Best Lawyers Near You in Vancouver, British Columbia for Administrative and Public Law
William Smart, K.C. is a senior litigator who has over 45 years of experience primarily in the areas of criminal, administrative and regulatory law. This includes representing clients under investigation or charged pursuant to various federal and provincial Acts such as the Income Tax Act, Canada Labour Code, Fisheries Act, Customs Act, Excise Act, Workers Compensation Act, Mines Act, Securities Act, Police Act, Gaming Enforcement Act and Elections Act, as well as representing lawyers, teache...
Laura is an experienced commercial litigator specializing in complex litigation and dispute resolution. Laura handles a wide range of high-profile disputes, including public and private law matters. Laura has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and as counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada. Laura has also appeared before the British Columbia Securities Commission tribunal in administrative matters. Laura's practice is marked by her clear communication, meticulous preparati...
Jason Yamashita is an Associate with Farris LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia, practicing in the areas of administrative and public law and corporate and commercial litigation. Jason has been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in administrative and public law and corporate and commercial litigation. He has been included based on peer-review feedback from lawyers practicing in similar areas of law and geographic regions. Based in Vancouver, Jason advises clients on complex litigation, re...
Nick Hooge is a Partner in the litigation group at Farris LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia. He maintains a broad litigation practice focused on complex civil, corporate, commercial, administrative, and public law matters. Nick has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Nick represents clients in a wide range of disputes, including contract claims, corporate and commercial ...
Tom is a founding partner* at Roper Greyell where he advises employers on all aspects of employment law and labour relations and represents clients in employment related litigation. A tireless advocate for the highest standards of employment and labour practices, Tom’s expertise is sought after by clients, organizations, educators and colleagues. During his career, spanning over five decades, Tom has shared his extensive experience and technical understanding of the law with young lawye...
Julia K. Lockhart is a talented trial, appellate and research lawyer who carries on a general administrative and commercial litigation practice, focussing on complex commercial disputes and challenging administrative law issues. Julia has been a partner at Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP since 2020 and she demonstrates excellence and precision in her work as an advocate, as well as leadership and compassion in her work generally. Julia regularly advises the Law Society of British Colu...
Gib van Ert practices civil, commercial and public law litigation in Ottawa and Vancouver. He has a broad range of counsel experience including trials, appeals, arbitrations, judicial reviews, motions and opinion work. Gib spent his first ten years in practice at a nationally-recognized litigation boutique in Vancouver. From August 2015 to August 2018, Gib served as Executive Legal Officer to two successive chief justices of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin, P.C. and the Rt. Hon. Richa...
Ludmila Herbst is a Partner at Farris LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia, whose practice focuses on Administrative and Public Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Defamation and Media Law, and Energy Regulatory Law. For more than 25 years, she has acted for clients in corporate, commercial, regulatory, and public law matters involving shareholder disputes, contractual issues, real property and property tax matters, energy regula...
George is a seasoned litigator with 40 years’ experience before all levels of the Canadian courts and various administrative tribunals. He provides clients with strategic advice designed to resolve corporate/commercial, securities and real estate disputes. George also provides governance and risk management leadership in his capacity as general counsel to several family owned enterprises and community associations. George’s practice incorporates mediation and arbitration as key el...
Robert McDonell is a Vancouver-based litigator with Farris LLP whose practice focuses on Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, and Product Liability Law. He represents clients before the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Supreme Court of Canada in a wide range of civil and regulatory matters involving governments, public bodies, and businesses across multiple industries. Robert advises and r...
Will practices environmental and regulatory law with a particular emphasis on regulatory compliance and incidence response. He works with companies in a wide variety of industries, including mining, forestry, utilities, and age-restricted product sales. With his regulatory litigation practice, Will assists clients navigate complex regulatory schemes and develop due diligence systems to ensure compliance. He also assists clients with defending against regulatory charges, including preparing an...
Laesha J. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law and Appellate Practice. Laesha, who practices law in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laesha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Gavin is a partner at Roper Greyell, practicing in most areas of workplace law. Over his professional career, Gavin has always enjoyed building lasting client relationships, with a focus on being a trusted advisor for workplace decision-making. He likes clients to know that he is on their team, and in their corner. Gavin believes lawyers should always tailor their approach to the needs of the particular client, as the first step to giving useful advice and finding solutions. “I won&rsqu...
Martin Palleson practices in the areas of general commercial litigation, with an emphasis on insolvency and restructuring disputes. Martin also has significant experience in franchise, construction, and insurance litigation as well as environmental/natural resource law, and aboriginal law. Martin has appeared frequently at all levels of British Columbia and Federal Courts. Martin also has experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. Called to the British ...
Mark Oulton is senior litigation counsel practicing general commercial and administrative litigation with a focus on forestry related matters. For over 20 years, Mark has appeared regularly as counsel before the Forest Appeals Commission, all levels of the British Columbia Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also has an active commercial arbitration and mediation practice, representing clients in all manner of disputes. Mark’s focus is on solving his clients’ problems, whet...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
