Vote today before ballots close in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico!

Best Lawyers logo
  • Lawyers
  • Methodology
  • NEW! Ones to Watch
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In
  • Lawyers
    • Advanced Search
    • COVID-19 Assistance
    • Featured Ones to Watch
    • Lawyer of the Year
    • Highlighted Lawyers
    • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Methodology
    • Overview
    • Ones to Watch
    • Editorial Timelines
    • Practice Areas
    • Publicizing Guidelines
    • FAQ
  • Publications
    • Injury & Malpractice
    • Pennsylvania
    • Georgia
    • Colorado
    • Family Law
    • New York Area
    • Canada
    • South Florida
    • Southern California
    • Northern California
    • Tampa
    • Midwest
  • Legal Insights
    • Featured Articles
    • In the News
    • Advisory Board
    • Meet the Board
    • Press & Events
  • About
    • Global Presence
    • Company History
    • Leadership
  • Ones to Watch
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In Log In
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In

Lawyer Profile

Image of Craig A.B. Ferris QC, FCIArb

Craig A.B. Ferris QC, FCIArb

Lawson Lundell LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2010
  • Recognized in:
    Alternative Dispute Resolution
    Appellate Practice...
  • Website:
    https://www.lawsonlundell.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    604-685-3456
  • Languages:
    English
  • Location:
    Cathedral Place, Suite 1600
    925 West Georgia Street
    Vancouver, BC V6C 3L2

Craig Ferris, QC is a litigator and acts for clients in commercial and business disputes. His particular areas of specialization include shareholder remedies, trust, pension and fiduciary disputes, securities and transactional litigation, product liability, mining disputes and real estate litigation. Craig has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also acted in private arbitrations and in administrative settings including before the British Columbia Securities Commission. Craig has particular expertise in class actions and acted as lead counsel in several successful defences of major class proceedings.

Craig is a regular contributor to Lawson Lundell’s Western Canada Business Litigation Blog, a resource that examines current trends and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities.

 

Continue Reading
  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

Craig Ferris, QC is a litigator and acts for clients in commercial and business disputes. His particular areas of specialization include shareholder remedies, trust, pension and fiduciary disputes, securities and transactional litigation, product liability, mining disputes and real estate litigation. Craig has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also acted in private arbitrations and in administrative settings including before the British Columbia Securities Commission. Craig has particular expertise in class actions and acted as lead counsel in several successful defences of major class proceedings.

Craig is a regular contributor to Lawson Lundell’s Western Canada Business Litigation Blog, a resource that examines current trends and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities.

 

Read more on firm website
  • Bar Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Bar Admissions:

  • British Columbia, 1991

Affiliations:

  • Canadian Bar Association - Member
  • Canadian Defence Lawyers Association - Member
  • Law Society of BC - Bencher
  • The Advocates’ Society - Member
  • Vancouver Board of Trade - Member
  • Western Canada Business Litigation Blog - Contributor

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Employee Benefits Law, Vancouver (2016)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada for work in:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Appellate Practice
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Corporate and Commercial Litigation
  • Employee Benefits Law
 

Awards:

  • Appointed Queen's Counsel in 2014
  • Best Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for 2016
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: recognized for Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Employee Benefits law
  • Chambers Global 2015: recognized in the Dispute Resolution (British Columbia) category
  • Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2016: recognized as a Litigation Star for General Commercial, Environmental, Class Action, Insurance, Product Liability and Securities litigation in British Columbia
  • Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: AV Peer Review rated
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2016: repeatedly recommended as a Leading Practitioner for Litigation - Corporate Commercial
  • Legal 500 Canada: recommended in the 2016 editorial for Dispute resolution
  • Chambers Canada: recognized in the Dispute Resolution (British Columbia) category

Additional Information:

Experience

Representative experience includes:

