Law that Replaces Law Society of BC, Diminishes Bar’s Self-Regulation Is Constitutional: BC Court
The British Columbia Supreme Court upheld the 2024 Legal Professions Act, clearing the way to replace the Law Society of BC with a single regulator covering lawyers, paralegals and notaries. The decision found the legislation constitutional and not ultra vires, rejecting challenges from the Law Society of BC and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC. The new regulator will dramatically reduce lawyer‑elected seats on its board, shifting power to other legal professions and government appointees. Both plaintiff groups signaled they may appeal, keeping the reform timeline uncertain.
Black IP Lawyer Sues Gowling, Claims Toronto Office Held Her to Higher Standards than White Colleagues
Black former senior associate Natalia Thawe has sued Gowling WLG for wrongful dismissal and discrimination, alleging the Toronto office held her to higher standards, withheld work, and forced her out. She points to only four Black partners among more than 480...
Ottawa Cracking Down on 21-Year Deemed Disposition Rule for Trusts: Lavery Lawyer
Canada’s federal government is tightening the 21‑year deemed disposition rule for trusts that hold private‑company shares. New reporting requirements force most express trusts to file T3 returns and disclose key parties, ending the secrecy that enabled last‑minute restructuring. The 2025...
Miller Thomson Adds Perry Kiefer as a Corporate Tax Partner in Saskatoon
Miller Thomson LLP announced the addition of Perry Kiefer as a partner in its Saskatoon corporate tax group. Kiefer, a former partner at Felesky Flynn, brings extensive experience in corporate and personal tax planning, reorganizations, M&A, and estate matters. His...
CBA Alberta Asks Mothers and Gender-Diverse Parents to Participate in Study on New Lawyer-Parents
The Canadian Bar Association’s Alberta branch has launched a research project to capture the experiences of lawyer‑parents who have welcomed a child in the past three years. The study specifically seeks mothers and gender‑diverse parents working as private‑practice or in‑house...
Alberta Appeal Court Denies Permission to Appeal Based on Incapacity to Agree to Property Division
The Alberta Court of Appeal refused permission for a former spouse to appeal a consent property judgment, despite her claim of incapacity from three traumatic brain injuries. The applicant argued she never consented to the settlement and that her counsel...
Celebrate the 2026 Canadian Law Awards Winners Next Week
The Canadian Law Awards gala will be held on May 5 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, with tickets already sold out. The ceremony will honor winners in 26 categories, selected from the Excellence Awardees shortlist announced earlier this spring. Hosted...
Alberta Court of King’s Bench Denies Party’s Request to Examine Lawyer Who Drafted Will
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench dismissed a nephew’s request to question the lawyer who drafted his aunt’s will before the estate’s security‑for‑costs hearing. The deceased’s estate, valued at about CAD $1.75 million (≈US $1.28 million), had already sought CAD $85,000 (≈US $62,000) in security for...
Crown Did Not Have to Prove Exact Time of Sexual Assault for Ontario Man to Be Convicted: SCC
The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously upheld an Ontario man’s sexual‑assault conviction, ruling that the Crown does not have to prove the exact time of the offence. The decision reversed a trial acquittal after the Ontario Court of Appeal found...
Canadian Bar Association to Explore Grief Literacy, Mindfulness This Mental Health Week
The Canadian Bar Association is rolling out a week‑long Mental Health Week program from May 4‑8, featuring workshops on grief literacy, mindfulness, AI’s impact on well‑being, and menopause in the legal field. Partnering with the Alberta Lawyer Assistance Society, the CBA...
Ontario Superior Court Finds Rare Case to Refuse to Enforce Insurer’s Proposed Settlement
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice declined to enforce a settlement draft between a dentist and Sun Life Assurance after finding no genuine agreement existed. The insurer had delisted the dentist’s practice in 2020 over alleged billing fraud and later...
Federal Court Refuses to Quash Application Alleging TD Bank Breached PIPEDA by Withholding Records
Canada's Federal Court rejected three motions by a former TD Bank employee and denied the bank’s request to dismiss the privacy‑law application. The applicant alleges TD breached the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) by withholding records related...
