EYFORD PARTNERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Award for Outstanding Teaching by an Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, 2013, 2008, and 2005
Allison Bird graduated from Capilano University in 2000 with a Paralegal Diploma. Before that, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Victoria. Before joining the firm as a paralegal in 2014, Allison worked as a litigation paralegal in Vancouver and Victoria, most recently with the investigations department of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.
Andrew Schleichkorn is a civil-litigation lawyer based out of Vancouver. His practice includes commercial litigation, insurance defence, judicial reviews, product liability, and labour and employment. A skilled advocate, Andrew supports his clients through complex disputes, from negotiation to trial.
Angus M. Gunn KC is a seasoned and versatile advocate who provides Canadian and international clients with strategic counsel and highly experienced representation. His commercial disputes practice emphasizes appellate advocacy, arbitration proceedings (and related litigation), public and administrative law matters, and other corporate commercial disputes. He joined Eyford Partners following several decades at a Canadian national law firm. In 2012, Angus was appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in recognition of his substantial contributions to the legal profession.
An experienced advocate, Angus has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia, with well over 100 appearances in the Court of Appeal for British Columbia. His related experience includes multiple appearances in the Supreme Court of Canada and other Canadian superior appellate courts. He also represents clients in proceedings before various arbitral and administrative tribunals and accepts appointments as counsel and neutral in arbitration and mediation matters. He is the immediate past-President of the Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society (WCCAS), and since 2017 has co-chaired the Arbitration Advisory Group established by the Attorney General of British Columbia.
Every major legal directory recognizes Angus as a leading advocate. Chambers Canada lists him in the areas of arbitration and administrative and public law, noting his long-standing dispute resolution practice, significant experience in appellate cases and arbitration, and additional expertise in administrative law. Chambers Global recognizes Angus for his skill in arbitration. He is also listed in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in the areas of administrative and public law, alternative dispute resolution, appellate practice, corporate and commercial litigation, insurance law, and international arbitration. In 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021, Best Lawyers designated Angus as the Vancouver Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year. The 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory lists Angus as a leading practitioner for commercial arbitration and regulatory and public law litigation. Benchmark Canada has ranked him as a "British Columbia Litigation Star" in the areas of commercial litigation and arbitration every year since 2014. Angus holds the highest client review rating conferred by Martindale-Hubbell®: AV Preeminent.
In addition to maintaining an active practice, Angus has frequently lectured for two decades at the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law. UBC students have selected him on three occasions to receive the award for outstanding teaching by an Adjunct Professor. Angus views pro bono as an integral part of the practice, and he has made substantial contributions to the community over many years. In 2016, he was selected to receive the Canadian National Pro Bono Distinguished Service Award. He presents regularly to the ADR Institute of Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, and other organizations. Since 2004 he has been an Honorary Overseas Member of the Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR), based in London, England.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal to Robert D. Shaw
Brittany Cowden is the LA/Paralegal to Robert D. Shaw. Brittany brings many years of experience within the legal litigation field and has worked with some of the top law firms in the City of Edmonton. Education has always been important to Brittany, and she often attended leadership and human resource classes through the University of Alberta before her relocation to British Columbia.
Christopher Schuld is a Vancouver-based litigator with broad experience in civil litigation and a practice that is focused on construction, real property disputes, defect warranties, and surety bonds. Along with considerable trial experience, Chris has an active alternative dispute resolution practice and regularly navigates complex, multi-party litigation.
Chris has acted as litigation counsel, claims counsel, and solicitor for surety and new home warranty providers throughout western Canada. Additionally, Chris has acted for owners, contractors, and consultants in construction disputes ranging from residential housing to complex commercial and industrial projects. Chris has extensive experience in debt recovery and drafting commercial agreements for creditors.
Chris is actively committed to both the practice of law and to supporting the wider community, serving on the board of directors of the Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society. He is the past Vice-Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Products Liability Subsection and presents a quarterly legal update to the Surety Association of Canada, BC chapter.
