Watson Goepel is thrilled to announce that six of our lawyers have been recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2026 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch™ in 2026 for their remarkable success and excellence in their area of expertise.
Watson Goepel LLP is proud to announce that the firm has been recognized in the Best Law Firms – Canada 2027 Edition, with a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Vancouver for Personal Injury Litigation and Regional Tier 3 rankings across four additional practice areas.
Most founders spend months refining their product and pitch, and almost no time on the startup legal documents that protect it. A handful of foundational documents determine who owns the company, who owns the intellectual property created for the business, and what happens when something goes wrong between co-founders, employees, or early customers.
If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may wonder: “How much is my pain and suffering worth?” The answer is not based on a simple calculation or fixed amount.
Applying for Canadian immigration status can appear to be a straightforward process, but know that even small mistakes in your application can lead to delays, requests for additional information, or even a refusal. Whether you’re applying for permanent residence, a work permit, a study permit, or Canadian citizenship, understanding the most common pitfalls can help you avoid unnecessary setbacks.
Experiencing sexual assault can have lasting emotional, physical, and financial impacts. If the assault occurred in an organization such as a workplace, school, sports association, or religious institution, you may be wondering whether the organization, not just the individual responsible, can be held legally accountable.
Picture this: a pipe bursts, or a small fire breaks out in the back office, and you file a commercial property insurance claim expecting it to be straightforward. Instead, the cheque that arrives is thousands of dollars short of what you lost. Nine times out of ten, the reason is buried in a clause most policyholders never read closely, the co-insurance clause. By the time they find out about it, it’s too late to do anything but pay the difference themselves.
Signed a contract you didn’t fully understand? The doctrine of non est factum may offer a defence, but courts apply it narrowly. In 1401946 B.C. Ltd. v Vanhome Ventures 2 Holdings Ltd., 2026 BCSC 1753, the BC Supreme Court held guarantors to unlimited guarantees they said they misunderstood, a reminder to read and understand what you sign.
On October 13, 2026, British Columbia’s new Mortgage Services Act, S.B.C. 2022, c. 27 (the “MSA”) will come into force and effect, replacing the longstanding Mortgage Brokers Act, R.S.B.C. ch. 313 (the “MBA”). The MSA introduces a modernized regulatory framework for mortgage service providers, including expanded licensing requirements, increased disclosure obligations, enhanced enforcement tools, and significantly higher penalties for non-compliance.
