British Columbia

Vancouver’s Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang is consistently referenced among market peers in the capacity of insurance, product liability, infrastructure and aviation, an area in which the firm has held a particular niche. Peers single out managing partner Christopher Hirst as being “someone worthy of consideration. He is taking on a good deal of the important work there now and becoming a lot more visible, which is impressive since he balances this with his management responsibilities.” Hirst is counsel for Tetra Tech Canada, the plaintiff in a $20 million claim arising from design services provided for the North Vancouver Waste Water Treatment Facility. Hirst is also counsel for the COWI North America, the defendant in a delay-and-damages claim brought by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways arising from a renovation project that includes safety fencing and expanded walkways on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

Vancouver boutique Allen McMillan is another of the entries into the crowded field of litigation shops in the city, with its reputation buoyed by a steady stream of referral work from peers who appreciate the firm’s space in the market and the no-nonsense approach of its two name partners, Greg Allen and Wes McMillan. “There’s a huge appetite for the types that Allen McMillan is attending to,” observes one contemporary. “They are doing a lot of scrappy commercial work for sure.” Another peer ventures, “The real estate market [in Vancouver] is going sideways, and that volatility is great for litigation – Allen McMillan have definitely benefited from this type of work. And they have a great ‘roll-up-your-sleeves’, ‘no bullshit’ kind of personalities that makes you want to refer to them.” The firm, with a total headcount of approximately 15 lawyers and no shortage of trials and appeals, has demonstrated little interest in significant expansion, but it did welcome Kaitlyn Meyer to the partnership this year. “We refer files to her, she has built a name for herself,” testifies a peer. Allen McMillan also lured Bryan Hicks, an up-and-coming young star previously with Miller Thomson, to its bench this year as well.

The Toronto office of Baker McKenzie stands out as being one of the few entities in the city whose work is not specifically focused on servicing Bay Street-centric clients, which is not surprising given the firm’s stature as one of the largest and most globally entrenched legal shops in the world. “They specialize in cross-border disputes, class actions, and fraud/white-collar matters,” a peer testifies. “Most recently, Baker McKenzie is opposing counsel on a commercial arbitration. For many years prior to this, I worked as co-counsel with Baker McKenzie on a complex commercial fraud case that also included bankruptcy and insolvency issues and a class action.I worked the most with John Pirie and David Gadsden. John and David are both extraordinary lawyers and working with them has been an excellent experience. We collaborated on the factual and legal issues. Even after the decision in our matter was released, I continued to work with John and David on issues that affected their client. They are also extremely good at analyzing the legal issues.” Exemplifying both the firm’s internationally driven work and the individual and collective prowess of Pirie and Gadsden, a firm team involving this pair represents NHK, a Japanese manufacturer of suspension assemblies for hard disk drives in defending three class actions in Canada in connection with an alleged conspiracy to fix prices in Canada and throughout the world. The firm is also defending NHK in parallel US proceedings and is advising NHK in respect of pending regulatory investigations in Brazil, Taiwan and Singapore in respect of the alleged conspiracy.“John Pirie is the primary lawyer that I deal with on a regular basis,” confirms a client. “He has a sterling reputation in our legal community and is regarded as a powerful litigator in the Ontario courts, particularly when it comes to cross-border white-collar and fraud matters. He takes a hands-on, in-depth approach to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the case, and formulates a strategy that the team will then implement with precision. He has even defended Ontario judges in sensitive civil actions on more than one occasion.”Matthew Latella also has a growing level of support among peers and clients. One client declares, “Matthew is adept at identifying and nailing the core issues to successful conclusion. I’ve seen him simply out-work and out-strategize opposing counsel.” 

Beddoes Litigation is a Vancouver litigation boutique named as such after founder Arden Beddoes, an “up-and-coming” litigation star in the making. Beddoes boasts an impressive résumé, having earned his stripes at venerated shops such as Toronto’s celebrated litigation boutique Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb and Vancouver institution Farris. He also was a protégé of the late Joe Arvay, revered as one of Canada’s preeminent constitutional litigators. Beddoes’s firm specializes in commercial and administrative litigation and has considerable experience in appeals. The firm also has a considerable defamation law practice as well as several society and non-profit clients. One such client voices appreciation for Arden Beddoes’s “excellent oral and written advocacy and strong insight into the crux of the legal issue,” and goes on to testify, “My organization is legally focused and most of our team is lawyers, so we have the ability to understand when external counsel ‘gets it’ or not. Arden always ‘gets it.’ I would be confident giving any legal work to Beddoes Litigation save for areas that the firm explicitly does not practice in.” Beddoes represented Animal Justice in a judicial review of the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources' decision to allow an unlawful coyote bounty hunting contest to proceed without the proper authorizations and was therefore unlawful. The case was heard in Divisional Court. Beddoes is also lead counsel for the plaintiff in an ongoing proceeding in which the plaintiff seeks $24 million against the Province of British Columbia for alleged misfeasance in public office. This case recently involved an important appeal before a five-judge panel at the BC Court of Appeal. That was heard in October 2022, and the decision is still under reserve. The case will proceed to a 60-day trial starting in April 2023.

