Stephen is one of Canada’s top trial and appellate lawyers. His focus is on corporate commercial litigation, including securities, derivative claims, oppression proceedings and professional negligence. He has litigated many of British Columbia’s leading complex business disputes and regularly appears in the British Columbia Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Leading legal publications have described Stephen as “not only one of the best litigators in BC, he’s one of Canada’s great trial lawyers, dyed in the wool”. He has been described as “a highly analytical, cerebral litigator”, “a terrific, very skilled lawyer”, a “very intelligent and tough litigator”.
Stephen has litigated many of British Columbia’s leading complex business disputes. He acted as trial and appeal counsel with Irwin Nathanson K.C. in Concord Pacific Acquisitions v. Hong Leong Oei, a significant case involving property with a value of over $350 million. Stephen (together with Karen Carteri and Randy Hordo K.C.) was trial counsel on a high-profile civil forfeiture matter involving an international money services business, with many interlocutory and related proceedings in North America and Europe. Together they brought this matter to settlement on the eve of a 61-day trial. Stephen successfully defended clients in Lonking (China) Machinery Sales Co. Ltd. v. Zhao, 2024 BCSC 79, an action to enforce multi-million judgments the plaintiffs had obtained in China. This case represents an important decision addressing Canadian standards of natural justice. Stephen is counsel for the appellant on an appeal from a commercial arbitration award involving approximately $80 million.
Stephen consistently receives top rankings from legal publications, including being recognized as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada by Benchmark Litigation. He often presents as a faculty member for Continuing Legal Education Society courses on subjects such as restitution, chambers practice and advocacy training.
When founding NST in 1987, Stephen, Irwin Nathanson, K.C., and Ardella Thomson were committed to building an elite team of litigators capable of advocacy and litigation at the highest level. That commitment continues today as NST has expanded its talented team of litigators, each of whom are committed to achieving optimal results for clients. Stephen is actively engaged in mentoring NST’s associates to ensure the firm’s commitment to their original vision is maintained. Due to the careful guidance of its founding partners, NST is recognized as a top litigation firm in Canada.
Updated April 2024
