With the introduction of Bill 21-2020, British Columbia has proposed a series of long-awaited amendments to its Wills, Estates, and Succession Act that will modernize the will-making process in the province. The proposed amendments will enable BC Courts to accept a will that is created, recorded, transmitted or stored on an electronic device (such as…

“Clients come to lawyers with problems they want solved, not issues they want litigated.” – Honourable Roy McMurtry I came across this old quote a few days ago and was prompted to consider how we resolve matrimonial disputes generally, and more specifically how we are resolving them in these pandemic times. Uncertainty creates anxiety, and…

We are pleased to announce that the law firm of Stewart & Winch has joined the law firm of Watson Goepel LLP, effective June 30, 2020. This merger allows Watson Goepel to better serve clients on the North Shore and surrounding areas. Stewart & Winch is an established West Vancouver law firm, providing legal services in…

On 30 June 2020, the Business Corporations Act will be amended to introduce a new type of company called a “benefit company”.  While there are legitimate concerns as to whether this new type of company is actually needed, the concept could provide a lucrative marketing opportunity for many B.C. businesses. What are benefit companies? Benefit…

On November 28, 2019, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”), making UNDRIP part of BC law. UNDRIP UNDRIP is a comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples, that sets out basic human rights within an indigenous context and…

Indigenous Law Lawyer Anita Boscariol was interviewed by Canadian Lawyer magazine for a May 06, 2020 article on the recently passed temporary regulations allowing First Nations to postpone or cancel elections during the pandemic to protect community health and avoid a governance gap. See the full article here. https://bit.ly/2ZORURn

Unsurprisingly, Canadian courts have considered numerous personal injury claims over the years arising from hockey and other sports injuries. These cases can be difficult for plaintiffs to navigate due to the element of risk that is accepted as a fundamental aspect of all sport in general. Although an injury may be the foundation of a…

** This article does not contain legal advice. There can be legal differences across industries and jurisdictions (i.e. federally versus provincially regulated workplaces). In addition, employee contracts can vary the suggestions set out in this article. Please consult with counsel before you implement any new strategy which deviates from your current policies and procedures.** The…

All workers have the right to a healthy and safe workplace. As such, they have the right to refuse unsafe work – in other words, they may refuse work that they believe has the potential to harm themselves or others at the worksite. In B.C., the work refusal process is set out in the Occupational…

We are pleased to announce that Jeffrey Read has joined our Business Law Group as Associate Counsel. Jeffrey brings his vast experience in corporate and securities law, where advises local, national, and international companies and securities dealers on their Canadian activities. He also acts for large BC-based public companies and private equity groups and has…