Submitted by Section Co-Chair, Martin Sheard
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 6
November 12, 2015
Guest Speaker: The Honourable Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice for BC
Meeting Title/Topic: Arbitration in BC
Synopsis: The speaker canvassed recent developments in the field of arbitration, and how it has changed the litigation climate in general. Questions and answers followed the talk.
January 27, 2016
Guest Speaker: Sue Smolen - Manager, BCSC Civil Scheduling Vancouver Cindy Friesen - Director, BCSC Scheduling
Meeting Title/Topic: The Unwritten Rules of Civil Procedure
Synopsis: The speakers provided insight for litigators into the inner workings of the Court Registry. The focus was on matters which are not written in the rules, but which can assist litigators as well as the Court.
March 2, 2016
Guest Speaker: The Honourable Madam Justice Suzanne Cote of the Supreme Court of Canada
Meeting Title/Topic: From Bar to Bench: Perspectives from Private Practice
Synopsis: The speaker shared her experiences both as a justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, and as a person appointed to that office directly from private practice.
February 25, 2016
Guest Speaker: Shannon Salter - Chair of the Civil Resolution Tribunal
Meeting Title/Topic: The Civil Resolution Tribunal - What Every Litigator Should Know
Synopsis: The speaker discussed the creation, purpose and implementation of a new tribunal formed with a view to refining the litigation process in BC.
April 13, 2016
Guest Speaker: Joe McArthur, FCIArb., Partner at Blake Cassels and Graydon LLP Blair Curtis - Head of Litigation at Tevlin Gleadle Curtis Employment Law Strategies
Meeting Title/Topic: An Update on Good Faith in the Performance of Contracts
Synopsis: The speakers provided insight into recenth developments following on Bhasin v. Hrynew, [2014] 3 SCR 494, 2014 SCC 71, and with reference to the duty of good faith in certain employment scenarios predating that decision.
June 6, 2016
Guest Speaker: Gerald J. Lecovin, Q.C. - LeCovin & Co.
Glen Orris, Q.C.
Orris Law Corporation Ashley, Syer - Syer Law
Meeting Title/Topic: How Far is Too Far? Lessons from the Groia Decision
Synopsis: The speakers led an interactive discussion regarding the Groia decision and its implications for courtroom decorum going forward.
Comments and Observations of the Chair
Each of our talks was well-attended. In my view this was testament to the hard work of our entire executive, and the top-quality meetings which that hard work led to.