Thirty-two lawyers have been appointed the honorary title of Queen's counsel (also known as Q.C.), Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton announced today.

Among the appointees are lawyers who have prosecuted high-profile criminal cases, worked closely with First Nations in treaty negotiations, and a former internee born in a war-time internment camp for Japanese Canadians who went on to become a lawyer and fought for justice in the case for redress.

The Q.C. designation is an honour conferred annually on members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution. The successful candidates demonstrate professional integrity and good character, and have been a member of the British Columbia bar for at least five years.

A call for Q.C. nominations from the public was made in August. All applications were reviewed by an advisory committee, which sought the views of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association and recommended deserving candidates to the Attorney General. The appointments were subsequently made by cabinet through order-in-council.

The Q.C. appointees are listed in the backgrounder.

Quotes:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Attorney General -

"The Q.C. designation is given to lawyers who have shown exceptional leadership in the legal profession while giving back to their community and colleagues."

"I want to congratulate this year's Q.C. recipients and thank them for their significant contributions to our justice system and their work on behalf of British Columbia and its citizens."

Quick Facts:

The advisory committee for Queen's counsel appointments includes:

• The Chief Justice of British Columbia. 
• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
• The Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia.
• The president of the Law Society of British Columbia.
• A Law Society of British Columbia member appointed by the benchers (directors).
• B.C.'s deputy attorney general.
• Of practising B.C. lawyers, only up to seven per cent overall can be designated Queen's counsel.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Lori Deluca
Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 953-3196

BACKGROUNDER

2013 Queen's counsel appointees

James Wilfred Hogan has been a leading criminal defence lawyer in this province for three decades. Over the span of his lengthy career he has defended in more than 125 murder trials. He now practises criminal defence with Hogan and Company. Mr. Hogan was called to the bar in this province 47 years ago and has led an exemplary career.

Robert Tadashi Banno is a senior partner with Davis LLP and practices corporate and commercial law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. Born in 1943, Mr. Banno was born into a war-time internment camp for Japanese Canadians located in Tahsme outside of Hope. Many years later as a lawyer, he was involved in the fight for justice for Japanese Canadians who had their property confiscated and were sent to internment camps. Mr. Banno also is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.

Laurence Ralph Stinson is a partner with Baker Newby LLP who has expertise in corporate law and member-based organizations. Mr. Stinson gives back to his profession as a director, former board chair and lecturer at the University of the Fraser Valley. His contributions to the community are extensive, particularly with the Rotary Club of Chilliwack. In recognition of his service, Mr. Stinson was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.

John Ian Gardiner Waddell is currently practising litigation at Waddell and Co. He has led a multi-dimensional career in the field of law, serving as a member of parliament from 1973 - 1993 and member of the legislative assembly for Vancouver-Fraserview from 1996 - 2001. Mr. Waddell was one of the drafters of Section 35 and 92A of the repatriated Canadian Constitution and has a long legal association with First Nations' peoples, working with many chiefs before courts and tribunals.

Michael Leslie Pearce is the managing partner of Pearce Taylor Schneiderat and has been a practising solicitor for more than 40 years. He is the former mayor of both Quesnel and Penticton, and received the Queen's Jubilee Medal in 2002 for service to his community. Mr. Pearce sits as an independent chairperson for Mountain Prison in Agassiz.

David James Edward Bilkey practises civil litigation and insurance law at Bilkey Law LLP in Kamloops and has taken over 100 cases to trial and appeal. Prior to focusing on insurance law, he represented more than 400 residential-school claimants, with significant contribution to the current highly successful adjudication process. Mr. Bilkey is also an active supporter and volunteer for the Access Pro Bono summary clinic program.

Kevin Patrick O'Neill is the chair of the labour, employment & human rights practice group for the Vancouver office of Fasken Martineau. Since 1980, he has represented employers in more than 230 cases, 40 of which are reported in the Labour Arbitration Cases series, and he has written and presented many Continuing Legal Education (CLE) papers. He has been recognized as a leading lawyer by the legal publications Lexpert and Chambers Global. Also, in recognition of more than 10 years of service to Family Services of the North Shore, Mr. O'Neill received the Joanne Houssian Big Heart Family Services Award in 2007.

Robert Michael John D. Orr is a sole proprietor, senior adjudicator for the Independent Assessment Process and a member of the Collective Agreement Arbitration Bureau. Mr. Orr served 30 years as counsel to the B.C. Coroner's Service, making him the organization's longest-serving legal advisor. He acted as an adjudicator on numerous First Nations' cases, including human rights and land claim disputes, and residential school settlements in 2003. Mr. Orr also taught dispute resolution at the University of Victoria (UVic) and served as director of the Storefront Legal Clinic at the UVic Law Centre.

Andrew Brent Kerr is a partner at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and practices tax law with an emphasis on the tax implications of mergers and acquisitions, public company financings and international transactions. Recognized by peers, media and other publications as leading counsel, Mr. Kerr lectures and publishes in Canada and abroad on complex cross-border tax issues. He has also been invited to speak on tax matters by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the British Columbia Trade Office in Seoul, South Korea.