Bennett Jones is a relatively recent entry into the Vancouver market, which it has taken to with aplomb. “Bennett Jones has made inroads here, they have been very aggressive in their hiring,” ventures one local peer. “They pulled in some good people.” One such hire, commercial litigator Melanie Teetaert is cheered as a particularly auspicious hire. The Vancouver office also managed to lure in Katherine Booth from McCarthy Tétrault over the past year.

Borden Ladner Gervais’ Vancouver office is home to litigators in various capacities, but is particularly noted for those attending to arbitration, environmental and land-use, construction and class-action cases. “It’s especially remarkable how much international arbitration work they do,” observes one direct peer. “Robert Deaneparticularly – he’s all over the place. He’s such great counsel that so many clients want him involved, so he is actually doing more than just arbitration these days, getting pulled in all kinds of directions, but he seems to be able to handle it all. Craig Chiasson is [BLG’s] primary arbitration counsel now. Craig is also sitting as an arbitrator – and getting more appointments than I am getting now, which is annoying!”
     In one such example of Deane’s ever-broadening spectrum of work, he and Michelle Maniago work on a constitutional rights-focused suit concerning the family of a Vancouver woman who was forced to transfer hospitals before she could receive medical assistance in dying, a case that also exemplifies Maniago’s versatility; Maniago is most often recognized for her class-action work. “[Seasoned Vancouver class-action counsel] Brad Dixon is still there and still doing great, but Michelle is really stepping it up and appearing on a lot more lead roles,” notes a peer. Sarah McEachern is also cheered for “really building up her [construction, commercial and arbitration] practice over there and doing quite nicely.”

 

Vancouver boutique Branch MacMaster has etched itself a unique position among the crowded pedestal of recommended firms in the city. The firm’s noted specialties are insurance and class actions, and in the latter practice, the firm has had great success providing counsel on both sides of the “V.” Luciana Brasil continues to commandeer the Branch MacMaster approach and is also now seen as the “heiress apparent.” One peer testifies, “Pretty much any case Ward was on, Luciana was on too. She’s the research engine beyond it. I’ve heard her present at conferences in Toronto, where she held her own quite well. In fact, she easily she gave the best presentation and was very dynamic and organized.” It is noted that Brasil “has more of a taste for the plaintiff cases, and whereas Ward was sometimes risk-averse, Luciana often provides the fire in getting cases underway that have a high risk/reward ratio.” Brasil lays claim to providing plaintiff counsel in an ongoing class action challenging the constitutionality of 15% taxes imposed on purchase of residential property by foreign buyers. She is also leading a plaintiffs’ action alleging a conspiracy between credit card networks and issuing banks to artificially increase the amounts merchants paid on acceptance of credit cards. There have been some partial settlements, but action is ongoing against five remaining banks. More recently, Brasil has been leading the charge (along with Reidar Mogerman of Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman) in the plaintiff capacity in the sprawling class action against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of opioids.

Since its founding in 1993, the Vancouver boutique Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman has etched itself a formidable niche in the British Columbia legal landscape with its concentration in representing plaintiffs in the areas of aviation, product liability, and, most notably, the ever-increasing capacity for class actions. “Camp Fiorante is the go-to firm for the aviation plaintiff work. In fact, they go to you! That’s their business model.” Another peer notes, “Camp Fiorante has gone very quickly from being a local plaintiff shop to being one of the most important firms in Canada, engaged in some very high-profile litigation raising some very cutting-edge issues.” One class-action-
specific peer confirms, “If I have a product liability class action, I will immediately defer to Camp Fiorante for guidance.”

The chief proponent behind the indirect purchaser class actions, Reidar Mogerman is identified as “one of the key ‘movers’ behind litigation not only in BC but Canada-wide. Class action specialists all throughout the country are taking notice of him and keeping with what he’s up to. Reidar is a very creative guy. He lives is a very eclectic life!” Mogerman is at the helm of several class actions that have set precedent in Canada; in Pro-Sys v Microsoft, he provided lead counsel for a class of plaintiffs against Microsoft on anti-competitive claims. Following certification, this action has advanced to the trial stage, a rare case of a class action doing so. Expert evidence estimates damages at approximately $6 billion and the case involves multiple, novel issues of substance and procedure. Mogerman is also co-lead counsel on ongoing multi-jurisdictional class actions about credit card fees in the case of Watson v. Bank of America and others. This case has generated decisions relating to settlement and fee approval, an important appeal about carriage agreements, and decisions about the recently amended cartel provisions of the Competition Act. Mogerman is also co-lead counsel in yet another ongoing price-fixing litigation relating to LCD screens. More recently, Mogerman has been leading the charge (along with Luciana Brasil of Branch MacMaster) in the plaintiff capacity in the sprawling class action against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of opioids. “I think most will agree,” states one peer, “that Reidar Mogerman is considered the most intellectual and dangerous plaintiff class action lawyer in Canada.” A local peer also notes, “David Jones made partner at Camp Fiorante, I would suggest him as a future star. He works closely with Reidar and has one of those minds that is good for experts and economic theories and concepts that may take the rest of us a while to grasp.”