Chris spent his first five years as a lawyer in the construction litigation group of Canada's largest national law firm, where his practice included builders liens, delay and payment claims, leaky building disputes, banking litigation, and sports and entertainment representation. He then spent over three years as in-house counsel for an international insurance company, where he dealt with surety and new home warranty matters. Those years as an in-house lawyer provided Chris with valuable experience in client service, providing first-hand appreciation of the challenges that clients face.
Darcia Norum received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of British Columbia in 1994 and a paralegal diploma from Capilano University in 1998. Since then she worked primarily as a litigation paralegal on personal injury files until 2014 when she left Eyford Partners LLP to work for her family's business. She has recently rejoined the firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Education / Experience
- Lawyer
David Camp is a lawyer with a background in corporate, environmental, and real estate law. His primary areas of practice are indigenous law and aboriginal negotiations.
David is a dedicated lawyer who is committed to providing his clients with strategic and effective advice. He advises resource companies, Crown ministries, Crown corporations, developers, financial institutions, utilities, and railway and pipeline companies on environmental approvals, impact benefit agreements, treaty issues, rights of way, and consultation issues involving projects within traditional territories.
In his many decades of legal practice, David has advised clients on indigenous issues relating to major LNG projects, port expansions, hydroelectric projects, transmission and distribution facilities, mining, pipeline, and oil and gas projects, and residential developments on reserve land and in traditional territories.
David has been recognized in Chambers Canada as one of ‘'Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business in Aboriginal Law'' for the last eight years in a row. Furthermore, he has been recognized for a number of years in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory in the area of Indigenous Law, and in The Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Aboriginal Law. He was also recognized in the 2022 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy.
Sophia is the Legal Assistant to David Camp and is part of our Accounting Team. Sophia has been with the firm since 2019.
Doug provides strategic business and legal advice to First Nations, governments, and industry regarding transportation infrastructure and resource development projects. From 2007 to 2014, he served as chief federal negotiator for the Government of Canada in the comprehensive land claims process in British Columbia. The Government of Canada has retained him to provide advice regarding Aboriginal participation in the development of oil and natural gas pipelines in Alberta and British Columbia. His 2013 report to the Prime Minister, Forging Partnerships, Building Relationships: Aboriginal Canadians and Energy Development, outlined strategies for earning trust and for fostering an inclusive energy economy. Doug continues to share his expertise in Aboriginal law-actively writing, speaking, and sharing insights on how the Crown, industry, and Indigenous groups can engage in a constructive dialogue and build a better path forward.
Drummond Lambert is a Vancouver-based civil litigator. He has a broad practice that includes construction litigation, Indigenous law, commercial litigation, insurance defence, and judicial review. He strives to provide strategic and practical advice to clients facing complex disputes.
Drummond has assisted clients with matters before all levels of court in British Columbia and with alternative dispute resolution processes, such as mediation and arbitration. In his construction practice, Drummond has represented warranty providers, consultants, contractors, and homeowners in a wide range of matters, such as multi-party construction defect disputes, delay claims, and surety matters. His commercial litigation experience includes debt enforcement, shareholder disputes, and class actions.
Drummond obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia in 2017. Before joining Eyford Partners LLP, he articled and then practiced law for three years as an associate at a large regional firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Education / Experience
Evan Cooke is a litigation lawyer whose primary areas of practice are municipal, expropriation, and regulatory litigation. His focus is providing sophisticated and pragmatic litigation and dispute resolution services to private, corporate and government clients.
Evan is an experienced trial lawyer, having represented clients before all levels of court in British Columbia. He has also achieved success for clients in the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court, and the Ontario Municipal Board.
Complex litigation matters involving land and resources are Evan's particular areas of interest. From litigating the legal status of historical roads for ranchers, to advancing expropriation claims for multinational corporations, to successfully appealing an onerous tax decision for an international developer, Evan is detail oriented and practical.
