RLR - Key Persons
Biography
Brendan Gemmell joined RLR Lawyers in June 2022. He primarily practices family law and has experience in the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia. He is looking forward to continuing to develop his family law practice at RLR and gain further civil litigation experience.
Brendan was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He first attended Dalhousie University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in History and then went on to complete a Master of Arts in History. Brendan received the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program: Masters Scholarship in the second year of his Masters studies.
Brendan attended law school at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. During law school, he volunteered with Student Legal Services and worked as a summer law student at a mid-size firm in Edmonton. After completing law school, Brendan articled and was then an associate lawyer at a small firm in Nanaimo where his legal practice focused on family law matters. Brendan has experience resolving a wide variety of family law matters both in and out of court.
Brendan has lived, attended school, and worked in several provinces across Canada and draws on his diverse Canadian experience to inform his practice style. Brendan is friendly and approachable with his clients and gives them realistic advice to help them resolve their legal matters as efficiently as possible.
Brendan enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, running, golfing, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his family.
Professional Affiliations
Canadian Bar Association
Law Society of British Columbia
Education
Bachelor of Arts, First Class Honours in History, Dalhousie University, 2015
Master of Arts, History, Dalhousie University, 2017
Juris Doctor, University of Alberta, 2020
Brittany Rousseau is an associate out of our Port Alberni office. Brittany was called to the British Columbia bar in May 2020, after completing her articles at Ramsay Lampman Rhodes in Nanaimo. Brittany graduated with a Juris Doctor from Thompson Rivers University in 2019.
Brittany maintains a varied litigation practice with a focus on civil litigation and construction law. In her solicitor's practice, Brittany focuses on estate planning and real estate (residential).
Brittany also has experience working with First Nation governments and entities. Brittany worked at Tk'emlúps te Secwepemc during their cultural heritage study in 2018 and researched modern treaty implementation as part of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Grant with Carleton University and the Land Claim Agreement Coalition.
Prior to law school, Brittany received a Bachelor of Business Administration (with Distinction) and a Diploma in Marketing Communications from BCIT. After graduating, Brittany worked at one of the largest digital agencies in Vancouver as a project manager before returning to school to study law.
Being born and raised in the Alberni Valley, Brittany is passionate about serving her community. Brittany is currently on the Executive Council for the Special Olympics Port Alberni local. In her free time, Brittany enjoys being with family and friends and exploring the outdoors.
Professional Affiliations
Member, Trial Lawyers Association of BC (TLABC)
Member, CBA
Member, Law Society of BC
Education
Juris Doctor, Thompson Rivers University, 2019
Bachelor of Business Administration, BCIT, 2013
Chelsea Wilson is a lawyer based at our Nanaimo office. She practises in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation and civil litigation. She is experienced in a wide array of estates and trust matters, including litigation concerning:
will variation,
will validity,
will and trust rectification,
trust claims,
removal of executors and trustees,
undue influence,
committeeships, and
contentious probate and estate administration issues.
*Legal services provided through Derek R.S. Jonson Law Corporation
Derek Jonson practices commercial litigation. His practice includes contractual matters of all description, insurance matters, commercial tenancies, professional negligence, and builders liens.
Derek has a particular interest in construction and engineering disputes. He has been involved in major litigation in that field, on behalf of owners and contractors. Derek also acts for clients involved in property insurance disputes and has notably represented claimants in large fire losses throughout British Columbia in their actions against insurers and insurance brokers.
Derek has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (University of Manitoba, where he was the gold medalist as top graduate in his class) and a Bachelor of Laws degree (University of British Columbia). Following law school Derek clerked with the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1995. He began his legal career with one of the leading large Vancouver law firms practicing construction litigation before joining Ramsay Lampman Rhodes in 1998.
Before starting his legal career, Derek served as a naval officer - specifically, a marine systems engineer - with the Canadian Forces. During his time in the navy, Derek garnered broad operating knowledge of mechanical systems, including diesel and steam power plants, gas turbines, transmissions, refrigeration systems, hydraulic and compressed air systems, control systems, and hull systems, as well as experience with electrical power generation and distribution.
Education
Bachelor of Laws, University of British Columbia, 1993
B.Sc. (Mech. Eng.), University of Manitoba, Gold medalist
*Legal services provided through Donna L. Kydd Law Corporation
Biography
Donna L. Kydd has been practicing law for over 40 years. Before joining Ramsay Lampman Rhodes, Donna ran a successful boutique practice for over 31 years, involving a mix of Aboriginal law, general civil litigation and solicitor's work.
