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Find Lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia for Insurance Law
Practice Area Overview
Insurance law is a wide-ranging practice area that involves providing insurers with advice on governance issues, regulatory compliance, and the interpretation and application of insurance policies, as well as representing insurers and their insured before the courts.
Insurance law practitioners generally also provide advice and counsel to a range of other participants in this industry, including agents, brokers, claims adjusters, and reinsurers, on all aspects that are incidental to the market for insurance products and services, whether litigious or not.
Specialists in insurance law must have an in-depth understanding of the statutory and regulatory framework for the industry and the ability to draft and interpret insurance policies, manage complex litigation files, and provide effective advocacy and representation before the courts in a variety of coverage categories, including life and health insurance, liability and professional liability insurance, directors and officers liability insurance, property-casualty insurance (which includes automobile insurance, aviation insurance, boiler and machinery insurance, and builder’s risk insurance), reinsurance, surety and fidelity insurance, credit insurance, legal expenses insurance, as well as in matters of insurance fraud.
The statutes, regulations, and directives of regulatory bodies to which insurers are subject are numerous, complex, and constantly evolving, particularly since the global financial crisis. The consequences of regulatory non-compliance can have a major impact on the financial and operational levels, and in terms of reputational risk. One important facet of insurance law consists of advising insurers on regulatory compliance and providing guidance on strategic decisions to be taken in wide variety of contexts, such as the creation of new insurance products, regulatory inspections, the protection of personal information, and the distribution of financial products and services.
Consistently recognized by legal ranking publications including the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation, Steve has established a reputation for himself as one of BC’s leading insurance lawyers. He routinely provides the strategic, creative and practical advice his clients need when faced with insurance claims. Over his career, Steve has developed his expertise working with insurers, creating longstanding client relationships that inform his unique pe...
Mike Adlem is head of the firm's Insurance and Professional Liability Group and a litigation partner in the firm’s Vancouver office. His practice focuses on corporate commercial and insurance litigation. He represents insurers, their insureds and self-insured organizations in a wide variety of litigation including class actions, product liability, directors and officers, construction, financial services, competition, technology, professional errors and omissions, defamation, medical and...
Beth Allard is experienced counsel in various commercial disputes involving complex contractual, tortious and regulatory legal issues, providing both litigation advice and negotiating successful and strategic resolutions. She regularly advises and assists clients on matters relating to tendering, procurement, project delivery and management, liens and dispute resolution. Ms. Allard's practice also covers a range of liability defence work for design professionals, financial professionals, dire...
Jordan Bank is a litigator with a focus on insurance defence. His practice is broad. He has defended clients in personal injury actions and motor vehicle claims, medical malpractice claims, property loss claims, crop loss claims, human rights complaints, contract disputes, class action lawsuits and professional negligence claims. Jordan also has extensive experience with insurance coverage disputes, and he regularly provides insurance coverage advice. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Un...
Dan Barber is a Partner in the Insurance, Construction and Infrastructure, and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP. He is a practical litigator who strives to solve his clients’ legal problems effectively and efficiently. He specializes in the areas of insurance defence, professional liability, construction, and collections. In his insurance work, Dan represents insureds in claims made by third parties and also represents insurers in first part...
Bryan Baynham chairs the Defamation, Privacy and Media Law Group at Harper Grey. He is also the past chair of our Commercial Litigation Group. Bryan provides advice and acts as counsel with respect to corporate and commercial disputes and all issues relating to aviation, real estate, contract, tort and defamation litigation. He has extensive experience and has represented a number of financial institutions in appellate proceedings. Bryan is consistently ranked among the top lawyers in Canada ...
Nigel practices general insurance litigation, primarily in personal injury defence, and leads our Defamation and Abuse Litigation groups. He finds creative solutions for clients in claims involving anything from occupier’s liability to nuisance to defamation. Meticulous preparation and strategizing have been the keys to Nigel’s success. He has extensive trial experience, appearing many times in the Supreme and Appeal Courts of British Columbia. Nigel is passionate about educating ...
