News & Publications Archive

The article, "Mining report: Alliances set stage for the future", published in Business in Vancouver on March 12, 2013, discusses alternative ways exploration companies can raise capital.

Ritu Mahil's article, "Women's day brings legal rights in workplace closer to home", discusses two recent rulings that provide some clarity on how "family status" is interpreted in court.

Ritu Mahil's article, "Women's day brings legal rights in workplace closer to home" was published in Business in Vancouver on March 8, 2013. The article discusses the legal definition of "family status".

Leonard Glass discusses flow-through shares in the National Post article "Canada’s quirky tax innovation", published on March 5, 2013.

The article "Tech predictions 2013", published on February 25, 2013 discusses what various experts think will happen in the technology realm over the next 12 months.

Khaled Abdel-Barr's article, "The Reemergence of Strategic Alliances in Mineral Exploration", discusses the use of strategic alliances for mineral exploration purposes.

The article, "The Reemergence of Strategic Alliances in Mineral Exploration" was published in the Winter edition of Canadian Mining Magazine. The article discusses the use of strategic alliances for mineral exploration purposes.

Ken Burn's article, "Securities Portfolio Monitoring and Class Action Recovery for Canadian Institutional Investors", was published in the February 2013 issue of Benefits and Pension Monitor.

Bare trusts (a legal structure that facilitates the division of the beneficial and legal ownership) are increasingly being used when investors acquire investment properties as they provide a number of significant advantages. Anyone considering purchasing an apartment building should fully examine the potential use of a bare trust arrangement.

In a decision released on February 1, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada set aside the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Sun Indalex Finance, LLC v. United Steelworkers. The majority of the SCC upheld the priority of charges created in Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings over claims for wind-up funding deficiencies in an insolvent company’s pension plans.

Listen to Craig Ferris speaking at a panel discussion on the Mosquito Consolidated Gold Mines Ltd. decision.

Michael Morgan's article, "Whoa! developers: Court may no longer be the answer" discusses the Supreme Court of Canada Southcott Estates Inc. v. Toronto Catholic District decision which addresses a number of issues relevant to commercial real estate disputes.

Michael Morgan's article, "Whoa! developers: Court may no longer be the answer" was published by Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine on January 14, 2013.

Valerie Mann is featured in Business in Vancouver's Ask the Experts feature on "What do I need to know when going through a merger or acquisition?" published on January 1, 2013.

Khaled Abdel-Barr is quoted in the article, "Mining lawyers bullish on next year" published in The Financial Post on December 12, 2012.

In December of 2009 the Strata Property Amendment Act (Bill 8) was adopted. Section 15 of Bill 8 amended section 94 of the Strata Property Act, establishing the new requirement for depreciation reports. Regulations adopted on December 13, 2011 brought section 94 of the Strata Property Act into effect.

This paper discusses contract law issues including decisions of relevance to commercial lawyers and business leaders giving a snapshot of particular principles of interest that arose in case law over the past 12 months.

Recent amendments to the BC Utilities Commission Act give the Commission significant new powers to issue “administrative penalties” and remedial orders. 

On October 24, 2012, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 2: the Responsible Energy Development Act (“REDA”). If enacted, REDA will establish a single energy regulator and create a new regulatory framework for energy resource projects in Alberta.

The article, "Energy's Westward Shift" discusses how BC may challenge Alberta in the liquid natural gas energy law game.

This article looks at what startup companies should consider from the outset to avoid legal issues and to protect their business and their ideas.

The article, "Why startups need to start by protecting their company" was published in the November 13th issue of Business in Vancouver. It looks at what startup companies should consider from the outset to avoid legal issues and to protect their business and their ideas.

Real Estate litigator, Peter Roberts, is quoted in the article, "It’s tough to kick someone out of their castle" published in the November 2012 issue of Canadian Lawyer Magazine.

The B.C. Property Assessment Appeal Board released an important decision reducing the assessed value for property tax of the upland land and improvements at the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to a nominal value.

The Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (“LARP”) came into effect on September 1, 2012 and is the first of seven regional plans to be released under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act. The LARP establishes the new cumulative effects approach to be used in the Lower Athabasca region and provides valuable insight as to how Alberta’s oil sands resources will be managed in the decades to come.

Christine Kowbel and Toby Kruger are quoted by Canadian Lawyer InHouse Magazine in the article, "B.C. nixes mine project despite OK environmental assessment" published on October 15, 2012.

