DAVIDSON LAWYERS - Key Persons
Brett is a Partner at Davidson Lawyers LLP. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of business law, real estate, estate planning and estate administration and probate, and agricultural law.
Brett was born and raised on a cattle ranch in the Okanagan. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University and his Juris Doctor from Thompson Rivers University Brett returned to the Okanagan to raise a family and practice law in the community he grew up in.
When Brett is not working, he is either spending time with his wife and their three children, working on his family's ranch and woodlot, or giving back to his community. Brett is a director of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, a director of the British Columbia Cattlemen's Association and a Director of the North Okanagan Livestock Association.
Brett's hobbies include hiking, camping and volleyball.
Chelsea also acts for clients in estate litigation when there is conflict between the executor and beneficiaries or amongst beneficiaries concerning disinheritance, lack of transparency, remuneration of the executor, conflicts of interest, and undue influence. Her representation of clients in these matters will involve legal actions including wills variation, passing of accounts, removing executors, or defending the removal of executors.
Chelsea acts with senior counsel in resolving business disputes between shareholders, business partners, and family-owned business. She also has a debt collection and enforcement practice representing creditors and debtors. Chelsea has led a number of successful negotiations on behalf of debtors with secured creditors around debt repayment with a beneficial result for both parties.
Chelsea grew up in Calgary and spent most summers enjoying the North Okanagan. Chelsea holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria. She obtained her law degree from the University of Sussex, in England.
After returning to Canada with her young family, Chelsea chose to settle in Vernon where she has been welcomed into the community. She is on the board of the Kalamalka Starfish Society that addresses food equity among school age children. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, camping, and hiking with her family.
Job Titles:
- Director of the North Okanagan Youth Family Service Society
Ian's practice focuses on providing business owners and individuals with legal advice and services in business law, real estate law and wills and estates.
The goal of Ian's business law practice is to provide his clients with timely advice with respect to all types of commercial contracts, including leases, banking and the purchase or sale of a business. Ian also has extensive experience in tax and succession planning for businesses.
In his wills and estates practice, Ian works with people from all walks of life on matters relating to estate planning, including drafting wills, powers of attorney and representation agreements. In more complicated situations, Ian relies on his many years of experience establishing alter ego and joint partner trusts, as well as disability trusts, to ensure his clients' needs are properly addressed.
In real estate matters, Ian works with homeowners and home buyers, providing advice and assistance in the purchase, sale, and refinancing of all types of real property. He also represents developers of all sizes, from simple one- or two-lot subdivisions to multi-phase strata developments.
Ian has been happily married to The Lovely Synneva for over 20 years and, together, they have two children, Bryn and Oliver. Ian grew up in Kamloops and Barriere, receiving a business degree from UBC and a law degree from the University of Victoria. After law school, Ian articled in Kamloops with Morelli Chertkow, and in May of 1995, he was called to the Bar. For four years, he practiced with Morelli Chertkow at Merritt. In September 1999, Ian moved to Vernon and joined Davidson & Company.
Ian believes in Vernon and in giving back to his community. Ian is a director of the North Okanagan Youth Family Service Society, he is also past president of the Greater Vernon Ringette Association, has coached ringette for many years and is now a referee. In the past, Ian has been chair of the Greater Vernon Museum & Archives, president of Vernon Regional Airport Corporation, and president of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.
Jake joined Davidson Lawyers in January, 2021.
Complex and difficult family law files make up a large portion of Jake's practice. He understands that family issues can be emotionally charged and acrimonious, and prides himself on being able to approach even the most extreme cases objectively.
As counsel, you will find Jake to be direct and honest about your case and he will pursue any avenue necessary to ensure that you achieve the best result available. While Jake has extensive courtroom and trial experience - both in Provincial and Supreme Court - his focus is to resolve disputes in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible, which often means an out-of-court, collaborative, solution.
Family law files are infinitely unique in their specific needs and Jake employs a bespoke approach to each file to ensure that his clients obtain the best result possible. For Jake, it is essential that clients understand each step of the process and can feel confident in making the many decisions that rise out of a separation.