Donna understands that for non-lawyers legal issues can be overwhelming. She realizes the importance of being a good listener and assists in demystifying the legalese. She has well-rounded experience in many areas of the law due to her many years of practice as a sole practitioner and she keeps herself well-informed of the law, constantly updating herself on judicial decisions within and beyond her areas of practice
Donna enjoys working with a diverse clientele: Indigenous and non-Indigenous people: throughout Vancouver Island and other regions of B.C. from first-time home buyers to complex commercial real estate transactions; from incorporating a company to reorganizing its shareholdings; to purchasing or selling an existing business, wills and estates.
Often Donna's clients will present legal issues which are outside of a typical legal practice, giving rise to novel legal arguments, negotiations and settlements. This requires a special level of attentiveness that she can provide to clients, which rises above the norm. With many years of practice, she works efficiently and cost effectively to solve legal problems that her clients face.
Donna is thoughtful in her approach to problem-solving. She listens carefully to her clients and is very mindful of the legal costs to the client. She invests time mentoring young lawyers who assist her with client files to provide timely and cost-effective support in resolving client file matters.
Heather White practices as both a solicitor and a litigator primarily in the areas of real estate law and business law, including corporate and commercial law, with a particular interest in contracts. She also has experience in civil litigation, personal injury law, and wills and estates. With her experience as a solicitor and litigator, Heather is able to assist her clients at all junctures of their need for legal services.
Heather graduated from University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2016 and was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2017. While at law school, she volunteered at Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City (CLASSIC) and was on the Western Moot team. Since moving to Nanaimo in 2016, she has served on the board of directors of United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island, and Nanaimo Citizens Advocacy Association / Society for Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy.
Prior to law school, Heather obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Simon Fraser University during which time she assisted with the residential school claims and volunteered with the Elizabeth Fry Society at the Downtown Community Courts in Vancouver.
When not practicing law, Heather enjoys hiking, archery, and learning jiu jitsu.
Education
University of Saskatchewan, J.D., 2016
Simon Fraser University, B.A. Criminology, 2013
Job Titles:
- Partner
- General Solicitor
*Legal services provided through James A. Rhodes Law Corporation
Jas Sidhu is focused on building a general practice, with a particular focus in the areas of estate planning, real estate, and family law. He is based in our Nanaimo office.
Jas has experience in a variety of matters, including:
Wills
Powers of attorney
Representation agreements
Committeeships
Real estate conveyances; and
Family law matters.
Jas received his Juris Doctor in 2022 from the University of Victoria. During law school, Jas volunteered through Pro Bono Students Canada with the South Asian Legal Clinic of British Columbia to provide the South Asian community with accessible legal information. He also volunteered with Student Legal Services of Edmonton to assist low-income people with their landlord and tenant matters, child and spousal support, parenting applications, and more.
Prior to law school, Jas received a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Asian Area Studies, from the University of British Columbia.
Jas was born and raised in Port Alberni. He is excited to be able to practice law on central Vancouver Island. Growing up Jas was actively involved in many sports on Vancouver Island including ice hockey, baseball, and swimming.
In his spare time, Jas likes to spend time with his friends and family and watch hockey and football. He is also a big car guy.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Victoria Law School, 2022
B.A. (Asian Area Studies), University of British Columbia, 2019
*Legal services provided through Jennifer Millbank Law Corporation.
Jennifer Millbank focuses her litigation practice on commercial and property disputes and she also provides general governance advice to organizations such as First Nations, volunteer fire departments, local governments, and societies.
Most lawsuits conclude through some type of mediation or negotiation, but in order to get the best result, the parties need to be prepared to go to trial. She is experienced trial counsel and has had conduct of trials in a wide range of subject areas including: mining rights, real property ownership disputes, contractual disputes, immigration, fraud, employment matters, commercial leasing, creditors' remedies and foreclosures, motor vehicle, construction and government regulation. She enjoys this variety and believes that having this broad experience makes her a better litigator.
Being involved in a lawsuit is stressful. Trials and arbitrations require a lot of preparation and Jennifer has the experience to know how to tell your story in court and how to present the best case possible when the stakes are high. She has successfully argued matters before the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal, as well as a number of administrative tribunals including the Workers Compensation Appeal Board, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, and the Hospital Appeal Board. She frequently provides advice on professional disciplinary matters and is experienced in making submissions before competency, review, and disciplinary boards.