The Vancouver pillar of Cassels Brock & Blackwell hosts a stable of litigators who have proven adept with a diverse spectrum of business disputes. This office recently made significant augmentations to its local bench with the additions of Carey Veinotte and Jordanna Cytrynbaum, who both decamped from their posts at local insurance-forward shop Whitelaw Twining to join Cassels in January 2022. Cytrynbaum, a multi-faceted commercial litigator, is generating more notice in the rest of the market as well. “We’re seeing more of her, and she is building up a strong, high-profile litigation team.” Veinotte, who has historically been active in the securities capacity, has taken on an increasingly diverse portfolio. He was lead counsel for four teams of defense lawyers for numerous defendants in an 84-day trade secrets case, and he also argued the first-known application of British Columbia’s new Protection of Public Participation Act (PPPA). The PPPA allows an applicant (Veinotte’s client, president of the BC Teachers’ Federation) to make an application to strike out a claim as being contrary to the public’s right to hear expression in the public interest. The plaintiff is a school trustee who made Facebook posts critical of pro-LGBTQ school curricula. Veinotte’s client (and others) publicly criticized the plaintiff, who then sued for defamation. Mary Buttery, a commercial litigator with a specialty in insolvency matters, is a particular peer favorite. “Mary is such a rock star,” raves one peer. Buttery defended Matthews Southwest in a lawsuit brought by a former development partner regarding a significant development in Squamish BC involving First Nations land, and regarding timing of payment under negotiated Unwinding Agreement, and involves the interpretation of development approvals and timing of same in British Columbia. Buttery also acted with Tom Isaac, a practitioner with a fluency with Aboriginal law matters, as counsel for the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan in respect of an action commenced involving land claims in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Métis Nation is a proposed intervenor and has served application material.  

Litigation boutique Dennis Dawson James Aitken came into being as Dennis James & Aitken in May 2023, a widely heralded arrival on the Vancouver scene due to the individual and collective star power of its three name partners – Craig Dennis, Owen James and Eric Aitken – from their previous established firms. The firm continued to build on this momentum with the addition of Scott Dawson, a celebrated multifaceted litigator who joined from local institution Farris (where he had spent almost his entire career) in 2024, culminating in an official name change in December when Dawson was added to the letterhead. Although peers are united in the consensus that “this is a pretty big deal” it is also noted that the firm “is really just old wine in new bottles. This has always been a great team, that’s not news, and now they just have more of a platform, especially the younger folks.”
     Dennis is arguably one of Vancouver’s most esteemed litigators. “Craig is one of the best litigators in the City, and when his firm opened their doors there was no doubt they were going to be very successful,” insists a peer. Another boutique contemporary declares, “Craig is the one that I tried to model my counsel after. He is very bright and doesn’t give an inch, but everybody likes him because he treats people with respect.” Dennis has a file representing another venerated Vancouver legal entity that is being sued for poor guidance, which is being vigorously resisted. James is a commercial litigator who also has some experience representing the Province of British Columbia in the insolvency capacity. Dawson is addressed as “possibly the top media and defamation lawyer in Canada but certainly in BC.” Dawson is also actively involved in commercial litigation. “He has a weird, wonderful case,” marvels a peer. “It regards a project that was supposed to go up on the corner of Thurlow and Harrow. It was supposed to go up 60 stories and instead went up zero stories! It’s all over but the crying, but it’s a $50 million teardrop, not the biggest amount but not insignificant!”

The Vancouver office of global conglomerate Dentons has been steadily building out its litigation practice through noticeable strategic hires as of late. Peers credit this to the savvy of veteran Vancouver litigator David Wotherspoon, the firm’s local head of litigation. Dentons lured Morgan Camley to its bench from Miller Thomson in late 2019 and in March 2020 welcomed Eleni Kassaris, formerly of the local office of Blake Cassels & Graydon, aboard. Camley attends to a varied practice composed of commercial, regulatory and Aboriginal law work, while Kassaris is a longtime authority in the labor and employment capacity. “Both of these are great hires,” enthuses a peer. “It gives them each an opportunity to shine in their respective capacities.” For his part, Wotherspoon also enjoys a diverse practice that has historically included a steady commercial litigation diet along with more novel niches such as injunction work, intellectual property, defamation and free speech, and professional liability. 

A Vancouver litigation boutique that has been on a noticeable growth kick in its headcount and its branding traction, Eyford Partners has attained a sweet spot in the market, adding steadily to its bench. “They are alumni from big firms, and they bring that pedigree in terms of the ethos of excellence and doing things right but doing so on a smaller level and without the bureaucracy,” asserts one peer. “The work they do is also the kind of work that actually gets you into court more than many big firms do.” Under the leadership of all-purpose civil litigator Douglas Eyford since its inception, the firm got a considerable boost of star power in early 2017 when seasoned veteran Angus Gunn joined the firm from his previous post at Borden Ladner Gervais. Gunn maintains a professional focus of appeals, with the remainder of his practice being dedicated to public law, typically for the Province of British Columbia. “Angus continued to be regularly active in the BC Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal and even the Supreme Court of Canada,” confirms a peer. “They often get brought in to take over as appellate counsel.” Gunn has also developed a niche in arbitration at both the domestic and international levels. Most recently, Gunn has been engaged by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) on several significant appeals that have showcased a unique niche fluency with the intersection of appellate, arbitration and insurance practices. “This is really his sweet spot,” observes a peer. On the other end of the generational spectrum, Nathalie Baker was welcomed into the partnership in 2022 and has since then taken cases forward with aplomb. Baker, along with Ryan Parsons, act for GSR Capital Group on judicial review, on appeal, and on an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. The matter was an important test of the reasonableness of a local government's legislative authority to interpret the Local Government Act with respect to binding two-year development permits. The case involved terms of a development contract with a municipality regarding a parcel of land bought by the client for development. The terms were altered – not to the client’s benefit – by the municipality’s new incoming local government. Parsons meanwhile assisted trial counsel on appeal at the BC Court of Appeal in a local authority's appeal from a trial judgment in an expropriation matter. Parsons also acted with lead partner Evan Cooke in serving as counsel for the City of Surrey at trial and on appeal, defending against claims brought by a car dealership against the municipality for expropriation, injurious affection, and business losses.