Proposed Federal Law Aims to Address Femicide, Keep Kids Safe From Predators
Canada’s Justice Department introduced the Protecting Victims Act (Bill C‑16), a sweeping overhaul of the Criminal Code aimed at tackling femicide, coercive control, non‑consensual deepfakes and modern child‑exploitation offenses. The bill would elevate murders involving gender‑based violence to first‑degree murder...
Planned Saskatchewan Law Will Raise Fines for Unauthorized Medical Practice
Bill 55, the Medical Profession Amendment Act 2026, will amend Saskatchewan’s Medical Profession Act and Regulated Health Professions Act to expand the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan’s investigative and enforcement powers. The legislation raises maximum fines for unauthorized practice...
High Numbers of Law Firm Associates Are Departing Within First Five Years of Being Hired: Survey
The National Association for Law Placement Foundation’s 2025 report shows that 83% of associate departures happen within five years of hire, with lateral hires and associates of colour exiting at higher rates. Canadian firms experienced an even steeper early‑attrition rate...
Frédéric Duguay in Conversation on the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Shifting Mandate
In a Canadian Lawyer podcast, Frédéric Duguay, chief legal and information officer of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), outlined how the bank’s expanding $45 billion CAD (≈$33 billion USD) capital envelope is reshaping its mandate and risk appetite. The CIB is now...
Canadian Lawyer Reveals Top Criminal Law Boutiques for 2026–27
Canadian Lawyer released its 2026‑27 list of the nation’s top criminal law boutiques, spotlighting firms that combine rigorous courtroom advocacy with sophisticated behind‑the‑scenes case management. The rankings were based on 325 votes from readers, senior bar input, and a focus...
Narwal Litigation LLP on Defending Clients Across Borders and Enforcement Regimes
Narwal Litigation LLP, a Vancouver‑based criminal law boutique, is positioning itself at the nexus of Canadian and U.S. white‑collar enforcement. The firm highlights the recent reshaping of U.S. prosecution priorities and Canada’s launch of a unified Financial Crimes Agency as...
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon Introduces Canadian Space Launch Act
Transport minister Steven MacKinnon has tabled the Canadian Space Launch Act, giving the federal government authority to regulate launch and re‑entry activities on Canadian soil. The legislation is designed to provide regulatory certainty, spur investment, and support infrastructure aligned with...
Intersection of Estates and Corporate Work Booming at Alberta Regional Firms
Alberta’s mid‑size law firms are seeing a surge in cases that blend estate litigation with commercial disputes, as closely held companies in energy, farming and construction become entangled in succession battles. The Ferguson Estate case highlighted how misidentified corporate structures...
How PI Firms Can Strategically Leverage Legal Finance Solutions to Manage Expert Costs and Grow Their Practices
BridgePoint Financial’s Expert Access program finances expert reports for personal‑injury contingency firms, allowing repayment only after settlement and offering up to two years interest‑free. The service also includes an online portal that matches lawyers with hundreds of vetted Canadian experts...
BC Supreme Court Strikes Double Ticketing Claim but Not Drip Pricing Claim Against Cineplex
The British Columbia Supreme Court partially granted Cineplex’s motion to strike a consumer class action, dismissing the double‑ticketing claim while allowing the drip‑pricing claim to proceed. The dispute stems from online booking fees introduced in June 2022, which the Competition...
BC Court of Appeal Lets Tort Claim by RCMP Civilian Member with PTSD Proceed to Trial
The British Columbia Court of Appeal rejected the public safety minister’s appeal, allowing a civil tort claim by an RCMP civilian dispatcher with PTSD to proceed to trial. The claimant alleges the unit commander ignored RCMP policy by refusing a...
Canadian Law Awards Judge Says ‘Outsized Impact’ One of the Factors Considered when Reviewing Deals
The 2026 Canadian Law Awards have released their shortlist of deal nominees, with the final winners to be announced at a gala on May 5 in Toronto. Judges, including partner Paul Fruitman, note the high caliber of submissions and a broader...