The governance advice that Jennifer provides to organizations is directed at helping organizations make timely decisions on issues that come up before matters go off the rails. For example, getting legal advice before you terminate a key employee can save you a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, and input on your new organizational policies can help you to achieve your community's goals. Good advice at the right time can make all the difference, and Jennifer is committed to providing practical information, so that her clients can focus on what they do best rather than becoming unnecessarily involved in a protracted legal dispute or distracted by side issues.
Johanna attended law school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. While at law school, Johanna was member of the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot team and served on the executive committee for Law Show, the University of Alberta Faculty of Law's annual charity show. Upon graduating, she was delighted to return to Vancouver Island to article with Ramsay Lampman Rhodes in 2017 and was called to the bar in 2018.
Johanna's practice is focused on helping clients with wills and estate planning and capacity planning through instruments such as Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements, as well as Committeeship applications where a family member or loved one has lost capacity without making the proper arrangements. Johanna also provides clients with assistance in the area of estate litigation, including Wills Variation claims, and litigation where elder abuse or abuse of powers of attorney may have occurred.
Johanna can also assist with estate administration and probate, real estate transactions, administrative law and business matters such as preparation and review of contracts, terms and conditions and waivers. She also has experience in the creation and implementation of policy documents such as human resources manuals, codes of conduct and bylaws.
For Indigenous clients, Johanna has experience assisting First Nations and Indigenous persons with a variety of issues, including the estate planning and estate administration issues facing on-reserve Indigenous people and members of modern treaty first nations, employment conflicts, legal recognition of custom adoptions, development of reconciliation processes and conflicts between individuals and First Nations governments and/or Indigenous Services Canada.
Prior to law school, Johanna completed an Honours degree in Biology and Ocean Science at the University of Victoria and worked as a student researcher in cooperation with Ocean Networks Canada's network of underwater observation platforms. Her honours thesis later became a publication in the peer-reviewed journal Continental Shelf Science. Her background in this area has given her a deep appreciation for the environment of the West Coast and its connection to the people who live here, in particular the indigenous peoples nations who have been its stewards and caretakers since time immemorial.
Professional Affiliations
Nanaimo County Bar (Secretary/Treasurer)
Canadian Bar Association Provincial Council - Nanaimo City Representative
Education
Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta, 2017
B.Sc. (Honours), Biology and Ocean Science, University of Victoria, 2013
Michael Wassermann advises and represents clients in the areas of personal injury law, estate litigation, human rights and civil litigation. The primary area of practice, however, is in motor vehicle accident claims which include soft tissue, orthopaedic, brain and head injuries, as well as psychological issues arising from accidents.
Michael's approach to each file is to work proactively with clients to address issues and secure evidence at the outset. Each file is unique, and requires a client centered approach to ensure the client ultimately obtains a fair and equitable result. Michael believes in clear and prompt communication with his clients, and utilizes the same approach when dealing with opposing parties. Files are managed in such a way to collect evidence and expert opinions to maximize his client's position in settlement negotiations, and to prepare for trial when and if required.
Michael was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1996 and has practiced with Ramsay Lampman Rhodes throughout his career.
Michael is engaged in the Nanaimo community (see below for his activities) and for enjoyment, he is actively involved in playing and coaching soccer, hiking, skiing, and any other activity that gets him out to enjoy Nanaimo.
*Legal services provided through Nicole E. Smith Law Corporation.
Nicole Smith's practice focus is a combination of work for personal injury law clients, and for BC employers related to workplace investigations.
Nicole's personal injury clients have been involved in accidents (vehicle or otherwise) that have left them with significant and long-lasting injuries. She also represents injured people in disputes with long-term disability insurance providers, and she is experienced in commercial and civil litigation. She has represented hundreds of people throughout all of BC.
Where possible, Nicole will work to reach solutions for clients through negotiation or mediation; however, she is an experienced trial lawyer who will not hesitate to proceed to trial if going to court to resolve a dispute is in a client's best interests. She has successfully represented clients in all levels of court in British Columbia.
Nicole also holds a certificate in workplace investigations from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). British Columbia employers have obligations under WorkSafeBC to ensure worker health and safety, including preventing incidents of bullying and harassment. This requires that employers have defined processes and procedures to deal with complaints or workplace incidents in various contexts. Nicole's work in this area includes helping businesses and institutions develop their investigation processes and procedures and conducting investigations in cases of complaints and incidents.