 

Farris provides a comprehensive and diverse array of litigation services that ranges from commercial litigation, securities, family law and administrative law to labor and employment. While recognized as “a classic Vancouver firm,” Farris is noted by peers as being “well positioned because of the big group of younger partners that are coming up and complementing the more senior people that are Farris ‘lifers.’” One peer notes, “Farris is obviously not a national firm but. in this city, they are almost of a national-size bench – top-flight firm.” Another peer declares, “Farris historically been very strong in Vancouver for decades, and I see them broadening up a lot more and more and taking on a lot of high-net-worth family law cases that involve the transfer of wealth. They have always done a bit of this work but now they seem to be really doubling down on it.”
     Ludmila Herbst is unanimously championed by peers, not only for her litigation prowess but also for her role as “really the cultural leader at Farris right now, who has put so much brains and energy into the evolution of the team.” In one novel matter, Herbst represents a title holder to a large-scale development project who challenged the application of a recently introduced additional tax to certain properties. After succeeding in this capacity in 2021, the BC provincial government joined assessor in an appeal, which an appeals court granted in February 2023 but, in March, refused to award costs to either the Assessor or the Province. Leave to appeal was granted in May 2023, but this appeal was abandoned by agreement after the provincial government issued an order in council remitting to the client for past and immediately upcoming tax years. Mike Wagnerand Kevin Smith have emerged as two of the firm’s most prominent players, both individually and as team members attending to a diverse range of their own novel matters. Two recent examples illustrate the firm’s “sweet spot” of high-end family disputes that intersect with business-interest elements. This versatility is also demonstrated by Robert Anderson, a more senior member of the team, is acknowledged as “still a ubiquitous presence, who does not seem to be stepping back at all” by one peer, who goes on to quip, “and you would definitely notice if he wasn’t there!” Rebecca Morse attends to a practice that balances estates litigation, construction and insolvency. “She is really great,” extols a peer. “She really brings a solid work ethic and a pleasant demeanor.” Marylee Davies, who makes her debut as a litigation star this edition, is praised for her acumen in the labor and employment area. A client confirms, “Marylee communicates well and has really taken the time to understand me and my business.” Yun Li-Reilly, whose multi-pronged practice further typifies the commercial/family law intersection Farris is being increasingly sought out for, has also gained considerable traction. “I think she’s quite smart and has a lot of ‘upside’ to take that practice as far as she wants,” asserts a peer.

 

Vancouver boutique Fraser Litigation is a new addition to Benchmark in this edition, but its prime mover and lead partner Barry Fraser has been an established pillar of the local legal community for decades. “We have dealt with Barry Fraser for years,” testifies one peer. “It’s not easy! He puts you through the paces.” Another peer extols, “They are an outstanding group, and very likely may have been the first legal group to win against the Alberta Insurance Council.” Clients have been appreciative of the advocacy provided by the firm. “Fraser Litigation represented our directors in several matters in the BC Supreme Court,” declares one satisfied client. “He and the firm also provided invaluable advice and service to our company for similar matters. Their principal partners consistently demonstrated sage acumen with the highest care for our individual directors. Fraser Litigation was also exemplary in terms of creative but regimented problem solving and strategic design. Finally, the firm performed effectively in all court sessions with commendable conviction, diligence, and clarity.” 

A Vancouver litigation boutique that has been steadily getting more notice from peers as of late, Gudmundseth Mickelson is identified as “a power player,” with one peer even speculating, “You might want to even consider raising them in the rankings at some point soon. They are really coming up.” Another competitor notes, “They have quite a lot of depth and some real personalities there. Howard Mickelson is the ‘larger-than-life’ personality, but I have also seen a few of their associates and they seem to be of very solid quality.” The firm scored a recent win for the Attorney General of British Columbia in a constitutional matter that wound up at the Supreme Court of Canada.