The Unique Mental Health Challenges of Government Lawyers Require a Tailored Approach
Government lawyers in Canada confront a distinct mental‑health strain that goes beyond typical burnout, driven by constant political oversight, media scrutiny, and reputational risk. The article argues that this environment creates moral injury—exhaustion from compromising legal judgment—even when lawyers act...
Criminal Law Gives Courts Authority to Order Forfeiture Even Where There Are No Convictions: SCC
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Quebec courts can order forfeiture of property even when criminal charges are stayed, clarifying that certain Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act provisions operate independently of a conviction. The case stems...
Federal Court Criticizes Refugee Division’s Finding that Ethiopian Lawyer’s Letter Is Fraudulent
Canada’s Federal Court overturned a Refugee Protection Division (RPD) decision that deemed an Ethiopian lawyer’s letter fraudulent because of grammatical errors. The court ruled the RPD’s credibility analysis was unreasonable and lacked clear justification, ordering a new member to reassess...
Canadian Human Rights Commission Notes Five-Year High in Accepted Discrimination Complaints in 2025
The Canadian Human Rights Commission’s 2025 annual report shows a five‑year peak in accepted discrimination complaints, with 960 new cases meeting statutory criteria. The agency handled over 4,600 new inquiries and closed roughly 4,700, ending the year with 2,190 accepted...
Lawson Lundell Adds Partner Taylor-Marie Young to Trusts, Estates, Incapacity Disputes Group
Lawson Lundell LLP announced that Taylor‑Marie Young has joined the firm as a partner in its Kelowna and Vancouver offices, becoming part of both the commercial litigation and trusts, estates, and incapacity disputes groups. Young brings over a decade of...
California Supreme Court Disbars Attorney Who Pushed for Reversal of 2020 US Election Results
The California Supreme Court has officially disbarred John Charles Eastman after the State Bar found him guilty of 10 of 11 charges of egregious and deceitful conduct. Eastman, who advised former President Donald Trump and promoted false claims to overturn the 2020...
Legora Launches in Canada with Toronto Office
Legora has opened a new office in Toronto, marking its first dedicated Canadian location. The launch follows the recent acquisition of local AI firm Walter, which added major law firm clients such as McCarthy Tétrault and Fasken. Legora’s platform is already...
In Rare Move, Roper Greyell’s Non-Lawyer CEO Joins Firm's Partnership
Roper Greyell LLP has elevated its chief executive officer, Adam Garvin, to equity partner, making him the firm’s sole non‑lawyer partner and one of only five such partners in British Columbia. The move required LSBC approval for a multi‑disciplinary practice,...
Ontario Court of Appeal Orders Firm to Pay Client $37K Costs for Medical Malpractice Suit
The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower‑court ruling that a 2018 contingency‑fee agreement (CFA) in a medical‑malpractice case was unfair, ordering the law firm to pay the client $37,000 CAD (≈$27,000 USD) in costs. The case involved a $14 million CAD...
Lavery Names Loïc Berdnikoff as Chief Innovation Officer
Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P. has appointed Loïc Berdnikoff, its general counsel and chief privacy officer, as chief innovation officer to accelerate AI integration across its legal and IP practices. The firm unveiled "Billy," a secure, closed‑loop generative AI assistant that runs on...
Federal Court of Appeal Refuses to Award Crown Enhanced Costs After Its Successful Tax Appeal
The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the Crown’s successful tax appeal concerning the timing of a connected‑corporation determination under s.104(19) of the Income Tax Act. The court ruled that the determination occurs at the end of the trust’s taxation year...
Canada Revenue Agency Advises Law Firms of Changes to Taxpayer Information Request Process
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that, effective April 15, 2026, it will no longer process one‑time taxpayer‑information requests submitted by lawyers or law firms. All requests for income statements, notices of assessment, and benefit details must now be filed by the...
AI Tools Help Estates Lawyers, but Cause Headaches when Clients and Litigants Use Them
Estate lawyers are rapidly integrating enterprise AI tools to automate document review, flag missing records, and generate heat‑maps that prioritize critical medical and financial data. The technology enables faster strategy development and reduces filing delays, such as the eight‑to‑ten‑week setbacks...
