Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
When a dispute cannot be talked out, it has to be argued well. We take civil claims from demand letter through to trial, and settle them the moment settling is the better result.
Our civil practice covers the disputes that arise between people and businesses: contracts that were not honoured, debts that were not paid, property disputes, and residential and commercial tenancy fights. We act for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Most civil matters are won on preparation, not theatre. We assess the evidence early, tell you candidly what it is worth, and set a strategy that weighs the cost of proceeding against the realistic recovery, including mediation and settlement conferences, which resolve the majority of files before a trial date arrives.
What we handle
- Breach of contract claims and defences
- Debt recovery and collections
- Property disputes
- Builders liens and construction disputes
- Residential and commercial tenancy disputes
- Injunctions and urgent applications
- Mediation and settlement conferences
Common questions
- How long does a civil claim take in BC?
- A Small Claims matter often resolves within a year; a Supreme Court action with document discovery and examinations commonly runs two years or more. We give you a timeline specific to your matter at the outset.
- Is there a deadline to start a claim?
- Usually two years from the day you discovered the claim under BC's Limitation Act, with important exceptions. If you think a deadline may be close, call us before anything else.
- Will I have to go to court?
- Most likely not. The large majority of civil files settle at mediation or a settlement conference. We prepare every file as though it will be tried, which is precisely what makes settlement possible.