British Columbia’s new Pension Benefits Standards Act (the “PBSA” or the “Act”) received Royal Assent on May 31, 2012. While this new Act will eventually repeal and replace the existing PBSA, it will not come into force until the underlying regulations are developed and finalized, likely in 2013 or later. As the new Act is the final product of the November 2008 Joint Expert Panel on Pension Standards (“JEPPS”) report and subsequent work by the B.C. and Alberta governments, it is anticipated that Alberta will introduce a substantially identical bill later this year.

Marko Vesely is quoted in The Martlet article "Landmark ruling in cyberbullying case" published on October 10, 2012.

The following articles can be found in this bulletin:

* Welcome Chris Beneteau
* Federal Employee Disabled by Work Related Injury Protected Indefinitely
* Refusal to Return to Work Constitutes Just Cause
* Injunction Not Granted for Breach of Non-Solicitation Clause
* Refusal to Bargain Monetary Issues Constitutes Bargaining in Bad Faith

Will Roberts has written "The Secrets to Successful Pro-Bono Programs" for the October 2012  issue of CBA BarTalk.

B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake and Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Minister Rich Coleman refused to issue an Environmental Assessment Certificate (“EAC”) to Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. for its proposed Morrison Copper/Gold Mine project near Smithers. The decision by Ministers Lake and Coleman is in accordance with the recommendation of the Executive Director of the Environmental Assessment Office (“EAO”) not to issue an EAC, but stands in contrast to the August 21, 2012 conclusion by the EAO reviewers that the proposed project was not likely to result in any significant adverse effects with the successful implementation of mitigation measures and conditions.

Read more here.  

Ed Wilson is quoted in the Western Investor article "Depreciation reports will “shock” some condo owners" published on October 4th, 2012.

This paper provides a legal update and compares the availability and practical implications of “equity” in the appeal process across Canadian taxing jurisdictions.

Marko Vesely's article "Canadian Law of Defamation And The John Furlong Allegations" was published on The Huffington Post site on October 1, 2012.

Lawson Lundell is featured in the Canadian Lawyer article "Embracing regionalism", published on October 1, 2012. The firm is ranked the #1 regional law firm in Alberta, BC, and the Territories in 2012.

John Smith is quoted in The Financial Post article, "Confidentiality agreements can make or break a deal", published on September 30, 2012.

Marko Vesely was interviewed on CKNW's The Weekend News with Jill Bennett on September 29, 2012 where he discussed the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that allows a teenager to remain anonymous while she pursues those who ridiculed her on Facebook. 

Rita Andreone is quoted in The Lawyers Weekly article, "Legal process outsourcing requires precautions" published on September 28, 2012.

Marko Vesely is quoted in The Vancouver Sun article "Teen can pursue alleged online tormentors anonymously: court" published on September 28, 2012.

Marko Vesely was interviewed on CKNW's The World Today with Jon McComb to discuss the defamation issues that may arise as a result of the allegations published in The Georgia Straight about John Furlong. 

Keith Bergner is quoted in the Canadian Press article "Need for Gateway clear, hearing told", published by The Edmonton Journal on September 26, 2012.

Marko Vesely is quoted in The Vancouver Sun article, "Supreme Court to rule on Facebook cyberbullying case", published on September 26, 2012.

Mandeep Dhaliwal is quoted in the Business in Vancouver article "Deal-making central", published on September 11, 2012.

Keith Bergner is quoted in the Canadian Lawyer 4Students article "UBC making aboriginal law course mandatory" published on September 3, 2012.

We are saddened to mark the death of our former partner David Smith on August 9, 2012. David was a superb lawyer, partner and colleague, and Lawson Lundell was fortunate to have him spend the entire 47 years of his private practice career with our firm.

Toby Kruger and Reilly Pollard discuss the important changes to the environmental assessment process introduced with the enactment of the new Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (“CEAA 2012”) on July 6, 2012. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (1992), has been repealed. As we reported in a previous post, several regulations related to CEAA 2012 have also come into force:

Prescribed Information for the Description of a Designated Project Regulations;

Cost Recovery Regulations; and

Regulations Designating Physical Activities.

Read more here.

Marko Vesely is quoted in The Vancouver Sun article "Which Vancouver Canucks owners — past or present — must pay Mark Messier $6 million?", published on August 3, 2012.