Janet Gartner

Gudmundseth Mickelson

Partner

2525 – 1075 W
Georgia St. Vancouver
BC, V6E 3C9 Canada

+1 604 628 5010

Future Star

English


Jurisdiction:

British Columbia


Janet is known for her steady judgement, responsiveness, and unwavering focus on her clients’ objectives. In high‑stakes disputes, she brings a calm, disciplined approach that allows clients to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Her litigation practice includes representing accountants in a wide variety of disputes including negligence claims and disciplinary matters. She also litigates complex commercial and shareholder disputes, and estate and trust disputes.

Clients rely on her for legal advice and for perspective. She is deliberate, thoughtful, and deeply aligned with those she represents. She listens carefully, distills complex issues, and advances strategies that reflect both the legal realities of the case and the broader outcomes her clients are seeking to achieve.

Her practice spans challenging litigation matters where consistency, credibility, and sound judgment are critical. She is particularly valued in situations where matters are evolving quickly or where competing pressures require a measured and practical response.

What distinguishes Janet is her ability to remain even‑keeled in environments that can quickly become reactive or adversarial. She is not easily unsettled, and that steadiness translates into clear decision‑making and strong client relationships built on trust.

Clients consistently describe her as highly responsive and dependable. They know she is fully engaged, attentive to detail, and committed to advancing their interests at every stage of a matter.

For clients navigating complex disputes, Janet offers a rare combination of composure, precision, and alignment. When the stakes are high and outcomes matter, these are essential qualities.

Janet regularly provides continuing professional education to accountants and has lectured firms privately, spoken at CPABC, and at the BC Tax Foundation Conference.

  • Counsel to Grant Thornton LLP in a partnership dispute, successfully defending an application for summary trial and motion to strike in favour of the firm, 2021 BCSC 2448.

  • Counsel to a Big Four accounting firm in a complex series of related trusts and estates actions, successfully obtaining a discharge and court‑ordered release for the firm’s Trustee in the face of allegations of negligence.

  • Counsel to several small and mid‑sized accounting firms providing risk‑management advice and successful representation before the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, including several pre‑investigation dismissals.

  • Counsel to businesses defrauded by their bookkeepers, recovering seven‑figure settlements from the perpetrators of the fraud and the bank.

  • Counsel on a variety of shareholder disputes, successfully resolving oppression claims and derivative actions.

  • Commercial and transactions
  • Commercial disputes
  • Dispute resolution
  • Insurance
  • Labor and employment
  • Plaintiff
  • Estates and trusts

  • Accounting
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance

  • B.A., English with a minor in Philosophy, University of Calgary, 1998
  • B.A., Women’s Studies, University of Calgary, 2000
  • LL.B., University of British Columbia, 2004

  • Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, 2005
  • Vancouver Bar Association, 2005

  • British Columbia, 2005