Irwin Nathanson is one of the top trial and appellate lawyers in British Columbia and Canada. His practice centres around complex corporate and commercial files: contract and property disputes, shareholder remedies and derivative actions, pension litigation, professional negligence claims, and securities matters.
Leading publications have remarked that: “Irwin is a prestigious litigator”; He is “resolute, cool and clinical, not to mention technically brilliant”; “Nathanson can always produce a fantastic team for significant pieces of litigation”; He is “always patient and has strong advocacy skills”; He is known for his “forceful, compelling and indefatigable” litigation style; He “generates unanimous acclaim among Vancouver peers”; He’s “as good a cross examiner as you’re going to find”.
Irwin regularly appears in the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and in the Supreme Court of Canada, including, with partner Julia Lockhart, representing the GVSDD (now Metro Vancouver) in Wastech Services Ltd. v. GVSDD, 2021 SCC 7. The SCC overturned a $2.88 million award made against Metro Vancouver in a decision having important implications for all contracts that provide one party with discretionary powers, building on the Supreme Court of Canada’s decisions in Bhasin v. Hrynew, 2014 SCC 71, and C.M. Callow Inc. v. Zollinger, 2020 SCC 45.
Irwin is at the top of his game; consistently bringing complex matters to successful conclusion on behalf of his clients.
Irwin and Stephen Schachter, K.C. have been described as a “potent duo”. Recently, Irwin won before BC Court of Appeal in Concord Pacific Acquisitions Inc. v Oei, 2022 BCCA 16, which dismissed Concord’s appeal of a 2019 trial decision involving a claim in excess of $350 million brought by Concord against three named defendants, including renowned Singaporean businessman, Hong Leong Oei. After the success at trial, Irwin continued to act for Mr. Oei during the course of Concord’s appeal. There remains to be determined the order of special costs against Concord, which is estimated to be in excess of $4 million.
When founding NST, Irwin, Stephen Schachter K.C., and Ardella Thomson were committed to building an elite team capable of advocacy at the highest level. That commitment continues today as NST has carefully expanded its talented roster, including a next generation of partners who are recognized as top counsel in their own rights. Irwin actively mentors NST’s exceptional cohort of associates to foster their development into highly skilled litigators thereby ensuring NST’s continued and future excellence.
Updated March 2023
