Brendan Dawes

David Eleff is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Litigation. David, who practices law in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Brent Olthuis is an experienced litigator with a broad practice. He represents individual and corporate clients in civil and commercial matters and also regularly acts for regulated professions and their member professionals, as well as for other public bodies. He has acted as external counsel to the Auditor General of Canada in respect of the 2015 audit of the Senate and for the Attorney General of British Columbia in constitutional proceedings. He presently acts for the City of Richmond in ...

Rod Urquhart focuses on dispute resolution in business litigation in a variety of areas. His areas of practice include commercial, real estate, employment and workplace disputes, estates, insurance, administrative, personal injury and construction litigation. He has represented clients in all levels of court in British Columbia as well as in Federal Court of Canada. In addition to his courtroom experience, Rod has represented clients before various administrative tribunals, in relation to bus...

Jean is a Shareholder practicing primarily in the area of Indigenous Law, with a special emphasis on First Nations economic development. She is ranked as a leading Canadian Indigenous Law lawyer by LEXPERT and has extensive experience in advising on land issues and development projects in respect of reserve land. She has assisted both First Nations and developers in structuring partnerships and other business arrangements to pursue commercial and residential developments on reserve land, and ...

Michael practises labour and employment law. He represents employers in all aspects of labour and employment law disputes, including arbitrations, labour board hearings, human rights matters, workers compensation matters, employment standards matters, and wrongful dismissal actions. Michael has acted as counsel for employers in several industries and sectors, including post-secondary institutions; newspapers; supermarkets; transportation companies; printing companies; beverage companies; tele...

Bridget Gilbride is a partner in our Vancouver office. She is an experienced litigator focused on Indigenous legal issues and environmental law. Bridget advises on permitting, environmental assessments, and Indigenous and Aboriginal legal issues such as the duty to consult, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples , and section 35 of the Constitution. Bridget’s core focus is advising clients advancing projects, through provincial and federal approval processes,...

Catherine Sas, K.C. is a Partner in the Immigration group. With over 20 years of experience, she provides a full range of immigration services and has been recognized as a leading immigration practitioner by Lexpert, Who's Who Legal, and Best Lawyers in Canada. An active member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Catherine is a past chair of both the B.C. Immigration Law Section and the National Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. She has participated in continuing leg...

Franco Cabanos is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation. Franco, who practices law in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Franco is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

For over 20 years, Brian Kingwell has been engaged in patent prosecution and strategic patent portfolio counseling in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering and medical devices. He has wide-ranging experience in obtaining patents for products such as a novel family of heterocyclic antibiotics, the InsectSelect™ protein expression vector, high oleic acid brassica juncea plants, in situ combustion processes for recovery of hydrocarbons, heavy metal w...