On June 14, 2022, our Partner and leader of our Family Law Group, Laurence Klass, chaired the Family Law 2022 Program hosted by Pacific Business & Law Institute (PBLI). Laurence led the Watson Goepel team, as well as industry experts from Schuman Basran Robin & Bell and North Shore Law, to discuss family matters that…

Hollyburn Club, West Vancouver June 22nd, 2022 Let me begin by expressing heartfelt condolences to Karen and Bob’s family from the Watson Goepel Family, our partners, associates, students and staff, many of whom are here today. Bob meant a lot to us at Watson Goepel and will be greatly missed by us all. I am…

In March 2020, the aggressive spread of COVID-19 cases created uncertainty and economic chaos for businesses in Canada. One British Columbia employer took the step of laying off a significant number of its employees. This step, taken by many other employers, was intended to be a temporary measure and last resort necessitated by the pandemic…

Congratulations to our Corporate Services Supervisor Tamara Dirks for being elected as a Director of BC Paralegal Association on June 14, 2022. Tamara will join the rest of the Board as a governing body to drive the Association forward, providing high-quality professional development, continuing education and networking opportunities to the BCPA Registered Paralegals in British Columbia. The…

Robert ‘Bob’ Watson, one of Watson Goepel LLP’s founding partners, passed away on Friday, June 4th, 2021. The Celebration of Life Service will take place on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Services will be followed by Cocktails & Canapes. Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 Time: 2-4pm Venue: Dining Room at Hollyburn Country Club If you would…

“Although we cannot change history, we can certainly change its consequences”. – Celso A. A. Boscariol, K.C. Our lawyer, Celso Boscariol, K.C., along with descendants of the Internees, attended the official proclamation of Vancouver City Council Chambers on June 8, 2020, to witness the acknowledgment of injustices enacted upon the Italian Canadian community during WWII.…

We are pleased to announce that Katharine Hennebery has joined our Personal Injury Law Group as an Associate. Katharine practices exclusively in the area of personal injury law, and she has experience conducting all aspects of a personal injury file including settlement negotiations, mediations and trials. Prior to joining Watson Goepel, Katharine spent several years…

In recent weeks, we have seen a flurry of activity by both Provincial and Federal Governments aiming to cool down the red-hot housing market in Canada. On April 7, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in his federal budget that he will be imposing a two-year ban on home purchases by foreign nationals. While precise…

When a slip and fall occurs on an icy sidewalk, if it isn’t the responsibility of a homeowner or commercial property owner, should the municipality be liable for the accident? Although municipalities are generally the owners of sidewalks, that does not necessarily mean they are liable for slips and falls that occur due to icy…

In our recent blog post, we discussed the rights and responsibilities of individual homeowners when accidents happen on an icy sidewalk. What about commercial property owners? Do they have different obligations and rights? In a recent case, Der v. Zhao, 2021 BCCA 82, the BC Court of Appeal commented that it may be easier to…