JFK Law has expanded considerably from its British Columbia roots (with offices in the capital city of Victoria as well as Vancouver) to flourish beyond the province with offices in Calgary and even Toronto. The original mission of the firm has been acting on behalf of indigenous peoples, although it is noted that not all of the firm’s work is devoted to “Aboriginal law” specifically. Much of this work is actually for indigenous governments. That said, JFK is recognized by all peers in the Aboriginal space, in BC and beyond. “They have superior knowledge of Indigenous Law and the trial process,” testifies an appreciative client. A peer confirms, “JFK is really strong and getting stronger. They have all the knowledge and the focus.” Another quips, “I should send them Christmas cards! They give me a lot of work.” Robert Janes, the “J” in the firm acronym, got his start in BC but has since migrated to its Toronto office. “He is a leader in the field,” states one peer. “He could practice anywhere.” A client concurs: “Robert Janes has superior knowledge of Indigenous Law and has excellent courtroom presence.” In one recent matter, Janes is counsel for the applicant in a challenge to the approval of the Near Surface Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility at Chalk River. The case raises the question of the application of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to administrative decisions given the language of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples. Jeff Langlois represented the Fort McKay Métis Nation, located in the oilsands region of Northeast Alberta, in its efforts to obtain federal recognition of its community as a rights-bearing Métis collective. As part of this matter, the Fort McKay Métis Nation sought judicial review of a self-government agreement entered into with the Métis Nation of Alberta, a provincial organization that purports to govern Métis throughout Alberta. This litigation commenced in March 2023 and the matter was heard on an urgent basis in December 2023, in light of pending federal legislation implementing the challenged agreement. Langlois was successful in this case, with the Federal Court granting the application for judicial review in March 2024. Claire Truesdale attends to a practice focusing on the resolution mechanism of “specific claims” against the Crown. “Claire has two massive ones of these on the go right now,” declares a peer. “She is also one of the firm’s more frequent flyers at the Supreme Court, and also does a lot of water litigation.” In one example of this observation, Truesdale acts for applicants in a judicial review of the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency’s relicensing of two large existing hydroelectric dams. The dams, built many decades ago, have since had very serious impacts on the Delta and the people of the Cree Nation’s Cumberland House. Acting with Truesdale on this matter is Tim Dickson, who also has his share of fans in the community. “Tim joined [JFK] from [esteemed Vancouver firm] Farris several years ago and has really found his place and is doing great work.”

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.

A Vancouver litigation boutique that has its much larger market peers talking and impressed, MacKay Boyar has quickly etched itself a unique profile in the crowded legal market. “MacKay Boyar is a smaller boutique that has excellent up-and-coming litigation counsel that we use from time to time,” notes the client of another local firm. Peers support the firm’s stature. “MacKay Boyar are so nice to deal with,” insists a peer at a much larger firm. “They are unique in that they do a lot of commercial and criminal litigation. We send them tons of work, and they are also tight with [revered Vancouver trial lawyer] Ken McEwan!” Andi MacKay is said to have “a practice area that I think is really interesting, intertwining criminal and commercial matters, with a special niche on what’s become known as ‘ineffective assistance.’” MacKay is noted for her impressive pedigree, with previous stints at the Vancouver office of Fasken as well as tutelage under (now-retired) seasoned litigation statesman Bill Berardino. Tam Boyar is called “a genius, the full package – it’s really rare to have someone be as smart as he is and be ‘normal,’ with no big ego. Clients love him, and he is an incredible listener.” Boyar is noted by a peer to have been “busy doing trials regarding our Health Services Act.” Specifically, Boyar represented the British Columbia provincial government in this constitutional challenge to Canadian Medicare in British Columbia brought by a group of surgeons, that saw experts from all over the world being pulled in to examine what is the best way to design a health care system. A decision was rendered in Boyar’s client’s favor in September 2020. 

McEwan Partners generated immediate buzz upon its formation six years ago, and not without justification. The firm is composed of some of the most venerated litigation talent in British Columbia.  Ken McEwan, a Vancouver trial veteran, forged the firm’s identity upon splitting off from his former shop of Hunter Litigation Chambers (itself a dispute-resolution powerhouse) and cherry-picking some of the city’s other prized practitioners to bolster the bench. Those included Robert Cooper, who himself left McCarthy Tétrault in 2013 to form his own boutique. Despite several partners departing for other ventures, McEwan Partners didn’t miss a beat; it lured solo practitioner Arden Beddoes to its bench in 2024 and, more recently, in early 2025, it made another auspicious addition when it brought on David Gruber – a Vancouver commercial and class actions veteran who (like McEwan) was at Farris and more recently with Bennett Jones. “Arden is very aggressive, but I think he’s a very bright guy,” opines a peer. “His legal arguments are very good, and he is commercially based. Clients hire McEwan for aggression, so I think it was a smart move for Ken to hire Arden and not have him as a potential competitor down the line!” Summing up the action at McEwan, a peer quips, “This is some of the biggest news in Vancouver right now. I feel like that is going to be the case with anything that happens with McEwan empire!”
     Despite his decades in practice, peers insist that McEwan remains an in-demand force for commercial work. “As long as Ken can keep doing the work at the rate he’s doing it, he will be successful. There’s a huge list of people who want Ken on their file, and he is never going to wind down. He’s one of those people who will be doing this until he’s 75.” One of the many cases McEwan is dealing with at the moment a grain elevator that was built so poorly that it collapsed immediately. Emily Kirkpatrick is also a noted star, in her own right as well as working in tandem with McEwan. Peers also make note that “William Stransky has popped up and is really on the rise. Watch for him!”