Dennis Clarke Quinlan is a founding partner with Quinlan Abrioux and is a leader in the areas of insurance defence work and professional negligence. He is a member of the Law Society of B.C.'s conduct review subcommittee and a regular speaker at seminars offered by the Canadian Defence Lawyers, CLE British Columbia (CLEBC), Medical Legal Society, the Lawyers Insurance Fund and the Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. Mr. Quinlan also is a dedicated volunteer at the Vancouver General Hospital information desk.

Elaine Elizabeth Reynolds is the principal at Legacy Tax and Trust Lawyers and practises in all areas of tax and estate law, including U.S. - Canada cross-border charity issues. She is a prolific author and has published course materials for CLEBC, Pacific Business and various other publications. A recipient of numerous recognitions for her legal expertise and contributions, Ms. Reynolds also serves on the board of governors for Coast Mental Health Foundation.

James Alan Vanstone practises civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury at Ramsay Lampman Rhodes Nanaimo office. As a very active member of the Trial Lawyers Association of B.C., Mr. Vanstone has served in a number of elected positions both for the trial lawyers association and for the Canadian Bar Association of B.C. (CBABC). Mr. Vanstone is active in his community as a founding member of Nanaimo Harbourfront Theatre Society and is a member of the Malaspina Choir.

James Andrew Dowler practises insurance and local government law with Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP. In his litigation-based practice he focuses on claims for construction, government, municipal and school liability. Mr. Dowler represents the Municipal Insurance Association defending cities, towns and municipal bodies on all aspects of municipal liability. For more than 25 years, he has actively represented school boards and colleges on behalf of private insurers as well as the Schools Protection Program.

Sandra Joan Watson is a senior Crown counsel for the Ministry of Justice and has prosecuted a variety of serious cases such as murder, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, home invasion and unlawful confinement. Her expertise is frequently sought after for work on ministry justice reform projects such as Criminal Caseflow Management Rules and the CBABC Advisory Panel on Criminal Justice Reform. Ms. Watson is also involved in a number of community organizations in Greater Vancouver.

Dale William Darychuk is a partner with Darychuk Deane-Cloutier and has been practising civil litigation law for 30 years with emphasis on personal injury and estate disputes. Since mid-2010, Mr. Darychuk has served as president of the Access Pro Bono Society and has overseen its growth into Canada's flagship pro bono organization serving over 20,000 individuals each year. He is also the supervising lawyer for the Tri-Cities SHARE Legal Advocate program. In the past three years, he has provided critical pro bono legal services to more than 600 low-income individuals.

Nicole Marie Byres is a partner at Miller Thomson Lawyers, labour and employment group. She practises in all areas of employment and labour law, and is a frequent lecturer on the topic. Ms. Byres is also the founding author of the corporate governance chapter in the CLE Due Diligence Deskbook, and director of Ethno Business B.C., which promotes, supports and recognizes entrepreneurs/small businesses whose founders immigrated to Canada. In addition, Ms. Byres is a member of University of British Columbia's (UBC) President's Strategic Advisory Council and chair of the Canadian Bar Association B.C. Women Lawyers Forum.

Jeffrey James Lowe, was, at the time of his appointment in 1990, the youngest managing partner with Richards Buell Sutton in its 142-year history. He is the incoming 2014 chair of the Pacific Rim Advisory Council, a strategic alliance of law firms in 37 countries, representing more than 12,000 lawyers. He regularly acts as counsel for corporate, institutional and technology companies in corporate finance, intellectual property licensing and franchising. Mr. Lowe developed legal structures for Genome BC and the Centre for Drug Research and Development and has worked with UBC's Industry Liaison Office on matters supporting the interaction between the university and industry.

David Alexander Jardine is Crown counsel with the Ministry of Justice within the organized crime section of the prosecution service. He has practised criminal law for more than 28 years and was one of the founding directors of the B.C. Crown Counsel Association in 1991. Since 2006, he has served as a judge with the UBC Trial Advocacy Program. Mr. Jardine is active in various community athletics boards and organizations.

Robert Victor Wickett is a senior partner with MacKenzie Fujisawa LLP and practises general litigation including complex constitutional, commercial, environmental, Aboriginal, administrative and real estate law, and commercial leasing matters. He is currently the vice-chair of the Environmental Appeal Board and of the Forest Appeals Commission. Mr. Wickett was an original author of the waste management chapter of the Due Diligence Deskbook. He has coached youth soccer and baseball for 15 years.

Diane Mary Ellen Bell is a partner with Clark Wilson, is focused on family law mediation and has settled more than 500 family disputes in the last decade. Recognized as pre-eminent among family law mediators in British Columbia, Ms. Bell is a long-standing executive member with the CBA (family law and alternative dispute resolution), Mediation Development Association of B.C., and Family Mediation Canada. Ms. Bell serves on Clark Wilson's Respectful Workplace Committee, mentors three female associates and volunteers with the Salvation Army pro bono clinics.

