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.
Not every bad outcome means a professional was negligent—but when a lawyer, accountant, realtor, or other professional fails to meet the standard expected in their field, you may have a legal claim. Professional negligence cases can be complex, often requiring expert evidence to determine whether a professional breached their duty of care and caused financial harm. In this article, we explain what professional negligence is, the elements required to prove a claim, and the warning signs that may indicate it’s time to seek legal advice.
Anny Kim is a student at Watson Goepel LLP, supporting lawyers and clients while developing hands-on experience in legal research and case preparation.
Harveer Garcha is a student at Watson Goepel LLP, supporting lawyers and clients while developing hands-on experience in legal research and case preparation.
Starting a business in British Columbia comes with exciting opportunities, but it also requires important legal decisions early on. One of the first and most significant choices entrepreneurs face is deciding how to structure their business. Should you operate as a sole proprietorship, form a formal partnership, or incorporate your company?
Lenders with second (or subsequent) mortgage security generally assume that registration will automatically protect their priority over further advances made under a prior encumbrance. That expectation is only elevated when they have received a payout statement from the priority lender confirming the outstanding balance due and owing on the priority mortgage.
Recovering unpaid invoices can be critical to protecting your business’s cash flow. This article outlines when litigation may be necessary, how the process works in British Columbia, and what steps you can take to improve your chances of successful debt recovery.
Jurisdiction plays a critical role in cross-border family disputes, particularly when property division spans multiple countries. In this case,the Supreme Court of British Columbia demonstrates how and when it may decline jurisdiction in favour of a more appropriate forum. This case highlights the importance of early jurisdictional strategy to avoid parallel proceedings, reduce costs, and ensure disputes are resolved where they are most closely connected.
Blended families are increasingly common in British Columbia, and they bring unique estate planning challenges. Second marriages, children from previous relationships, and step‑family dynamics can all complicate decisions about who should inherit and how loved ones should be supported after death. Questions like “Who inherits my estate?” or “Do stepchildren have inheritance rights in Canada?” become critically important.