McMillan’s Vancouver office is smaller than its Toronto epicenter, but it has developed a team regarded by peers as “credible and impressive.” The Vancouver office is also noted to be in growth mode. “I’m impressed at the talent and work they’ve been able to attract,” asserts a peer. “Since they’re not one of the bigger litigation teams in [Vancouver], that speaks well of the culture there.” Darlene Crimeni recently joined McMillan from Stikeman Elliott and makes her debut as a future star in this edition. As before, Crimeni largely attends to commercial litigation but since joining McMillan has also taken on involvement in the firm’s class-actions practice, which is primarily captained in Vancouver by Joan Young. “Joan has really moved into a nice spot in the market,” observes a peer. “She’s well regarded in the class action space and very bright.” Young’s practice has achieved national status, with her often pairing up with partners in Québec or Ontario on class actions. Jamie Virgin is another key player in Vancouver. “Jamie is doing construction,” confirms a peer. “[These are] high-end disputes involving some sort of insolvency, whether it’s the owner/developer or someone else who is facing a cash crunch. They can be delay claims or people just walking off the job because they’re not getting paid. This is the aftermath of Covid. These projects started when money was inexpensive.”

Miller Thomson’s Vancouver litigation group, with an approximate headcount of 36, is helmed by Sarah Hansen, who attends to environmental and indigenous law. “Sarah is great,” claims a peer, “and Miller Thomson actually has a long history of this practice. One of the best indigenous-focused firms in town [JFK] actually got its start at Miller!” Hansen leads a team that is negotiating with a First Nations tribe to build out a ski resort. Kelsey Sherriff is dedicated to class actions, and Ashley Mitchell represents the firm’s Vancouver labor and employment practice, acting on behalf of management in workplace disputes. Cobi Dayan, who makes a debut as a future star in this edition, attends to a wide range of disputes in the construction area, which often cross borders and are more prone to end up at trial.

Vancouver boutique Miller Titerle was founded in 2009 by alumni from the city’s office of McCarthy Tétrault. “They wanted to act for First Nations,” observes a aboriginal law-focused peer, “and you can imagine at a firm like McCarthy’s, who has a lot of government clients and a lot of business clients, that would cause immediate conflict.” The firm has a dual-pillar structure, with a business law group as well as a First Nations group, which incorporated general commercial litigation but with a lot of work on the Indigenous law side. The firm is also uniquely structure in that all of its lawyers are shareholders. “It’s not dependent on you grinding it out for a certain number of years,” states a peer. “It was the original founders’ idea that everyone would be an independent owner.” As of January 2025, Miller Titerle also established an office in BC's capital city of Victoria, as well as Toronto, both for the purposes of servicing local clients in each city efficiently and personally. The firm's growth mode is not just geographic. Erin Reimer, who moved to Victoria in 2022 and is largely responsible for building out that office, was welcomed to the partnership this past year. Myles Brown, a relatively recent addition, having joined in 2021, attends to commercial litigation, working closely with the firm’s business law group, and is particularly fostering a new growth area for the firm at the intersection of indigenous law and the corporate commercial space. A client addressed Brown as “excellent, a good communicator and good at strategy.” Joelle Walker has also made a name for herself, largely in the aboriginal law community. “She is our co-counsel in a child-welfare class-action case,” testifies a peer. "The firm got a number of class actions through a national consortium and are trying to move these cases forward, getting them pushed toward their certification. Joelle is also external counsel for the RCMP’s systemic investigation into a unit that was responding to major protests in BC."

Hakemi & Ridgedale is a Vancouver-based litigation boutique composed of name partners Tom Hakemi and Lisa Ridgedale, both of whom juggle a variety of commercial litigation matters that also touch on areas such as employment law, family law and defamation. Clients are appreciative of Hakemi and Ridgedale’s individual and collective litigation acumen. “They are amazing. They go above and beyond,” testifies one such client. “They are always available to answer any of my questions and concerns even if it’s after business hours. They are also very detailoriented and proactive and, it should be said, cost-effective.” Another stresses, “Tom has been so amazing at thinking outside the box and finding creative solutions. Lisa is one of the fiercest lawyers I have ever met. Her commitment to her clients is remarkable, and she leaves nothing unturned. Everything is examined and evaluated for what it is. She only wants to win but she does it with grit and grace. Both are experienced and spot on with their legal analysis. Ours was a difficult case for many reasons and was won due in part tothe integrity of the law firm.” The pair successfully appealed a trial decision at the BC Court of Appeal in a defamation case which focused on the significant legal issues of when it is appropriate for a trial judge to draw adverse inferences and to take judicial notice. Ridgedale also provided lead counsel to IG Image Group, a company that sells branded promotional products, as well as several personal defendants in employment-related claims brought by a sales representative of Image Group following a client transfer dispute between the plaintiff and the two individual defendants. The case was decided in Ridgedale’s client’s favor, with reasons provided in February 2020. 