Professor, Students Sue University of Alberta Board over Dismantling of Pro-Palestinian Encampment
Professor Michael Litwack and two master’s students have filed a lawsuit against the University of Alberta, alleging the school breached their Section 2 Charter rights by calling police to dismantle a peaceful pro‑Palestinian encampment in April 2024. The plaintiffs contend the university’s...
BC Supreme Court Stays Review of Legal Fees in Injury Suit Amid Pending Lawyer Negligence Claim
The British Columbia Supreme Court ordered a stay of the Legal Profession Act fee review in the personal‑injury case Simpson v. League and Williams Law Corp. until the plaintiff’s professional‑negligence lawsuit against his former lawyers is resolved. The injury claim...
Over 80 Percent of Alberta Lawyers Rate Their Substantive Law Competence Highly: Survey
A Law Society of Alberta survey of 265 legal professionals shows strong self‑assessment of substantive law competence, with 87% rating their knowledge of statutes and case law (“what”) and 83% rating their practical application (“how”) at the top of a...
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Commends Stay in Alberta Separation Referendum Process
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench issued a stay on the chief electoral officer’s decision to certify a second separation referendum petition, pending judicial review by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Blackfoot Nations. The stay blocks any further procedural...
UK Bar Standards Board Requests Budget Boost in 2026-2027 Business Plan
The UK Bar Standards Board (BSB) has asked for an above‑inflation budget boost in its 2026‑27 business plan, raising total operating costs to nearly £24 million (about $30.5 million), a 12% rise from the current £21.1 million. The board expects to generate £19.7 million...
Verdon Armanda Gauthier Avocats Counsel Mireille Pélissier-Simard Joins Superior Court of Quebec
Mireille Pélissier‑Simard, a veteran family mediator from Verdon Armanda Gauthier, has been appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec, filling the vacancy left by Justice Daniel Dumais after his promotion to senior associate chief justice. Her career spans two decades of family and human‑rights...
Ontario Superior Court Rejects Public Policy Argument to Resist Enforcing Beijing Arbitration Award
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted recognition and enforcement of a 2019 CIETAC arbitration award in the Feicheng Mining Group v. Liu case. The respondent, a 50% shareholder of Dehua International Mines, argued duress and public‑policy violations after signing...
Insurance Co. Proved that Man Who Disappeared 18 Years Ago, Declared Dead Is Actually Alive: SCC
The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously ruled that the balance of probabilities is the proper standard to overturn a Quebec death declaration, allowing an insurance company to prove that a man missing for 18 years is still alive. The court...
BC Supreme Court Expands Virtual Hearings in Civil and Family Matters
The Supreme Court of British Columbia announced an expansion of virtual hearings for civil and family matters, making video attendance the default for case planning and judicial management conferences starting May 4, 2026. New practice directions (71‑74) also permit electronic filing...
Ontario Rules Changes: Practical Guidance From the Bench, Plaintiff and Defence Counsel
Ontario’s civil litigation framework is undergoing a sweeping overhaul, introducing a three‑track system that separates applications, summary matters, and trials. The reforms also target limitation periods, civil juries, discovery rules, and affidavit evidence, aiming for greater efficiency and proportionality. A...
Estate to Pay Parties’ Reasonable Indemnity Costs Amid Unusual Circumstances: BC Court of Appeal
The British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld the 1995 handwritten joint will made in Germany, ruling it valid and ordering Mr. Siebert’s estate to pay reasonable indemnity costs for both parties. The case pitted the joint will against a 2019...
Increasingly Complex Cases Contribute to Disruption at NL Provincial Court, Working Group Finds
The Provincial Court Working Group in Newfoundland and Labrador found that rising case complexity, expanding workloads and chronic staff shortages have disrupted court operations. The group delivered its findings and a set of recommendations to Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer, calling...
BC’s Health Professions and Occupations Act, Now in Effect, Boosts Transparency on Prior Discipline
The British Columbia Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) became law on April 1, 2026, overhauling the province’s health‑care regulatory framework. It requires all disciplinary actions and summary protection orders to appear on public registries, boosting transparency for patients and employers....