Nicole is a member of the HRPA and has served on the boards of the Nanaimo Child Development Centre and the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society. She coached the University of Victoria's Client Consultation moot team to three consecutive national championships. She is currently chair of the Canadian Client Consultation Committee and is Canada's representative to the International Client Consultation Committee.
Before law school, Nicole worked in radio as an on-air personality, a reporter, and a creative director. She also previously owned and operated her own clothing store.
Nicole attended law school at Dalhousie University's Schulich School of Law in Halifax, NS. While at law school, she served on the Environmental Law Student Society Executive as an Academic Liaison between the Society and the Marine & Environmental Law Institute. Nicole also volunteered with the Access to Justice and Law Reform Institute of Nova Scotia as well as Dalhousie Legal Aid Service's Tenants' Rights Project. Following her participation in the 2022 Willms and Shier Environmental Law Moot, Nicole received the Distinguished Oralist award.
By graduation, Nicole had attained certificates in environmental, marine, Aboriginal and Indigenous Law.
Nicole articled with Ecojustice, a non-profit, public interest environmental law charity, and completed a secondment with McKiggan Hebert, a Halifax-based civil litigation firm. She was called to the bar in both BC and NS in 2023 and was delighted to return to the west coast to join Ramsay Lampman Rhodes (RLR) as an Associate in Nanaimo, in Snuneymuxw First Nation territory.
Nicole is looking forward to developing her practice in civil litigation at RLR and can also assist with solicitor matters.
Prior to law school, Nicole completed a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus. During that time, she and her partner won the 2017 Roger Watts Advocacy Debate.
Nicole enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, canoeing, cycling and camping, and also frequents the gym for strength training. She recently became certified as an open water and dry suit scuba diver and is looking forward to exploring the underwater side of Vancouver Island.
I have practiced law for over 35 years, initially with the Vancouver office of a large national firm (McCarthy Tétrault) then with the Courtenay law firm of Ives Burger (formerly Gibson & Kelly, and Gibson Kelly & Ives), and now with the Courtenay office of Ramsay Lampman Rhodes. My practice focusses largely on business law (corporate reorganizations, asset/share purchase and sale transactions, succession planning), real estate (acquisitions, dispositions, and developer sales & marketing compliance), construction law (contracts, dispute resolution, collections and builders lien), and wills & estate planning (including advance directives and powers of attorney).
I work for clients ranging from large corporations to small business proprietorships. My time as Mayor (Town of Comox 2008-2018) and work on various community organizations has given me the tools needed to resolve legal issues in a collaborative and cost-efficient manner, while keeping a keen eye on the big picture. My desire to serve clients ensures that their goals are achieved.
Clients often come to see me because they know me from other community endeavours, and have the experience of seeing me work well in other, non-legal settings. My knowledge of the community and local issues gives me an informed perspective that helps me understand client challenges and opportunities. In turn, that understanding allows me to offer strategic advice and representation that is cost-effective and efficient. I am prompt in responding to client inquiries and always try to keep clients informed as to file status.
Peter Behie, K.C. has a wealth of experience in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He is particularly experienced in shareholders' and other business disputes. Peter has spent over 30 years helping business clients solve their problems, whether that requires negotiation, mediation, or litigation. He can create the business agreements that finalize these outcomes.
Peter also possesses strong mediation skills, and has significant experience as counsel, mediator, negotiator, and arbitrator in alternative dispute cases.
Following law school Mr. Behie clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada. Called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1987, Peter practiced with a major commercial law firm in downtown Vancouver prior to joining Ramsay Lampman Rhodes. He holds a graduate law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and was appointed a King's Counsel in 2008.
Peter has taught law school courses in both civil procedure and alternate dispute resolution at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, he is a regular guest lecturer on mediation and Chambers applications for the B.C. Professional Legal Training Course, and he has presented papers on procedure and alternative dispute resolution for the Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C. and the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia.
*Legal services provided through Richard N. Rhodes Law Corporation
Richard Rhodes practices in the areas of Business Law (Corporate Commercial Law) and Real Estate Law. In the corporate/commercial area, Rick acts for many closely held companies and provides the full range of solicitor's services required for the successful operation of a business. These include incorporations, shareholders' agreements, corporate reorganizations, financings, and business purchases and sales.
