Lawyers

Eliza Lynn Brown Associate

Eliza articled with Bernard LLP and joined the firm as an associate in September 2021. She practices in the areas of maritime, employment, human rights, and personal injury law.

She has appeared before the Provincial Court of British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Eliza obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia in 2020, where she was awarded the Harvey T. Strosberg Essay Prize for the best student essay on class actions in Canada. At law school, Eliza was the President of Legal Education Outreach, which aims to inspire high school students to pursue a legal education.

Representative Cases

Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited v. Catherwood Towing Ltd., et al., 2025 CanLII 44339 (SCC): Acted as co-counsel for Catherwood Towing Ltd. (“Catherwood”) and successfully defended a Supreme Court of Canada leave application, thereby bringing to an end the litigation by a barge owner for damage to their barge while under tow.  The Supreme Court of Canada in denying leave did not accept that the case was of public importance, which would have justified the granting of leave.

Southern Railway of British Columbia Limited v. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, 2024 FCA 175: Acted as co-counsel for DP World Logistics Canada Inc. (“DP World”) and successfully defended an appeal of a decision setting aside an order before the Federal Court of Appeal. As a result, the order for DP World to produce documents, which was made following the application of the wrong legal test and in breach of the principles of procedural justice, remained quashed.

Kovacs v. City of Maple Ridge (No. 2), 2023 BCHRT 158: Acted as counsel for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”), which intervened in a human rights matter involving a blind claimant. Introduced expert evidence that was relied on by the BC Human Rights Tribunal. The respondent was found to have breached the Human Rights Code, and the claimant received $35,000 for injury to dignity, feelings, and self-respect.

Kovacs v. City of Maple Ridge, 2022 BCHRT 96: Acted as counsel for the CNIB, which sought to intervene in a human rights matter involving a blind claimant. The BC Human Rights Tribunal granted CNIB’s application to intervene.

The Owners, Strata Plan BCS 1871 v. WCS Waste Control Systems Inc., 2022 BCPC 175: Acted as lead counsel for the claimant strata, which sought damages for breach of contract after its waste management company failed to pick up garbage on schedule. The Provincial Court accepted the claimant’s arguments that the claim was made within the limitation period and that an adverse inference should be drawn from the defendant’s failure to call a key witness. The Provincial Court awarded the strata damages in the amount of $26,449.38, which was the total amount claimed.

Professional and Other Affiliations

• Called to the Bar of British Columbia, 2021
• MIABC, Legislative Committee Chair
• Young CMLA Committee, Western Region Vice-Chair
• CBA Maritime Law Section Executive, Vice-Chair
• CBABC Maritime Law Section Executive, Law & Policy Liaison
• Canadian Defence Lawyers Young Lawyers Committee, Member

Author and Speaker

• Moderator, Canadian Defence Lawyers Young Lawyers Practical Skills Webinar, 2025
• “Water Lots and Reconciliation - Implications from the Ladysmith Marina court decision” (2024) 22:7 Western Mariner 35
• Panelist, CNIB’s Addressing Discrimination in the Workplace Workshop, 2024
• “Covenants to Insure” (2022) BC Tugboat 8
• “Federal Policy and the West Coast in 2022” (2022) 19:12 Western Mariner 45

Other Interests

When she is not in the office, Eliza enjoys exploring local parks and spending time with friends and family.

Areas of Practice

• Admiralty and Maritime
• Litigation
• Employment Law
• Personal Injury
• Health Law