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.