Jake is, and always has been, involved with the legal community. He was formerly the President of the Kelowna Bar Association and organized / hosted the last two instalments of the "Battle of the Bar Bands".
Jake spends the majority of his spare time outdoors. He is an accomplished ultra marathon runner, mountaineer and triathlete. Previous to these pursuits he was involved in team sports, most notably hockey and rugby. Jake currently sits on the board of directors for the Alpine Club of Canada, Columbia Mountains Section, and unwinds by playing the guitar, riding his motorcycle or grabbing a book.
Through almost 30 years of practice, Steve has developed expertise in a number of high-conflict areas. With his creative and practical approach, he has guided clients through a variety of difficult litigation proceedings, including:
corporate governance and shareholder issues, including oppression claims and derivative actions
real property disputes, including land use and lease issues, construction and builders lien claims
contract disputes
foreclosure and other security enforcement and collection proceedings
enforcement of local and foreign judgments, including the appointment of equitable receivers
insolvency and restructuring proceedings, including bankruptcies, receiverships and actions under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA")
reorganizations under the Canada Business Corporations Act and the BC Business Corporations Act
fraud, fraudulent transactions, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of trust claims
An avid sportsman, Steve supports several outdoor groups as a member and volunteer, including the North Okanagan Cycling Society, Gastown Cycling Club, Vernon Yacht Club, Predator Ridge Golf Club, and Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. He has served as honourary solicitor for Gastown Cycling, the Vernon Community Music School, and the Vernon Yacht Club.
Expertise
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AGRICULTURAL LAW
BUILDERS LIENS AND CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES
CORPORATE, COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS LAW
DEBT COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
EMPLOYMENT LAW AND WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS
ESTATE ADMINISTRATION AND PROBATE
ESTATE LITIGATION
ESTATE PLANNING: WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATION AGREEMENTS
FAMILY LAW, DIVORCE AND MEDIATION
INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING
LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
REAL ESTATE: CONVEYANCING AND MORTGAGES
REAL ESTATE: SUBDIVISIONS AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
SHAREHOLDER AND PARTNERSHIP DISPUTES
Taylor is an associate at Davidson Lawyers LLP. Her practice focuses primarily on estate planning, estate administration and probate, real estate, corporate, commercial and business law and non-contentious family law, including separation and cohabitation agreements.
Taylor was born and raised in the Okanagan. She completed a Bachelor of Management with a minor in psychology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She then obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
Outside of the office, Taylor enjoys being involved in the community. She is the Secretary of JCI Vernon and the Secretary of Vernon Silver Star Rotary.
In her spare time, Taylor can be found spending time with her family, reading a good book or watching sports.
Jay's practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, real estate, wills, estates and trusts.
Jay regularly advises and represents clients involved in all manner of corporate and commercial transactions, including incorporations, business purchases and sales, leasing, financing, tax reorganizations and succession planning.
In real estate transactions such as purchases, sales, and mortgages, Jay works with buyers, sellers, bankers and realtors to complete these transactions quickly and efficiently. He has a reputation for being approachable, practical and responsive in what is often a time-sensitive environment.
In his estate planning practice, Jay has considerable experience in creating and implementing plans that address the particular needs of clients with family businesses, family farms, blended families, and clients with substantial tax planning opportunities. Often such planning involves the use of trusts, and Jay regularly drafts and implements all manner of trusts. In estate administration, he regularly advises and assists clients named as executors of estates. Having acted as an executor himself on numerous occasions, he brings a particular insight and experience to this area of his practice.
Jay was born and raised in Penticton, and obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia in 1989. He worked as an information systems consultant before returning to school, obtaining his law degree from the University of Victoria in 1995. Jay practiced law in Vancouver with Owen Bird before joining Davidson Lawyers LLP in 1997, becoming a partner in 1999.
Jay is a past President of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and the North Okanagan United Way. He has served as a director with many other local not-for-profit organizations, and continues to provide pro bono advice to many local not-for-profits including the Friends of Okanagan Rail Trail Society.
In his spare time, Jay enjoys time with his family, skiing, camping, boating, hiking and biking.