Harper Grey has been in business since 1907. We are one of the oldest and most established firms in British Columbia. We have more than 60 lawyers working with businesses, institutions and individuals on a variety of civil litigation and business matters. Harper Grey provides high-quality legal work, lawyer accessibility and personal service. As a mid-sized firm, we are large enough to assure top legal expertise and small enough to guarantee close personal attention to our clients.

The key to delivering exceptional legal services is in first understanding our clients’ objectives and alternatives. We will help you by clearly analyzing your legal issues, learning your needs, communicating often and being available for direct consultation whenever necessary.

We are constantly learning and applying our expertise to serve a growing, broad client base and capitalizing on the diversity of our legal team to ensure that your needs will be met.

Our major areas of practice are:

Business Law: Services for individuals, corporations, and other business entities. Transactional experience includes: business acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, secured transactions, commercial and residential conveyancing, real estate development, and leasing. Several lawyers are very experienced in the area of wills and estates, serving clients and beneficiaries who may or may not reside in British Columbia.

Commercial Litigation: This group has significant experience working with large corporations, medium-sized firms and owner-operated companies. Client needs we serve include: contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, including oppression remedies and derivative actions, securities litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, including builders’ liens actions, estate litigation, employment litigation, products liability litigation, enforcement of security, including foreclosures and debenture holders’ actions, and municipal disputes.

Environmental Law: Clients seek our advice on a wide range of environmental issues from contaminated sites to sick building syndrome to cross-border disputes. We have senior, experienced counsel who will provide a practical approach to the most complex environmental matters, including cost recovery actions, directors’ and officers’ liability, property development and transactions, and environmental insurance coverage issues. 

Professional Liability Defence: Our firm has, for many years, been the recognized leader in the defence of professionals facing liability issues. We act for doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects and engineers. We also provide administrative law advice for professionals facing disciplinary action.

Construction Law: We take a practical approach to disputes arising from the construction industry, enabling effective solutions in matters such as allegations of professional negligence, professional disciplinary matters, contractual disputes, leaking condominium issues, commerical real estate disputes and risk management advice.

Administrative Law: Public scrutiny over ethical issues for professionals has increased dramatically over the past several years. Our group provides advice and assistance to professionals in their dealings with governance issues, ethical obligations and responsibilities, and represents them before a wide range of regulatory bodies.

Health Law: Harper Grey is the leader in civil litigation defence for medical practitioners in British Columbia. As provincial counsel for the Canadian Medical Protective Association, we represent physicians in B.C. and the Yukon. Our firm has been involved in all leading litigation regarding the standard of medical care, medical products litigation, consent issues and limitation issues.

Insurance Law: We work with insurance companies and their insureds in all areas of insurance law. Members of our group have developed specialized expertise in various areas, such as: professional errors and omissions, commercial and personal general liability, property damage, directors’ and officers’ liability, life and disability insurance, defamation, subrogation, sexual abuse claims, and transportation related issues.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency: Acting for individual and corporate debtors in financial difficulty, this group has the skill, insight and experience to resolve debt problems. The group also provides advice and representation to secured and unsecured creditors, receivers, liquidators and trustees in bankruptcy. With our understanding of both sides of the issue, our goal is to provide effective service in a manner that best assists our clients.

We handle international disputes through our membership in TAGLaw, a leading network of prominent law firms from around the world. With more than 110 law firms and 4,500 lawyers that meet the highest legal and client service standards, this select affiliation provides our clients with instant support wherever their legal issues arise.

The firm has a particular emphasis on pro bono work as well as professional and community leadership. We invest hundreds of hours of pro bono services and donate generously to local charities as part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. We try to support causes important to our clients and our community. Our lawyers regularly write, teach and present to the legal profession on leading practice developments.

You are welcome to contact our firm with any questions. Please contact our Managing Partner Richard E. Bereti at 604.895.2816.