Hollis Bromley is a Partner and a member of the firm’s Insurance Practice. Her practice is primarily litigation-based, with an emphasis on insurance defence and insurance coverage. She deals with claims ranging from bodily injury and property damage to employment and human rights defence, including representing clients in class actions and complex commercial and regulatory matters. Hollis acts for insurers in relation to all types of coverages, including CGL, D&O, E&O, Cyber, EP...
Patrick Bruce is a Partner in Alexander Holburn’s Insurance group. His practice is primarily litigation-based with an emphasis on insurance defence, insurance coverage and alternative dispute resolution. Patrick has experience with technically complex, multi-party personal injury, casualty, and liability claims. He has acted for large global insurers and their insureds across a wide range of industries, including complex personal injury claims, subrogated matters, property damage, const...
Jessica Campbell is a Partner in Fasken’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group in Vancouver. Her practice focuses on product liability and insurance advice and litigation, and extends to a range of related practice areas including tort defence, insurance coverage, construction litigation and class proceedings. Jessica has litigated and negotiated disputes before all levels of British Columbia courts. She has extensive trial and appeal court experience. Beyond the civil litigation con...
Navigating the contractual relationship between insurers and insureds is complex and nuanced, whether it be coverage advice or litigation. Strong legal analysis, experience, and industry insight are required to find both principled and practical solutions. As a specialty insurance defence lawyer and coverage specialist, Bo helps our clients resolve their complex insurance disputes in a strategic, timely, and cost-efficient manner. Bo works closely with insurance companies and policyholders, o...
Stephen Coyle's practice is specific to litigation and alternative dispute resolution for design consultants, owners, contractors, insurers and many of the other stakeholders involved in construction projects. In particular, Stephen is often appointed by insurers to defend design consultants captured by construction disputes, or other insureds under project-specific insurance policies. Stephen understands the construction industry and appreciates the significant risks and costs all stakeholde...
Ryan Darby's practice involves a broad range of general litigation and insurance defence matters with a particular emphasis on professional liability claims against accountants, financial planners, and design professionals, and a focus on complex, multi-party litigation. Ryan has extensive trial experience at the British Columbia Supreme Court level. He has also appeared before the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. His practice includes appearances before admin...
Todd practices primarily in insurance litigation, and he also regularly provides coverage opinions and handles subrogated matters for insurers. Todd’s particular interests and expertise includes coverage, occupiers’ liability, product liability, sports and recreation and professional indemnity claims. He also has significant experience handling complex personal injury matters. Todd’s clients comprise of a number of North American insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates and self-i...
Scott Dawson is a partner in the litigation department and a trial lawyer experienced in the resolution of a broad range of commercial disputes. He regularly appears before British Columbia Courts as part of his business-focused civil litigation practice. His cases cover a wide variety of commercial litigation issues including supply contracts, insurance / reinsurance, directors' fiduciary duties, international and domestic agency disputes, shareholder disputes and corporate reorganizations. ...
Sunjeet Deol is a member of the firm’s Insurance, Class Actions, Construction + Engineering and Motor Vehicle Practices. His practice is primarily litigation based with a focus on matters involving coverage disputes, personal injury, property damage, product liability, professional liability and commercial host liability. He frequently acts as counsel on casualty claims, prosecutes subrogated recovery matters, defends coverage claims, property damage claims and professional liability cl...
Bruno De Vita, K.C. is a member of the firm’s litigation practice and the former Managing Partner of the firm. He practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance law, governmental liability, class action and personal injury litigation. His clients include major insurance companies, self-insured corporations, local governments, religious institutions and athletic associations. Mr. De Vita’s practice involves the handling of complex insurance coverage cases, ...
Eric has specialized in insurance law for 42 years, is named as one of Canada’s top commercial insurance lawyers by Lexpert Magazine, and recognized as a leading lawyer for Insurance and Reinsurance by Who’s Who Legal: Canada . Eric is a founding partner in the firm which is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s Top 10 Insurance Boutique law firms by Canadian Lawyer magazine. Eric’s trial experience is varied and embraces the full spectrum of cases that liability insu...
Jim practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance defence (including product liability, property damage, motor vehicle and construction claims), commercial litigation, personal injury and claims against professionals. He appears regularly in the BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He has appeared in the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal as well as before administrative tribunals. Jim is an Adjunct Professor, UBC Faculty of Law (Insurance &ndas...