From 2013 to 2021, he served as President of the British Columbia Expropriation Association, and he remains active on the Board of that organization. Further, Evan presents frequently on expropriation and municipal law topics.
Before joining Eyford Partners, Evan was a litigation partner of a large national law firm where he was the regional head of the Expropriation Law, Municipal Law, and Railway Law focus groups
Chelsie Strong is the LA/Paralegal to Evan A. Cooke and brings over eight years of legal experience to the Eyford Team.
Frank Lin is a Vancouver-based civil litigation lawyer focusing on commercial litigation, insurance defence, and bodily injury matters.
Frank provides efficient dispute resolution services. Whenever possible, he seeks to resolve disputes through negotiation or mediation. When a settlement cannot be achieved, Frank advances his clients' interests in Court. Since being called to the Bar in 2014, Frank has successfully advocated for his clients as trial counsel in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He also assists senior counsel with appeal matters.
Frank is one of the few trial lawyers in British Columbia fluent in Mandarin, Japanese, and Taiwanese.
Frank regularly advises clients on a wide variety of commercial disputes and represents clients in claims involving enforcement of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, and property disputes. He also assists senior counsel in complex securities litigation. While in law school at the University of British Columbia, Frank successfully completed the Business Law Concentration program which provided him with a strong foundation in this area.
With an undergraduate degree in life science, Frank can understand the technical, medical details of an injury litigation case. And as a skilled litigator, he can advance effective arguments for his clients. He regularly takes on cases involving complex injuries such as chronic pain, orthopedic fractures, traumatic brain injury, and catastrophic injuries.
Frank was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada when he was 13. He obtained his B.Sc. (Microbiology & Immunology) in 2008 and his Juris Doctor in 2013, both from the University of British Columbia. Before becoming a lawyer, Frank worked for two years as a microbiologist.
Jason Murray is a Vancouver-based litigator with a broad range of experience representing clients in commercial, insurance, and product liability litigation as well as in Indigenous law matters.
Jason works to provide clients with effective guidance in Indigenous law matters, advising First Nations, industry, and government clients on the implications of Aboriginal rights and title on resource development. He provides counsel to both industry and First Nations communities in the negotiation of impact benefit agreements (IBAs) and agreements with the Crown. He has advised clients with applications before the National Energy Board. Jason has also helped guide clients engaged with environmental assessment of projects before the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and BC Environmental Assessment Office. Clients turn to Jason for his help in negotiating agreements that build partnerships and foster good working relationships so that projects may move forward with the recognition of the duty to consult and accommodate Aboriginal peoples.
Should it come to trial, Jason has the experience to represent his clients' best interests. An experienced trial lawyer, Jason has represented clients before all levels of court in British Columbia and before tribunals, including the British Columbia Utilities Commission. He has acted as counsel in the significant Aboriginal rights and land title trial, Tsilhqot'in Nation v. British Columbia. He has represented clients in a variety of commercial disputes and class actions involving consumer products, deceptive/misleading marketing, and government and institutional negligence. Jason has also represented clients in personal injury matters involving brain injury, psychiatric injury, chronic pain, and business losses.
Jason has authored papers and presented on a variety of topics, including class actions, Aboriginal land claims, fiduciary duties of pension trustees, and contaminated sites.
Jason is also involved in the community. He has served as legal counsel to electoral campaigns and nomination contestants in federal and municipal elections. Jason is a past director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
A graduate of Queen's University with a Bachelor of Laws, and the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts, Jason served as a law clerk to seven justices of the Supreme Court of British Columbia after completing law school.
Jennifer Montgomery is a graduate of Capilano University with a Paralegal Diploma in 2007 and a Bachelor of Legal Studies in 2014. Before joining the firm, she worked in the commercial litigation and insurance and tort liability practice groups of a large national law firm. Jennifer joined the firm in 2010.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Paralegal
Matthew Straw is a Vancouver-based litigation lawyer practising in personal injury litigation, insurance defence litigation, employment litigation, and general civil litigation. He has represented clients in the Supreme Court and Provincial Court of British Columbia on a variety of civil litigation matters.