  • Successfully defeated an application for certification of a proposed consumer class action relating to claims of unjust enrichment, unconscionability, criminal interest and deceptive practices with respect to violation notices issued for parking vehicles in private parking lots without a valid prepaid parking ticket (Webster et al v. Robbins Parking Service Ltd. and Imperial Parking Canada Corporation, 2016 BCSC 1863)
  • Successfully established crown immunity from the application of the GST for pooled investment portfolios used to fund certain public section pension plans (British Columbia Investment Management Corporation v. Canada (Attorney General) 2016 BCSC 1803)
  • Substantially successful in an appeal from the certification of a class proceeding resulting in the dismissal of 2 of the 3 causes of action alleged against our client. The class action relates to a long term disability plan available to disabled union members whose benefits were reduced due to a deficit in the fund utilized by Trustees to provide the benefits (Watt et al v. Health Sciences Association, 2016 BCCA 325)
  • Successfully represented the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, at both the trial and the appellate levels,  in a jurisdictional challenge in relation to its claim for crown immunity from the application of the Excise Tax Act (Canada).  (bcIMC v. Canada, 2014 BCSC 1296; bcIMC v. Canada, 2015 BCCA 373).
  • Successfully represented an equity lender in the enforcement of a complex multi-property, multi-borrower mortgage enforcement proceeding and defeated a related counterclaim. The action raised issues of unconscionability, fiduciary duty, abuse of a Power of Attorney and various statutory claims. (Canmerica Mortgage Corporation v. Yu, 2015 BCSC 773)
  • Represented the Canadian Bar Association as an intervener in the Supreme Court ourt of Canada in a successful constitutional challenge to the application of money laundering laws to lawyers in Canada. The decision supported the protection of solicitor client privilege as a constitutional principle and established the lawyers' duty of commitment to his or her client as a principle of fundamental justice in Canada. (Canada (Attorney General) v. Federation of Law Societies of Canada, 2015 SCC 7). 
  • Successfully represented the British Columbia Pension Corporation in a dispute alleging the wrongful payment of a survivor’s pension benefit. (Fricker v. British Columbia Pension Corporation et al, 2014 BCSC 1729).
  • Successfully defended at trial and on appeal a complex commercial claim involving breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence in the context of a  real estate acquisition and proposed development in British Columbia.  The claim involved allegations relating to the both the solicitation of the investment, and the operation of the limited partnership which acquired the real estate. (Voegtlin v. Paprotka, 2013 BCSC 1613, 2014 BCCA 323).
  • Successfully represented a real estate developer in an action brought pursuant to the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (British Columbia) asserting rescission of a pre-construction contract of purchase and sale of a residential condominium due to alleged misrepresentations (Chaisson v. Avra Development Corp. 2014 BCSC  925). 
  • In 2013/14, successfully represented an international mining client in a private arbitration concerning an option agreement related to an exploration property located in Africa.
  • Successfully challenged and overturned the election of directors and the passing of all resolutions at an annual general meeting of a publicly traded company and obtained an order for a new meeting. In doing so, Craig had a proxy solicitation system provided by a major Canadian proxy solicitation service found to be oppressive to the company’s shareholders (International Energy and Mineral Resources (Hong Kong) Company Limited v. Mosquito Consolidated Gold Mines Limited, 2012 BCSC 1191).
  • In 2012, successfully represented a bio-energy producer in a private arbitration and obtained an award relating to the value of bio-fuel from a specific supplier.
  • Argued a leading decision on the question of the waiver of privilege over client communications in the context of a law firm’s defence of a claim by a non-client (Voegtlin v. Paprotka, 2012 BCSC 728).
  • British Columbia Court of Appeal substantially adopted our position with respect to the commencement of a limitation period in an intended class proceeding arising in the pension context. (Weldon v. Agrium Inc., 2012 BCCA 53)
  • Successfully obtained an order for special costs against the Defendant due to his conduct.  Resolved the costs award for a 90% indemnity of the total actual legal fees incurred throughout the proceeding (Hoffman v. Percheson, 2011 BCSC 1175)
  • Successfully defended a mortgage lender accused of fraudulently failing to account for mortgage payments alleged to be part of a scheme to avoid taxation. Extensive reasons were given dismissing the allegations on the basis of the borrower's and his agent's lack of credibility. (Hoffman v. Percheson, 2011 BCSC 770)
  • Successfully obtained a mutli-million dollar judgment in relation to a complex limited partnership/debt dispute on a summary trial application (Tocchio v. Graoch Associated Limited Partnership (BCSC Action No. S110326), April 6, 2011)
  • Obtained an order disqualifying counsel for the opposing party based on a conflict of interest (Roeder v. Chamberlain and Davies & Company, 2010 BCSC 920)
  • Successfully obtained a judgment ordering that two legal proceedings commenced in British Columbia against Alberta lawyers be transferred to the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench (Broman v. Machida Mack Shewchuk Meagher LLP, 2010 BCSC 760)
  • Successfully obtained summary dismissal of a claim of breach of duty and negligence against a Pension Administrator (Estate of Martens v. Martens and BC Pension Corporation, 2009 BCSC 1477, 2010 BCCA 326)
  • Successfully defeated an application to stay a British Columbia Supreme Court proceeding in favour of arbitration under the Rules of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (H & H Marine Engine Service Ltd. v. Volvo Penta of the Americas, Inc., 2009 BCSC 1389)
  • In 2008, successfully represented an international mining client in a private arbitration and obtained an award with respect to the proper interpretation of the contractual formula for the calculation of a royalty payment
  • Successfully obtained an appraisal remedy for the same price as the underlying take-over bid (Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. v. Vesuna et al., 2007 BCSC 1374, 2008 BCCA 248)
  • Succeeded in proving fraud against a claimant of disability benefits from a benefit trust (The Trustees of the IWA- Forestry Industry Ltd. Plan v. Bhullar, 2008 BCSC 168)
  • Overturned on appeal certification of a major pension class proceeding and obtained a stay of that proceeding in favour of arbitration (Ruddell v. BC Rail Ltd. 2007 BCCA 269)
  • Successfully defended a Petition challenging the approval of a second step business combination under OSC Policy 61-501 and alleging oppression (Bingham v. Ashton Mining of Canada Inc., 2007 BCSC 281)
  • Successfully overturned on appeal certification of a major pension class proceeding (Williams v. College Pension Board, 2007 BCCA 19)
  • Successfully defended a shareholder’s right plan before the British Columbia Securities Commission (Re. Imperial Metals Corporation, CAT-Gold Corporation and bcMetals Corporation, November 10, 2006)
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Lawson Lundell LLP View Firm Profile
Lawson Lundell LLP
https://www.lawsonlundell.com
 