Andrew has been providing legal advice to the insurance industry and self-insured corporations for more than 30 years. He has extensive experience in multi-party litigation, including construction disputes; catastrophic bodily injury claims; subrogation of property loss claims; and coverage disputes, including defending coverage opinions in court. He has also handled claims relating to class actions, professional liability and directors’ and officers’ liability. Andrew is a freque...
John Fiddick joined Whitelaw Twining in 2012 as Litigation Counsel and the Chair of the Commercial Litigation Group. His practice involves a broad range of commercial and business litigation matters with a particular emphasis on insolvency and restructuring matters. He regularly represents senior and subordinate lenders, trustees and receivers and debtors in complex, multi-party litigation. These matters often involve the enforcement of security or court judgements. He has represented shareho...
Angus Gunn is a barrister who concentrates on the resolution of commercial disputes. His practice emphasizes (a) civil appellate litigation matters; (b) appointments as counsel and arbitrator in international and domestic commercial arbitration proceedings; and (c) counsel in judicial review and other administrative law matters. He blends a traditional litigation practice with extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution. He is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the...
Stuart Hankinson, K.C. is a Partner in the Construction and Infrastructure Practice Group at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP. His practice is focused on the resolution of complex construction, commercial and insurance disputes. He has moderated many conflicts. He is an arbitrator and has been a sole Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB)/Dispute Resolution Board (DRB) member. He acts for owners, developers, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and Engineering, Procurement, and Cons...
Laura Hanson is a Partner and member of the firm’s Business Disputes, Corporate/ Commercial, Insurance and Construction + Engineering Practice. Laura regularly acts as counsel for a wide variety of matters including business disputes, property claims that involve defending contractors, trades and engineers, and claims for product liability advanced against manufacturers and distributors. Laura also regularly acts as coverage counsel for insurers, providing coverage opinions in relation ...
Michael is a tested litigator with 30 years of demonstrated performance and results in complex litigation within British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada. Michael is primarily dedicated to representing his corporate and individual clients in litigation. With broad experience in civil, criminal, administrative and constitutional law cases, including a great deal of trial and appellate work, he represents the interests of those clients in formal disputes involving professional liability and dis...
Jonathan Hodes practices insurance and environmental litigation. He provides practical and cost-effective advice to Canadian, American, and international clients on product liability, general liability, coverage and environmental matters. In addition, he has completed Pepperdine University’s prestigious "Mediating the Litigated Case" program, and offers his services as a mediator in civil claims. He holds Canadian and U.S. law degrees and a large part of his practice involves assisting ...
Robert Hodgins is a Partner in our Vancouver Office and he is the Chair of the ICBC Practice Group. He is also a member of the Construction, Insurance and Commercial Litigation Groups. He has practiced litigation at the firm for over twenty five years. Robert’s practice is centered on motor vehicle claims, personal injury, construction, professional liability, insurance defence, and commercial litigation. He has represented a range of insurers including the Insurance Corporation of Brit...
Adam practices commercial and general insurance defence litigation, with an emphasis on errors and omissions, medical malpractice, highways liability, products liability and coverage disputes. He was first called to the Bar in New Zealand, and upon admission practiced with a leading New Zealand litigation firm, focusing on insurance defence. Adam practiced there for approximately 3 years, before leaving to travel in 1997. After his travels, Adam practiced in London, England with a leading ins...
Judith Kennedy is a Partner and practices in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on commercial insurance and reinsurance law. She regularly acts as defence, subrogation and coverage counsel for primary and excess insurers and reinsurers under a wide range of policy coverages including business interruption, contingent business interruption, professional errors and omissions, D&O, commercial comprehensive general liability, boiler and machinery, course of construction, wrap-up an...
Seema Lal is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Construction and Infrastructure Practice Group, and member of the Commercial and Business Litigation Practice Group at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP. Seema is focused on the negotiation and preparation of construction contracts, procurement issues, builders’ liens, disputes; and construction dispute resolution, including claims for extras and delays. She seeks to provide strategic legal advice to assist her clients in making informed an...
