Managing Partner

1560-505 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V7X 1M5
Canada

+17787273502

40 & Under List

Litigation Star

English


Practice area:

Commercial
Securities


Joe is an experienced trial and appeal lawyer and co-founder of Poulus Ensom Smith LLP.  He regularly acts for corporations (both public and closely held private companies), and their directors, officers, and shareholders.  His experience includes contract disputes, professional negligence claims, injunctions, real estate disputes, corporate governance matters, shareholder oppression claims, defamation claims, and securities litigation.  He also acts for Indigenous governments and individuals in litigious matters.

Joe has been recognized as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation Canada and for his outstanding professional excellence in Corporate and Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers in Canada.

Joe has appeared as counsel before all levels of Court in British Columbia, the Federal Court, and the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench.  He has represented clients before administrative tribunals and regulators including the BC and Ontario Securities Commissions.  Joe has also navigated numerous alternative dispute resolution proceedings including private arbitrations and mediations.

  • 1385673 BC Ltd. v Nobox Limited, 2025 BCSC 325.  Counsel for the Plaintiff in a dispute related to the purchase of a business-to-business software application, including breach of contract and misrepresentation issues.

  • Confidential International Arbitration (2024). Counsel to a US-based developer in an international arbitration against a Canadian clean energy company regarding development rights in Australia.

  • Seyedalikhani v Mansouri, 2023 BCSC 1902.  Counsel for the defendants in the successful dismissal of a defamation claim arising from a regulatory complaint.

  • Blizzard Uranium Corp. v Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP, 2024 BCSC 2197.  Counsel for the plaintiffs in a complex negligence claim against a commercial litigation lawyer.

  • Squinas v. Lhoosk’uz Dené First Nation, 2023 FC 612 .  Counsel for Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation and its councillors in a judicial review proceeding challenging the suspension of the Nation’s Chief from office (including the successful dismissal of an interlocutory injunction motion).

  • Arbitration
  • Commercial
  • Commercial disputes

  • J.D. - University of Toronto - 2012
  • B.A. - University of British Columbia - 2013

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Vancouver Bar Association
  • The Advocates' Society

  • Ontario - 2013
  • British Columbia - 2013