François E. J. Tougas

Peter is an experienced, thorough, confidence-inspiring counsel. When someone comes to him with a problem, he uses his skill to gather key information from everyone who’s directly and indirectly involved in order to build a solid case. He particularly enjoys the most difficult cases, including terminations, and approaches them with a relentless and tenacious focus. His deep experience representing clients enables him to guide them expertly through the process, represent them well and, a...

David practices general insurance defence litigation with an emphasis on the defence of dentists, hospitals and school boards in negligence and human rights claims. He also regularly defends businesses and municipalities in property damage and personal injury claims. David has experience appearing as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia, and the Supreme Court of Canada. In his administrative practice, David has defended matters before the Human Rights Tribunal, the Health Profes...

Joel is a Partner in Harper Grey’s Health Law, Commercial Litigation, Professional Regulation, and Insurance Law practice groups. Joel’s practice focuses on professional liability; commercial litigation, including multi-party cases and class actions; insurance litigation; and administrative law. He routinely acts as counsel on complex cases and appeals. He has represented clients at all levels of court in British Columbia and before various administrative tribunals. Joel is the fi...

Laura Smith is a member of Fasken’s Real Estate Law and Banking & Finance practice groups in Vancouver, focusing on acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, real estate development and lending. Laura has a range of experience in real property matters and has acted for clients in a range of commercial real estate transactions. Laura also acts for lenders and borrowers in secured financing transactions, including syndicated loan transactions.

Ron is the firm’s Securities Group leader. For over 25 years, his practise has focused on mergers & acquisitions (negotiated and unsolicited), equity and debt financings (public and private) and complex commercial transactions. Ron’s clients operate in a variety of industry sectors, including technology, life sciences and mining. They include public and private companies, limited partnerships, REITs, investment funds, portfolio managers and securities dealers. Ron has extensiv...

Brett Kagetsu is a partner in the firm's Vancouver office and is the former Vice-Chair of the firm's Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Practice Group. Brett assists both issuers and underwriters with public offerings, private placements, reverse takeovers and Capital Pool Company qualifying transactions. Brett is often involved with plans of arrangement, amalgamations and spin-out transactions. Brett assists Canadian public companies with their regulatory compliance including with...

Mediation gives people more control over the outcome of their disputes and provides privacy over what are often highly sensitive issues for the parties involved. Many people do not fully realize the lack of control one faces at trial nor do people understand the truly public nature of the courthouse. As a mediator, Diane helps clients overcome legal challenges in a fair and efficient manner. She manages emotions and expectations, and, by engaging in an active risk analysis, she helps to achie...

Ryan Berger is a leading privacy and employment lawyer, with a primary focus on providing strategic advice to businesses and employers. Ryan leads the firm’s Privacy Group and routinely advises public and private sector organizations on data protection, business confidentiality and privacy compliance, risk management strategies, breach response, access to information, and litigation. Ryan manages breach response teams for clients, including forensic investigation, crisis communications ...

Catherine practices in estate and trust planning, as well as estate administration. She focuses on personal estate and business succession planning and advises on matters such as: wealth preservation, probate minimization and incapacity planning. Catherine’s background in tax also equips her to navigate various income tax and regional real estate tax issues and to provide comprehensive solutions that complement her extensive background in estates and corporate law. She works with accoun...

Ken practices exclusively in the firm’s pensions and employee benefits law practice group. He advises pension and benefit plan sponsors on a range of legal and regulatory issues affecting their plans. He advises on pension plan governance and compliance monitoring projects, regulatory applications and the handling of pension disputes. He works with managers in the drafting and maintenance of pension documents, including plan texts, trust agreements, governance policies, investment polic...