Mark S. Oulton

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, whether through advocacy, advice, litigation or alternative forms of dispute resolution. Mark’s greatest reward professionally has been and remains the long-term relationships that he has developed with his clients and colleagues. He finds pleasure in the many opportunities this profession provides to continue learning.

Mark has been recognized as a leading practitioner in forestry law by Lexpert, a "well-respected litigator with strong experience in the forest sector" by Chambers Canada and was recently ranked a Litigation Star by Benchmark Canada. He also recently received the AV-Preeminent rating, the highest ranking, from Martindale-Hubbell and was designated a “Star Lawyer” by Acritas, a database selected by a panel of over 3,000 general counsel and senior legal leaders.

Mark has appeared as counsel before the Forest Appeals Commission, the B.C. Utilities Commission, all levels of the British Columbia and Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada, most recently as co-counsel for Teal Cedar Products Ltd. in a leading case on commercial arbitration appeals in the taking and compensation context (Teal Cedar Products Ltd. v. British Columbia, 2017 SCC 32). Mark is also experienced in commercial arbitration and the mediated resolution of multi-party disputes.

Mark has acted as counsel in a variety of commercial matters, including cases involving negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of contract and real estate disputes. Mark regularly acts on behalf of large and small licensees in forestry related matters, including stumpage appeals, contractor disputes, including proceedings under Timber Harvesting Contract and Subcontract Regulation, compensation claims and arbitrations.

Mark obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and his Masters in Environmental Studies from York University in 1998. His studies focused on aboriginal rights, resource management and alternative dispute resolution culminating in a major paper entitled “Opportunities for Conservation and Self-Sufficiency: The Co-existence of Aboriginal Rights and Fisheries Management within the B.C. Salmon Fishery”. After completing his Law and Masters degrees, Mark clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal for the Honourable Mr. Justice McDonald. Mark was called to the Bar of British Columbia in March, 2000.

Mark is a regular contributor to the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, writing and speaking on forestry and practice related matters. Mark is also one of two expert annotators for the Quickscribe online service in the area of forestry law.