Murphy Battista continues to garner notice in Vancouver largely on the profile of Angela Bespflug, who has etched herself a position in the class actions community locally as well as on a more national level. Formerly with Klein Lawyers, Bespflug focuses on the plaintiff side of class actions, securing herself quite a loyal following in doing so. “Angela does a lot of federal court stuff – they brought her in because she has that expertise,” ventures a peer. Another notes, “The phenomenon of former personal injury firms pivoting the plaintiff class-action work is fairly recent, but Angela is born-and-bred plaintiff coming from being with David Klein, so she’s not exactly new on the class-action scene. She is young but has been around and earned her stripes and continues to. It’s a long time between pay days on those class actions, but Angela is tough and tenacious. She’s got her white hat on and she plays the long game.” Clients have been vocal in their appreciation, turning out in full throat to champion the team’s cause. “They're the best. They are great to work with, and they work so damn hard,” exclaims one peer. “They're very thorough and so tough! I wouldn't want to be opposing counsel going up against them. They're fierce!” Another insists, “I love this team. They're very communicative and keep me in the loop at all times. I had so many questions, and they always took the time to answer them fully. [There has been a] Seamless flow between them in terms of communication with me, and since Covid–and we are on opposite sides of the country– it has been nice to maintain the flow of information in both directions.” Bespflug filed a proposed class action against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for perpetuating and covering up decades of alleged systemic abuse by priests, bishops, cardinals, and other members of its clergy, forcing survivors into silence in order to protect their own. Bespflug also acts for plaintiffs bring an action on behalf of three proposed classes who were harmed by Canada and the Province due to alleged discrimination in the underfunding of Indigenous child welfare and a failure to provide essential services because of jurisdictional disputes.

Narwal Litigation, named for lead partner Joven Narwal, mines a unique niche exclusively dedicated to white-collar crime. A peer confirms, “I give all of my white-collar work to him. He is a fierce advocate with deep knowledge. He is presently handling both a professional responsibility matter and a referral from a conflicted former client who was subpoenaed to testify at the Cullen Commission.”A client, meanwhile, voices appreciation for the “practical, common-sense advice within the context of extensive experience in the area. I received straightforward answers and excellent value for the time spent. I couldn't have been more pleased with the legal services.” In July 2020, Narwal triumphed on behalf of a senior Canada Revenue Agency employee who was investigated for breach of trust and tax evasion, then subsequently charged criminally for tax evasion. Narwal represented the accused through the investigation, engaged in pre-charge advocacy resulting in the more serious charges of breach of trust not being laid, and then successfully defended the accused on the tax evasion charges resulting in a termination of the prosecution in advance of trial. In another matter, Narwal represented a client through an investigation into a $3 million Ponzi scheme. After extensive efforts, the client was only alleged to have participated in a single transaction. Following a full hearing before a panel of the Securities Commission, Narwal obtained a full dismissal of this allegation and the entire case against his client. More recently, Narwal represents the lead accused in a multi-party cross-border conspiracy involving cooperation among US and Canadian authorities. He was also retained for the appeal for another client, which was heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, with a landmark ruling issued in November 2021, regarding the treatment of suspended declarations of unconstitutionality and whether individuals can be convicted of offenses that have been found to be unconstitutional. 

One of Vancouver’s premier litigation boutiques, Nathanson Schachter & Thompson maintains its coveted dominance in the city’s dispute resolution community, a position it has held for decades thanks to the individual and collective vision of name partners Irwin Nathanson and Stephen Schachter. Both partners, despite their senior status, continue apace with a robust litigation schedule and remain in demand by clients. “The big energy at Nathanson still seems to be Irwin and Stephen,” observes a peer, “but of course those guys can’t continue forever so fortunately they are handling the generational change very well. They have a very strong team coming up right after them, and in some cases now taking the lead.” Another peer concurs: “Nathanson has done a good job in succession planning – they made a point of beefing up some of their younger and mid-ranks.” This has not gone unnoticed by clients, either. One raves, “They are top-notch lawyers who work cohesively as a team, and they are very capable and have great judgment. The mentorship from senior lawyers is readily apparent. I would give them any work in their specialty. They are hands-down the best legal team in Vancouver.” Another client cheers the firm’s lawyers as “bright and energetic lawyers, with creativity and professionalism.” This same client testifies, “The firm acted for us on a dispute over a contract. We terminated the contract, believing this was within our rights within the contract, and the other, much larger, party disputed that right. Nathanson is very intelligent and experienced, particularly on this type of litigation.”
    Irwin Nathanson, still “every bit as active as he ever was, with all kinds of stuff,” is championed by a client for his “excellent judgment and meticulous preparation.” The same can be said for Schachter, who is working with Julia Lockhart acting for Beedie in a dispute with the Vancouver School Board over the rent payable for a third 10-year renewal term under a lease for the lands on which a mall is located. The original dispute was determined in private arbitration, but Beedie obtained leave to appeal that award and a stay of its obligations under the lease. The substantive appeal was heard in October 2024, and the decision is under reserve. Lockhart is cheered as “a brilliant lawyer,” by a client who goes on to specify, “She was able to sift through copious documents to get to the issues, even when I hadn't identified them yet (and I had been familiar with the file!). She is calm and unflappable.  Her lawyering skills set her apart. Schachter also acts with Karen Carteri for G&T Martini Holdings in a major property-development dispute regarding an agreement by Martini to purchase over $150 million of serviced lands. James MacInnis, called “smart, responsive and strategic” by a client, acts for Taplow Ventures, the defendants in a business-divestiture dispute.  Mark Oulton, who joined the firm in 2023 from Hunter Litigation Chambers, is identified by a peer as “the preeminent private-practice forestry lawyer in the province – and I mean it’s not even close, there is no second. He’s fantastic.”