Since joining the firm's Vancouver office in 2014, Matt has appeared as counsel in numerous trials defending personal injury actions. Matt works regularly with both institutional and individual clients. He is committed to providing his clients with efficient solutions and regularly advocates for their best interests in mediation proceedings.
Matt volunteers regularly to provide pro bono legal advice to clients of Access Pro Bono BC's Summary Advice Program.
Melisa Boughen obtained her Paralegal Diploma from Vancouver Community College in 2015. Before joining the firm, she worked in various areas of litigation, primarily in personal injury, construction law, and estate law. Melisa joined the firm in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Assistant to Ryan W. Parsons
- Paralegal
Michelle El is the legal assistant to Ryan W. Parsons. Michelle has been with the firm since 2015.
Nathalie Baker is a litigator practising primarily in the area of municipal law. She has a particular interest in land use matters and issues of procedural fairness and represents landowners, developers, citizens groups and business owners on a wide range of local government matters arising under the Local Government Act, the Community Charter and the Vancouver Charter. Nathalie also acts for members of municipal councils and regional boards on motions to censure and allegations of conflict of interest and misconduct.
Nathalie has represented clients in the Provincial Court of British Columbia on bylaw prosecution matters, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on applications for judicial review and in the Court of Appeal. She also has experience before administrative tribunals, including the Board of Variance. The daughter of former City of Vancouver councillor and well respected municipal lawyer, Jonathan Baker, she has had an interest in this area of law since well before she started practising with her father in 2002.
Nichole Kirk obtained a Paralegal Diploma from Capilano University in 2011 and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2003. Nichole has worked in various areas of litigation prior to joining the firm in 2016.
Patricia Taylor is an experienced commercial litigation lawyer whose primary areas of practice include securities regulatory defense, shareholder disputes and advising issuers and market participants.
Patricia's clients benefit from her extensive experience in securities litigation and regulation. The knowledge acquired and the relationships she developed first as a member of the enforcement staff at the British Columbia Securities Commission and now as defence counsel, provide her with a solid understanding of securities regulation and commercial disputes. She represents clients in investigations and enforcement hearings before provincial securities commissions, and regulatory bodies such as the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA). In particular, Patricia acts for clients where fraud, insider trading, market manipulation, illegal distributions, incorrect suitability advice, and unauthorized discretionary trading are alleged.
Patricia regularly advises market participants with respect to registration requirements. Compliance and corporate governance advice round out Patricia's practice area, covering most aspects of the field of securities regulation. Her regulatory compliance work includes acting for startup companies, finders and participants in the mining sphere. Patricia provides ongoing advice to portfolio managers faced with compliance audits. Her focus is providing pragmatic solutions to individual and corporate clients.
Patricia has appeared before all levels of courts including the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Paula Robson obtained her Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Capilano University in 2011. Before joining the firm, she worked as a paralegal/legal assistant at a large national law firm. Paula joined the firm in 2012.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Education / Experience
Kiri is a Legal Assistant to Robert Shaw and coordinates the firm's Independent Medical Examinations. Kiri holds a Bachelor of Political Science from UBC. Prior to joining Eyford Partners, Kiri worked in Intellectual Property at a large national law firm.
Ryan Parsons maintains a broad litigation practice, leveraging his extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on civil appeals. He is a skilled trial lawyer, including trying cases before civil juries and handling complex post-trial procedural issues. And he has argued numerous cases in the Court of Appeal for British Columbia. Ryan's clients include individuals, insurers, public and private companies, and regulatory agencies.
