October 13th, 2022
The partners of Bernard LLP are delighted to announce the recent addition of a new lawyer to the Firm. Buck Hughes has joined our litigation team to focus on maritime, employment and personal injury law, while also providing assistance to our business law group. Buck was called to the BC Bar in 2016.
Buck brings high quality skills and experience… more »
October 12th, 2022
Following the May 2021 AGM of the Vancouver Maritime Museum Society (VMM), Tom Beasley was elected President of the VMM Board. Tom replaced Peter Bernard who had been the VMM President for 8 years. Tom led a change in the diversity of the VMM Board members adding 3 indigenous women under 35, all who are involved in maritime activities… more »
September 23rd, 2022
Bernard LLP was successful in defending Catherwood Towing in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in a dispute over an indemnity provision.
This litigation arose from the grounding of two barges while under tow by Catherwood Towing. The supplier of the barges claimed damages in an amount exceeding $800,000. Bernard LLP defended Catherwood Towing against this claim by arguing to… more »
September 15th, 2022
Peter Swanson recently spoke at the 2022 Insolvency Institute of Canada conference held in Kelowna, B.C. from September 8-11. Peter was on a four person panel entitled: “The Intertidal Zone of Insolvency – Where the CCAA meets Admiralty Law.” Peter was the sole maritime lawyer in a sea of insolvency professionals and provided some background regarding the arrest and… more »
September 6th, 2022
Peter Swanson recently spoke at an on-line seminar hosted jointly by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CEITAC), the Vancouver Maritime Arbitrators Association (VMAA) and the CIETAC North America Arbitration Center entitled “The Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements and the Impact of Sanctions on International Arbitration.” Peter spoke on the question of enforcement of agreements to arbitration under Canadian… more »
August 30th, 2022
The partners of Bernard LLP are delighted to announce the recent addition of two new lawyers to the Firm. Jaden Lau has joined our solicitor’s practice and will work closely with our senior solicitors to provide high quality and timely advice to our business law clients, including those working within the local marine sector. Nicholas Wilson has joined our litigation… more »
June 8th, 2022
Jason Hicks recently presented at the Nautical Institute’s Maritime Arctic conference, held in Victoria, British Columbia on May 12 – 13, 2022. Entitled “Of Russians, Rocks and Rescues: Some Legal and Public Policy Considerations on Canadian Arctic Maritime Transportation”, Jason’s presentation applied legal perspectives to several current topics and was well received by the conference attendees.
… more »
July 29th, 2021
Peter recently presented on the topics of “institutional versus ad hoc arbitration” and the “impact of arbitration clauses found in transport documents” at the 2021 China High-Level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration hosted by the China Maritime Arbitration Commission (“CMAC”) in Beijing on July 16, 2021. With Covid 19 restrictions travel was not a real option, so a number… more »
February 16th, 2021
United Yacht Transport LLC v. Blue Horizon Corporation, 2020 FC 1067: This case dealt with a claim for unpaid freight and fees owing to the plaintiff, a yacht transporter, for transporting the defendant yacht the Knight Ship from Florida to British Columbia. Following arrival in British Columbia the yacht was arrested for the unpaid amounts. David Jarrett and Harry … more »
February 8th, 2021
We are pleased to announce that Lorna Pawluk, who has practiced in association with Bernard LLP since 2006, was appointed on February 4, 2021 by the provincial government to the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC. Lorna will be an extremely valuable addition to the Board bringing her extensive experience dealing with occupational health and safety and workplace safety matters… more »