Rick also provides comprehensive services in the Real Estate area and, in particular, assists with large and small real estate developments, including the subdivision of bare land and single and multi-phase strata subdivisions. He also prepares all manner of real estate related documents such as leases, purchase contracts, disclosure statements, mortgages, options to purchase, easements, and covenants.
Rick is a graduate of the UBC Law School and has been solving problems for the business and development community in Nanaimo for more than 35 years. He has practiced with Ramsay Lampman Rhodes since 1983. He became a partner in 1988 and is currently associate counsel.
Shane Landreville is based at the firm's Courtenay office where he practices as both a solicitor and litigator with a focus on estate, tax, trust, corporate, and commercial law.
As an estate practitioner, Shane assists his clients to make comprehensive estate plans that achieve their particular personal and financial objectives. This may include drafting trusts, wills, and other estate or wealth-planning documents. He also assists with incapacity planning such as drafting Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements.
Shane acts for estate administrators and executors to apply for probate and administer estates, and for executors or disputants in estate litigation files, including wills variation claims. He is also a frequent public speaker on wills and estates and is an affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
As a corporate lawyer, Shane assists with incorporations, reorganizations, company and property transactions, corporate governance, shareholders agreements, and wealth preservation and transition planning. He also acts for corporate clients in business acquisitions and sales, contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, and property disputes. Shane acts for individuals, business, individual shareholders, and non-profit societies and charities.
Shane is completing his Master of Laws (LLM) in Tax Law through Osgoode Hall Law School. Shane's interest and knowledge as a tax lawyer assists his corporate, commercial, estate and trust clients to address the technical and tax components of their transactions and planning.
Stephen McPhee, K.C. practices in the areas of Civil Litigation, Family Law, and Family Mediation and Arbitration. He has had successful appearances in all levels of court in British Columbia - Provincial, Supreme and the Court of Appeal.
Stephen is a highly experienced Family Law practitioner and handles complex financial separations as well as high conflict custody disputes. He has been appointed as a Children's Lawyer by the Supreme Court of BC to advocate on behalf of children in family disputes.
Stephen has a strong interest in alternate dispute resolution (ADR) and Collaborative Family Law. He has been the chair of the CBA Nanaimo ADR subsection at various times since 2004. He achieved the Conflict Resolution Certificate from the Justice Institute of BC in 2000 and is a Law Society of BC accredited Family Mediator and Arbitrator.
Stephen has a long history of professional service - serving as President of the BC Branch of the CBA in 2010-11 and serving on the executive from 2006 to 2011. He also served on the Board of Lawyers Financial from 2012 to 2017.
Thomas Senecal practices in the areas of business law, real estate law, and wills and estates. Thomas has experience advising and representing clients in a wide variety of transactional matters, including incorporations, corporate governance, share and asset purchases, commercial leasing, real estate conveyances, estate and end of life planning and estate administration.
Originally from Gatineau, Quebec, Thomas is fully bilingual and offers legal services in both English and French.
In his time away from the office, Thomas enjoys spending time with his young family, as well as a variety of activities including mountain biking, swimming, skiing and travelling.
Biography
Zachary White joined Ramsay Lampman Rhodes as an articling student in August 2022. As an articling student Zachary was exposed to a wide array of practice areas. He has focused primarily on civil litigation and estate matters. These include disputes involving real property, municipal law, and employment law.
Zachary regularly does agency work for out-of-town lawyers and is happy to act as an agent for lawyers across BC with files in the Nanaimo area, specifically lawyers with foreclosure files in the Nanaimo Registry.
Zachary was raised in Nanaimo and attended Vancouver Island University, obtaining a Diploma in Criminology in 2016 and a Bachelor of Arts in 2018. While studying for his undergraduate degree, Zachary worked for a local meat department. After obtaining his B.A., Zachary worked for a local non-profit organization that focused on housing youth in Nanaimo. While working there, Zachary began "Zach's Snacks", a program where he would cook every week with the youth using whichever ingredients were available that week. He became known for his marshmallow and cereal bars.
Zachary attended law school at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba. During law school, he was a member of the Manitoba Law Students Association. After completing law school, Zachary moved back to Nanaimo to article at Ramsay Lampman Rhodes.
Zachary loves to cook. He is always looking for recommendations and new recipes to experiment with. When he is not in the office Zachary enjoys getting outdoors with his partner and dog.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Manitoba, 2022
B.A. (Criminology), Vancouver Island University, 2018
Criminology Diploma, Vancouver Island University, 2016