation Chambers has developed a broad-based criminal law and regulatory practice that includes prosecutions under the Criminal Code as well as various other federal and provincial statutes and regulations. The firm is also retained from time to time by the Crown to act on its behalf. Bill Smart, K.C. has over 45 years of experience appearing in trial courts on criminal law and regulatory cases and a member of faculty of the Federation of Law Societies National Criminal Law Program for over 30 years.