Headquarters
Cathedral Place, Suite 1600
925 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L2
604-685-3456
4 Office Locations
in 1 Country

Canada

Canada

Alberta

Alberta

Calgary, AB

Suite 1100, 225-6th Avenue S.W.

Brookfield Place

Calgary, AB T2P 1N2

Canada

403-269-6900

Get Directions

British Columbia

British Columbia

Kelowna, BC

460 Doyle Avenue, Suite 403

Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C2

Canada

778-738-2610

Get Directions

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories

Yellowknife, NT

4915 - 48th Street, Suite 200

P.O. Box 818

Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N6

Canada

867-669-5500

Get Directions

News & Media

Related Articles

Was That A Gift? Or Does Someone Else Own My Land?

Browse all articles

Featured Publications

Cover for our Canada  publication

Lawyer Case History

Williams v. College Pension Board, 2007 BCCA 19

Successfully overturned on appeal certification of a major pension class proceeding.

Ruddell v. BC Rail Ltd. 2007 BCCA 269

Overturned on appeal certification of a major pension class proceeding and obtained a stay of that proceeding in favour of arbitration.

The Consumers Association of Canada v. Coca Cola Bottling Company et al 2007 BCCA 356; 2006 BCSC 1233

Successfully obtained pre-certification dismissal of a major class proceeding which sought remedies based on trust, competition law and statutory authorization law issues.

The Trustees of the IWA- Forestry Industry Ltd. Plan v. Bhullar, 2008 BCSC 168)

Succeeded in proving fraud against a claimant of disability benefits from a benefit trust.

Estate of Martens v. Martens and BC Pension Corporation, 2009 BCSC 1477

Successfully obtained summary dismissal of a claim of breach of duty and negligence against a Pension Administrator
 
Add Comment
In making your comments, please do not refer to a pending legal matter.
(*) Required Fields
There was an error during saving, please try again.
If you continue to get this message, please contact us at info@bestlawyers.com or 803.648.0300 for assistance.
Please complete the captcha then submit.
Your comment was saved successfully!
Thank you for your feedback.
  • Find a Lawyer
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Legal Insights
  • Contact Us
Lawyers 
  • Advanced Search
  • COVID-19 Assistance
  • Featured Ones to Watch
  • Lawyer of the Year
  • Highlighted Lawyers
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Find a Lawyer
Methodology
  • Overview
  • Ones to Watch
  • Editorial Timelines
  • Practice Areas
  • Publicizing Guidelines
  • FAQ
Publications
  • Business Editions
  • Regional Editions
  • Partnerships
  • Become a Contributor
Legal Insights
  • Featured Articles
  • In the News
  • Advisory Board
  • Meet the Board
  • Press & Events
  • Best Law Firms
  • Subscribe
About
  • Global Presence
  • Company History
  • Leadership
  • Founders
  • Press Releases
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
My Account
  • Log In
  • Store
  • Marketing Guidance
Best Lawyers Best Lawyers logo +1-803-648-0300
801 Broad Street, Suite 950 Augusta, GA 30901
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Lawyer Directory
  • Best Law Firms

© 2010-2021 Best Lawyers — All Rights Reserved.

BL Icon

LEGAL INSIGHTS

by Best Lawyers®



Get the latest insights on the news, trends, and people that shape the global legal field with our weekly email digest.




Subscribe



PRIVACY POLICY

Thank you for subscribing.