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.
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.
Unexpected events such as wildfires, floods, equipment failures, or other disasters can force a business to close temporarily, leading to lost revenue and ongoing expenses. If you’re wondering whether business interruption insurance can help, the answer depends on the terms of your insurance policy and the circumstances of the loss.
Every September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation asks Canadians to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and on the ongoing relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples. It’s also a moment to look back at how the law itself has been evolving in response, from national commitments like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, to provincial legislation like BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), to the court decisions now testing what those commitments mean in practice.
This week, Watson Goepel was proud to take part in International Connections: Europe & Canada, the second installment in a series dedicated to strengthening the commercial ties between Canada and European markets. Hosted in RBC’s Executive Dining Space in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the event brought together business leaders, trade professionals, and government representatives for an evening of substantive conversation and genuine connection.
Obtaining judgment against a defendant does not guarantee recovery. Frequently, the greater challenge is enforcing the judgment and locating realizable assets. Accordingly, it is important for judgment creditors to be aware of the tools available to them.
On September 18, 2026, the BC Government announced that it is pausing the planned expansion of the provincial sales tax (PST) to certain professional services that had been scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026. This BC PST expansion pause comes as the Province cited ongoing international trade disruptions and economic uncertainty as the reason for the delay.