Lorne Arthur James Dunn is a managing partner and senior counsel for Heather Sadler Jenkins LLP where he practises insurance litigation, personal injury litigation, forestry litigation and general commercial litigation. ICBC has appointed him as designated counsel for some of their most complex litigation including under-insured motorists' protection coverage, serious brain injury and fraud cases. He is the immediate past president of the Prince George Bar Association and previous director for the B.C. Law Institute.

William Shawn Maclagan is managing partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and practises taxation planning and tax litigation with an emphasis on corporate taxation. A leading Canadian tax lawyer, he is an active member of the tax subsection of the CBABC, the Canadian Tax Federation and the International Fiscal Association. Mr. Maclagan is an elected bencher for the Law Society of B.C. from Vancouver County and a director for Saint Paul's Hospital Foundation.

Daniel Raymond Bennett is a partner at Bull Housser and he focuses on trial, arbitration and appeal work in commercial and administrative litigation. Mr. Bennett is the former chair of the litigation section of the CBABC and has served on its provincial and national councils. He taught civil litigation and legal writing at the UBC faculty of law and lectured for CLE courses. Mr. Bennett has a long history of being active in his community in various capacities such as a long-time director of the Family Services of the North Shore, member of the Urban Development Institute liaison committee, and soccer coach for nearly 10 years.

Daniel William Burnett is leading counsel for Owen Bird Law Corporation in the area of defamation law, freedom of expression and media law, the open court principle, privacy, freedom of information, intellectual property, and Internet law. He taught media law at UBC's Graduate School of Journalism, and is the founder and current president of the Canadian Media Lawyers Association. Mr. Burnett has been pro bono counsel on several cases for the Civil Liberties Association.

John Robert Esson practises predominantly in the area of criminal law, both as defence and crown counsel. A respected practitioner, Mr. Esson has also coached, taught and mentored students.

Michael Tammen is a sole practitioner and a former Crown prosecutor. He has been involved with a number of high-profile cases including Air India, Surrey Six and the Frank Paul Inquiry. Mr. Tammen is a frequent CLE speaker and provides regular, long-standing pro bono assistance to lawyers and articled students in Law Society of B.C. proceedings. He is also involved with Cypress Park Little League Baseball and the West Vancouver Otters Swim Club.

Angela Ruth Westmacott is a partner with Lovett & Westmacott, Barristers & Solicitors and is an expert in the field of administrative law, advising a number of tribunals. Ms. Westmacott is the vice-chair of the Safety Standards Appeal Tribunal and a current member of Law Society of B.C. credentials committee. She has made important contributions to the B.C. government's Administrative Justice Project, which resulted in extensive reforms to the law and practice in the province. Ms. Westmacott volunteers as a legal advisor for the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and for animal-rescue organizations.

Clark Murray Roberts is a partner with Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and the firm's chief representative at its Beijing, China office where he is instrumental in promoting an improved understanding of Canada's cultural and legal background. Mr. Roberts specializes in strategic public policy and regulatory analysis and advocacy. He promotes and facilitates economic trade and investment opportunities between China and Canada, while bolstering cultural and social understanding between them. Mr. Roberts is a popular speaker at outbound investment forums and client meetings alike.

Geoffrey Stuart Moyse is the acting assistant deputy attorney general with the Legal Services Branch in the Ministry of Justice. A recognized expert in Aboriginal law in Canada, Mr. Moyse has been a key part of the legal team on many treaty and other legal matters, including the Nisga'a Treaty where he was one of the principal architects of key treaty provisions, which have become the template for subsequent treaties in B.C.

Deanna Grace Ludowicz practises with Ludowicz Mellett Law Corporation in Grand Forks. She is a member of the CBABC and is the chair of its professional development committee. Ms. Ludowicz also is a director with the Legal Services Society Board and is involved in local community organizations such as the Rotary Club and Grand Forks Art Gallery.

Kerry Lynn Simmons is a managing partner with Cook Roberts LLP and practises law in the areas of employment, estate, real estate, professional negligence, family and commercial disputes. She is the past president of the CBABC, and director of the national board of directors, CBA national finance committee. Ms. Simmons taught civil procedure at UVic Law School and has been a leader in professional development with the Victoria bar. She has been involved with British Columbia Youth Parliament for more than a decade, mentoring young people in community service and the parliamentary system of government.

Timothy Edmund McGee is the chief executive officer of the Law Society of B.C. and recently served as moderator for B.C.'s two Justice Summits. Mr. McGee has served as president of Bell ExpressVu, chief legal officer of Bell Canada and vice-president, and general counsel and corporate secretary of AT&T Canada Inc. Born and raised in Victoria, Mr. McGee was educated at Harvard University and University of Ottawa Law School. He served two years as executive assistant to B.C.'s Attorney General and has competed internationally for Harvard University in rowing.

Media Contact:

Lori Deluca
Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 953-3196