Jonathan is a Partner in Fasken’s Vancouver office and Co-Leader of the Firm’s National Litigation Management Team. He is a civil litigator practising in the areas of insurance litigation, product liability, transportation law (rail and truck), and general commercial litigation. Jonathan has extensive experience handling insurance, product liability, and commercial carrier claims. He regularly acts for various Canadian and foreign insurers; commercial carriers including a major Ca...
Neil’s preferred practice is in construction litigation, product liability and professional liability, including professional liability insurance coverage analysis. Called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1986, Neil spent five years in Ontario as a claims examiner with a professional liability insurer before moving to BC in 1992 to assume the position of Deputy Director of Insurance at The Law Society of British Columbia. At this time he acquired his CRM designation in risk management. Neil wa...
Alexandre Maltas joined Whitelaw Twining in 2007. He practices primarily in the areas insurance law, construction law, and commercial and employment litigation. Alex is the head of the firm's Professional Liability Practice Group. Alex routinely defends architects, engineers and other design professionals. Alex also provides risk management and coverage advice in respect of design professionals. Alex also has experience with acting for professionals in a wide variety of disciplinary proceedin...
David McKnight is a Partner, and the leader of Alexander Holburn’s Administrative Law, Police Law, Employment and Human Rights Law, and Defamation + Publication Risk Management Practice Groups. David is also a member of the Insurance and Local Government Practices. His practice is in the area of insurance litigation defence and includes construction litigation, fire loss, police claims, personal injury, property damage, administrative law and defamation. David also regularly provides co...
Rob is a partner and member of the Insurance, Class Actions, Administrative Law, and Business Disputes Practice groups. Rob has been a litigator for almost 30 years. His practice is primarily focused on personal injury, product liability, professional liability, property damage and class actions. Rob has extensive experience appearing before the British Columbia Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and Federal Court and Court of Appeal. He is an impassioned and skillful trial advocate, but he u...
Jonathan is the Managing Partner at Harper Grey. In addition to his role as Managing Partner, Jonathan practices in the areas of health, insurance, construction, and professional regulation. With over 20 years’ experience, Jonathan brings a well-rounded perspective and judgment to his diverse practice. His practice includes advising and assisting physicians in professional liability and professional disciplinary matters. Jonathan’s work on behalf of insurers includes liability def...
Rob is a Partner and a member of the Construction, Insurance, Professional Liability and Commercial Litigation Law Groups at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP. His practice involves all aspects of construction litigation. He has also litigated diverse commercial litigation professional liability, construction, and personal injury matters. His varied experience allows him to assist in all manner of disputes. Rob’s familiarity with the Rules of Court and alternative dispute resolution...
Joel is a Partner in Harper Grey’s Health Law, Commercial Litigation, Professional Regulation, and Insurance Law practice groups. Joel’s practice focuses on professional liability; commercial litigation, including multi-party cases and class actions; insurance litigation; and administrative law. He routinely acts as counsel on complex cases and appeals. He has represented clients at all levels of court in British Columbia and before various administrative tribunals. Joel is the fi...
Kelly Murray joined Whitelaw Twining in 2017. Prior to joining the firm, Kelly worked for over 17 years with boutique litigation firms in Vancouver and focussed her practice on professional liability claims. Before that she gained early trial experience as an Assistant Crown Attorney in Ontario for four years. She now continues her professional liability practice at Whitelaw Twining defending real estate agents and lawyers against claims made against them in their professional capacity. Kelly...
Michael Nadeau practices in the area of civil litigation. He is a member of Alexander Holburn’s Insurance, Construction + Engineering and Cannabis Practices. Michael is also a member of the firm’s Executive Team and chairs the firm’s Client Service Program. Michael represents clients in a wide variety of legal areas, including personal injury and occupiers’ liability, sports and recreation, products liability, property damage and subrogated actions. Michael also has ex...
Peter has over 30 years experience as a civil litigator in the areas of occupier’s liability, products liability, professional negligence, insurance, personal injury, construction and commercial litigation. He is Martindale-Hubbell/LexisNexis Peer Review Rated as "Distinguished – Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards". Peter practices throughout western Canada representing a number of provincial, national and internationally based companies. His clients in...
