Donald J. Sorochan KC

Don Sorochan practiced law from 1972 - 2017 with Miller Thomson LLP and its predecessor firm Swinton & Company. Upon retirement from Miller Thomson, he continues his practice through Donald J. Sorochan Law Corporation. Don Sorochan’s practice encompasses the areas of securities, criminal defence work, commercial and construction litigation, aviation law, administrative law, and criminal prosecution for both the federal and provincial governments. Don’s advocacy work has resulted in several landmark decisions in Canadian law in these areas.

Don is an experienced securities litigator who has led the way in the exploration of issues relating to the trading of securities across international borders. He has also lectured to legal and securities industry groups on various aspects of securities regulation. His involvement in international commercial matters also includes serving on the Attorney General’s Task Force, which drafted British Columbia’s International Commercial Arbitration Act and established the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre.

As a leading construction lawyers, Don has acted on behalf of clients on matters relating to contracts, negligence and professional errors and omissions. He has argued such issues at all levels of court. Recently, he appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of a general contractor in a landmark lawsuit involving breach of contract, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation.

Throughout his career Don has litigated major constitutional cases in the areas of criminal law, corrections law, Aboriginal law, and veterans rights.

He has also acted as lead counsel in several provincial and federal inquiries and Royal Commissions. His clients include public and private companies, private citizens, and provincial and federal bodies including the British Columbia Police Commission, for which he is general counsel. He has frequently been appointed to be a special prosecutor under the Crown Counsel Act of British Columbia.

Don is an active member of the legal community, and frequently lectures and presents papers on various aspects of law for the Canadian Bar Association, the Continuing Legal Education Society and other legal education organizations. He has published several papers for The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law and is the editor of the Society’s newsletter. He also served as an Adjunct Professor of Trial and Appellate Advocacy for the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law.

Don is a director, the Treasurer, and a member of the management committee of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law. He was a founding director of the Justice Institute of British Columbia and has served on various boards and committees including the Western Correctional Association, the National Parole Board of Canada, and the CBA Criminal Justice Review Committee. He represented the Canadian Bar Association as a consultant to the Law Reform Commission of Canada in re-drafting Canada’s Criminal Code.

Don is also a member of the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the American Society of International Law, the Canadian Council on International Law, the American Correctional Association, the American Probation and Parole Association, and the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch.