William L. "Will" Roberts

William L. "Will" Roberts

Vancouver, BC recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014
Lawson Lundell LLP

85 Best Lawyers awards

Lawson Lundell LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law

Biography

Will practises in the areas of insolvency and restructuring law with an emphasis on insolvency proceedings, banking litigation, creditors’ remedies and fraud claims.

Will routinely represents creditors, debtors and purchasers in restructurings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, and for financial institutions, Trustees in Bankruptcy and Receivers in connection with residential and commercial foreclosures, receiverships, realizations, bankruptcies, fraud claims and cheque negotiation issues.

Will also represents the British Columbia Securities Commission in relation to various matters, including insolvency proceedings, the enforcement of administrative penalties and receiverships.

Will is a member of the firm’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee which is responsible for identifying and guiding the implementation of measures to further advance equity, diversity and inclusion at Lawson Lundell.

Prior to being called to the British Columbia bar, Will spent a term as a judicial law clerk to the British Columbia Supreme Court. He also dedicates a significant amount of time to representing pro bono clients in relation to fraud and debt claims.

Lawson Lundell LLP

85 Best Lawyers awards

Lawson Lundell LLP logo

Overview

  • English

  • British Columbia, 1999

  • Canadian Bar Association - Member
  • English
  • British Columbia, 1999
  • Canadian Bar Association - Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2026 for work in:
  • Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
Awards:
  • Chambers Canada: Restructuring/Insolvency
  • Chambers Global: Restructuring/Insolvency
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada Award 2025: Impact Case Award for Poonian v. British Columbia (Securities Commission)
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada: Litigation Star
  • Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated

Additional Information

  • Experience
William has represented:The Executive Director of the British Columbia Securities Commission in successfully defending an appeal relating to the distribution of tout sheets containing material misrepresentations about the subject securities: McCabe v. British Columbia Securities Commission, 2015 BCCA 176The Executive Director of the British Columbia Securities Commission in successfully defending an appeal relating to an fraudulent investment scheme that resulted in losses exceeding $60 million: Michaels v. British Columbia Securities Commission, 2016 BCCA 144The Executive Director of the British Columbia Securities Commission in successfully defending a leave application relating to a fraudulent investment scheme involving fictional web-based advertising memberships: Zhu v. British Columbia Securities Commission, December 3, 2015, CA42960The Executive Director of the British Columbia Securities Commission in successfully defending an appeal of a Freeze Order: Zhu v. British Columbia Securities Commission, 2013 BCCA 248Grant Thornton Limited, in its capacity as Monitor of Huldra Silver Inc., in relation to proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement ActBank of Montreal in relation to proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act commenced by the Johel Group of CompaniesA credit union in obtaining an Order Nisi where the validity of the mortgage was being challenged on the basis of prior allegedly fraudulent transfers:First West Credit Union v. Giesbrecht, 2013 BCSC 564The British Columbia Securities Commission in proceedings to trace and recover amounts in excess of $13 million relating to the Manna / Legacy fraudThe Bank of Montreal, HSBC Bank Canada, Vancity and Bancorp Financial Services Inc. in relation to various commercial work-outs and realization proceedingsVarious lenders and receivers in relation to realization proceedings involving hotels in Victoria and Squamish, B.C.Grant Thornton Limited, in its capacity as Monitor of Tagish Lake Gold Corp., in relation to proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement ActThe British Columbia Securities Commission in relation to the bankruptcy of Horizon FX Investments Limited PartnershipMeyers Norris Penny Limited, in its capacity as Trustee in Bankruptcy of the Estate of Michael Ernst Ruge, to trace and recover funds on behalf of investorsGrant Thornton Limited, in its capacities as Interim Receiver and Monitor of Load Runner Logistics Ltd. and related entitiesA Trustee in Bankruptcy in successfully defending a claim for breach of duty: First Vancouver Finance v. E. Sands & Associates Inc., 2005 BCSC 1413The Bank of Montreal and HSBC Bank Canada in a number of matters relating to cheque negotiation and clearing issues under the Bills of Exchange Act and Canadian Payment Association Rules, including matters relating to cheque-kiting and forged bank draftsThe Bank of Montreal and HSBC Bank Canada in relation to various fraud claimsCampbell, Saunders Ltd., in its capacity as Trustee in Bankruptcy of the Estate of Ronald Stephen Barker, to trace and recover funds on behalf of defrauded investorsThe British Columbia Securities Commission in relation to the bankruptcy of Ian Gregory ThowThe British Columbia Securities Commission in advancing claims against a $20 million fund held by a court-appointed ReceiverThe Bank of Montreal, HSBC Bank Canada and various Trustees in Bankruptcy in prosecuting claims under the Fraudulent Conveyance Act and Fraudulent Preference ActA pro bono client in successfully setting-aside a fraudulent mortgage transaction: Murray v. Affordable Homes Inc., 2007 BCSC 1428

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