Vernon practices in the areas of municipal law, product liability, maritime law, personal injury and general insurance defence litigation. He also has experience in commercial litigation, subrogated claims, defending on catastrophic personal injury claims, and large property losses related to floods, fire, landslides and water intrusion. He has acted on behalf of foreign and domestic shipowners, charterers and underwriters in relation to matters concerning yacht claims, marine-related persona...
Michael Parrish is a litigator in Fasken’s Vancouver office. His core areas of practice include product liability, tort, insurance, class action, construction, aviation, maritime, agribusiness and cross-border litigation, regulation and related advice. Michael has significant experience representing companies and insurers in a broad range of industries and matters. Michael is recognized as one of the leading lawyers in his fields in British Columbia. Michael is a dynamic, strategic and ...
Jeremy Poole is the group leader of the Local Government Practice and a member of the Insurance and Health Practices. He has represented local governments on numerous legal issues for over twenty years. He provides advice and representation to municipal police. He also provides representation and advice to the insurance industry defending a wide variety of claims relating to both property and personal injury matters. Mr. Poole assists clients in defending serious and complex claims using his ...
From defending diverse tort-based litigation to advising airlines, product manufacturers, operators, and overhaul/repair facilities, Brian Poston has an insightful understanding of litigation and risk management with a particular emphasis on aviation and the aerospace industry. With over 20 years of experience, Brian advises insurers and their insureds on a wide range of operational and risk management issues, negligence, product liability, regulatory and coverage disputes. Prior to becoming ...
Mr. Rhodes is a partner at Dolden Wallace Folick LLP and practices exclusively insurance law. He has appeared as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the Ontario Superior Court and the Supreme Court of Yukon. Brian’s practice has a particular emphasis on construction law, professional liability, and product liability. Brian has been peer-reviewed and recognized by Lexpert as one of Canada’s Leading Practitioners in the area of commercial insur...
Christopher Rhone brings over 20 years of civil litigation experience to the defence of his clients. His practice includes the successful defence of complex litigation including class actions, insurance coverage disputes, construction defects, and serious personal injuries. Christopher has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and before all levels of provincial superior courts and administrative tribunals. In addition to litigated claims before the courts, Christopher has extensive med...
Chris is a Partner with Harper Grey and has over 25 years’ experience with all aspects of civil litigation. The focus of Chris’ practice is complex, multi-party disputes. He is counsel in some of Canada’s largest and most technically challenging cases in the fields of product liability, environmental contamination and construction. Chris’ education and background in the field of chemical engineering makes him particularly adept at dealing with complex issues and eviden...
Elizabeth (Betsy) Segal is a Partner and Chair of the Insurance Law Practice Group at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP. She is also a Partner in the Construction and Infrastructure, and Commercial Litigation Law Practice Groups. Betsy concentrates her practice on appeals, construction related disputes, insurance coverage and defence, complex commercial litigation and professional liability defence. Betsy specializes in resolving her clients’ problems and delivering innovative solut...
Dan Shugarman's practice involves general insurance litigation and personal injury matters with a significant emphasis on catastrophic injury, product liability, and complex machinery failure claims. Dan has significant court experience in the British Columbia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada. He recently appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada case that will dictate how judges across Canada render their judgements. He has participated in hundreds of mediations, succ...
Satinder views every file as an opportunity to advocate for clients while working to achieve a favourable and economical resolution of the construction or insurance matter at issue. The construction clients that Satinder works with bring projects to life proficiently. The insurance clients that she works with manage a large volume of claims with expertise and efficiency. Satinder mirrors these qualities in her practice, ensuring that clients can execute their projects and resolve their claims...
Michael Silva joined Whitelaw Twining in June 2003 and became a Partner at the Firm in 2009. He practices in the area of general litigation, with a focus on transportation matters. Mike is one of two partners in charge of our Firm’s Marine & Transportation, Road Maintenance and Subrogation practice groups. Michael has appeared on behalf of clients in British Columbia Provincial and Supreme Courts, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, in Federal Court, and in a variety of administra...
Wanda Simek has practiced commercial litigation for 20 years. She represents corporate and individual clients in matters relating to shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence, real estate litigation, construction litigation, and breach of commercial contracts. In addition, Wanda has completed the BC Insurance Council’s General Insurance course and advises clients on insurance coverage and insurance contract interpretation issues. She has acted as insurance defence co...
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