Ryan's clients benefit from the experience he has gained through his diverse, generalist practice. He represents clients in litigation involving bylaw, property, and development disputes with municipalities, contractual and shareholder issues, civil fraud, employment law (employer and employee), insurance and personal injury claims (plaintiff and defendant), and proceedings under the Offence Act. Outside the courts, he advocates for clients subject to administrative and regulatory proceedings, including the registration and discipline of members of the Law Society of BC, the College of Registered Nurses of BC, the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, and of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the BC Securities Commission.
He obtained his law degree from the University of British Columbia, after which he spent a year clerking for two justices at the Court of Appeal for British Columbia. Before joining Eyford Partners, he practised for seven years in the litigation department of a large national firm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Education / Experience
Sandra Katalinic has practised exclusively as a litigator in Vancouver since her call to the Bar. She joined Eyford Partners in 2016. Sandra is focused on assisting clients with matters involving personal injury, motor vehicle, and insurance claims. She also represents clients in professional negligence claims, wrongful dismissal claims, and civil and commercial litigation. Sandra is especially adept at helping her clients to navigate complex, multi-party claims.
Sandra has appeared as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia. She has considerable experience as trial counsel in both judge-alone and jury trials in the B.C. Supreme Court and as appellate counsel before the Court of Appeal. She has appeared as co-counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada. Sandra acts frequently in mediations, often involving complex multi-party disputes, and has represented clients in arbitrations.
Sandra shares her extensive knowledge of litigation as an author and lecturer. She is a contributing author of the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Practice Manual ("Family Compensation Act" chapter), a resource which provides comprehensive coverage of motor vehicle accident litigation in the province. She also serves on the Editorial Board of this authoritative publication. Sandra is a lecturer for Continuing Legal Education and Canadian Defence Lawyers.
Maria Hammell has more than 19 years of experience in civil litigation matters, primarily personal injury and insurance defence. She assists in all aspects of file management including drafting pleadings, analyzing medical and wage loss documents, instructing experts and communicating with clients. She works mostly on high complexity files with issues relating to brain injuries. Maria joined the firm in 2016 and works in the capacity of a legal administrative assistant and paralegal.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- David 's Assistant
- Paralegal
Practice Areas
Indigenous Consultation & Reconciliation
Stacey Whiteside is a paralegal in the firm's Kelowna office. Stacey graduated from McMaster University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Humanities degree in History. She then obtained her Paralegal Diploma from Capilano University in 1998. Stacey has worked extensively in the area of personal injury litigation for both plaintiff and defence firms in the Okanagan. Stacey joined the firm in 2013.
Steven Hoyer is a Vancouver-based research lawyer with a practice emphasizing claims in negligence law and personal injury damages. Steven draws on his considerable legal knowledge to assist his colleagues at Eyford Partners in the preparation of civil trials and appeals. He has worked on cases, and appeared as co-counsel, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Education / Experience
Sudhir Padmanabhan is a civil litigator based in Vancouver and practising in the areas of insurance, tort, and commercial law matters. He has acted as defence counsel on numerous major loss personal injury claims including complex claims involving traumatic brain injury, psychiatric disorders, chronic pain, and catastrophic spinal cord injuries.
Sudhir is experienced in handling transportation law matters, as well as defending claims brought under long-term disability policies, product liability cases, sports and recreation claims, and in providing advice to insurers and brokers on coverage issues. This depth of experience allows him to approach each new matter from a position of knowledge and confidence. Sudhir is committed to representing clients with skill and dedication, as he works to protect their best interests.
Clients can depend on Sudhir to provide strategic counsel. He has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and has conducted numerous trials in the British Columbia Supreme Court (including several jury trials). Having acted as counsel in hundreds of mediations involving insurance, tort, and commercial law matters, he has extensive experience in alternate forms of dispute resolution. He has also acted as counsel in arbitrations concerning Underinsured Motorist Protection issues ("UMP").
Prior to joining Eyford Partners, Sudhir practised with a national law firm. He is a member of the Canadian Defence Lawyers and regularly shares insights on litigation topics. Sudhir received his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1991 and, prior to that, a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.