 

Poulus Ensom Smith is one of the newest entries to the crowded Vancouver litigation boutique pedestal and, in short order, “has really established itself in the market,” according to peers. The firm’s primary founder and senior partner, however, is anything but a new name to the Canadian legal landscape. Hein Poulus is a longtime pillar of the Vancouver community, with a wealth of experience, youthful vigor and, to hear peers tell it, “fighting spirit.” One contemporary confides, “I spent six weeks in trial with Hein, and he was really on his game.” Another offers in summary, “Hein is the best lawyer in Vancouver when it comes to trench warfare. It’s almost like he doesn’t belong in this province!” However, it is noted that “it’s also a deep team,” with name partners Joseph Ensom and Laésha Smith, as well as younger stars such as Kelly Ann Maw and Kyle Thompson, also generating their own acclaim.
     A peer testifies, “I’m dealing with the same people on all my files, and they’re all between 35 and 50, and they’re all at boutiques. We had a file recently where we needed another counsel, and it was the kind of case we would never give to a 60-year-old, and we would never give to a 30-year-old. So we brought in Joe Ensom, who seems just perfect in this sweet spot.” Ensom has been steadily gaining traction for his all-purpose commercial practice. Smith attends to more of a securities niche; she and Thompson represent the defendant in an action brought by the BC Securities Commission, alleging that the defendants carried out three different pump-and-dump schemes over four years that artificially inflated the price of three BC companies that trade on the TSX-V, CSE and US OTC markets. A trial took place between April and June 2024. Smith and Maw acted for Real Estate Webmasters in litigation brought concerning a customized web platform, and the firm’s three name partners represent TELUS in a matter concerning the Medical Service Commission’s filing of a petition in December 2022 seeking an injunction to shut down TELUS’s private “TELUS Health” business on the basis that it violates the Medicare Protection Act by charging for primary-care services.

 

 

The team in Singleton Reynolds’ Vancouver office has, similarly to its Toronto twin, maintained an unwavering commitment to construction and surety industries. This office distinguished itself by having developed a notable depth and diversity of practice that at this point rivals or perhaps even surpasses that of its Toronto office. The practice breadth is exemplified by David Edinger, now the Western Canada-based co-Managing Partner. Edinger is handling a case in which the plaintiff is a limited partner in an entity developing a concrete residential development in Port Moody, British Columbia. The project, which remains pre-construction, is estimated to have total land and development costs exceeding $CAD150 million. The plaintiff claims that Edinger’s clients, general partners in the project, have engaged in self-dealing, have negligently mismanaged the limited partnership's capital, failed to sell the project when they should have, failed to honor an extraordinary resolution removing them as the general partner and have caused loss and damage to the plaintiff. Robert Moore is cheered by a client as being “well versed in construction litigation” and “understanding the issues associated with our matters.” Moore and Clive Boulton provide the defense in a matter in which the plaintiff was involved in a rear-end accident and alleged that she had suffered a concussion in the accident which resulted in significant ongoing symptoms and demanded an amount beyond policy limits. The court found that the plaintiff did not in fact suffer a concussion and that her symptoms were largely an aggravation of pre-existing psychological conditions, and awarded damages well within policy limits.  Stephen Berezowskyj continues to enjoy a reputation buoyed by peer and client commendations. One client addresses Berezowskyj as a “solution-focused lawyer [who] doesn't litigate just for the sake of litigation and [is] always looking for ways to efficiently resolve matters.”

Like its Calgary office, Stikeman’s Vancouver shop is also smaller than the firm’s Eastern segment and is similarly in growth mode. It also receives healthy client review. “They managed all aspects of our litigation in a very detailed and thorough manner, maximizing our chancing for a positive outcome,” offers one client. Long recognized for the presence of David Brown, an all-purpose commercial litigator with a local peer following, the Vancouver office benefited from the addition of younger stars Jonathan Buysen and Angela Crimeni, both of whom boast their own respective commercial litigation portfolios and ascending community and client followings.

 

Vancouver’s Whitelaw Twining has been historically known among peers as an insurance defense-focused firm, but it got an infusion of local talent in the commercial and securities space in late 2019 in the form ofPatrick Sullivan, a refugee from the now-defunct boutique Taylor Veinotte Sullivan and considered one of the preeminent securities authorities in Western Canada. “This is a big deal for both sides,” declares one peer, echoing the sentiment of several others. “Just like that, Whitelaw now has a commercial and securities practice, and they got a good group.” Sullivan is engaged for a client in the high-profile securities matter concerning Bridgemark Financial that has “pretty much engulfed every securities lawyer in Vancouver,” according to a peer, “although Pat Sullivan has a real front-and-center position in it.” Another commercial litigator, with a particular niche in insolvency matters, John Fiddick is cheered by a peer as “someone I have all the time in the world for. He’s great.” Amy Peck, who joined the firm in 2019, is also gaining traction. “She is very good,” commends a peer. “She’s on a case for a hotel manager and she has been reasonable, fair, thoughtful, considerate and smart.”