Firm News

Peter Swanson is now listed as an Arbitrator with the China Maritime Arbitration Commission (“CMAC”)

February 27th, 2019

CMAC was established in 1959 and “… has been committed to building a team of elite arbitrators with strong work ethics and substantial relevant experience.”  In accordance with that philosophy Bernard LLP partner, Peter Swanson, was appointed as arbitrator with CMAC.  The appointment is effective from September 1, 2018 and extends through to April 30, 2020, subject to renewal. … more »

David Jarrett and Glen Krueger Successfully Defend Environmental Clean-Up Claim

February 5th, 2019

The Federal Court recently issued an important decision regarding whether the Ship-Source Oil Pollution Fund (“SOPF”) can recover for pollution clean-up costs from a company (or its’ principal shareholder) that was not the actual owner of a barge, but that remained, through inadvertence, the registered owner: see The Administrator of the Ship-Source Oil Pollution Fund v. Dr. Jim Halvorson Medical more »

Elyn Underhill Joins Bernard LLP as Associate Counsel

October 12th, 2018

The Partners of Bernard LLP are pleased to announce that Elyn Underhill has joined the firm as associate counsel.  Elyn has over 25 years of experience practicing in the field of maritime law, including marine insurance, ship construction contracts, charter parties, and marina leases as well as related litigation.  The Partners have worked opposite Elyn over the years and are… more »

CMLA West Coast Open Meeting

July 11th, 2018

Peter Swanson was one of the key speakers at the recent Canadian Maritime Law Association west coast open meeting conducted in Vancouver in the context of the society’s annual general meeting. Peter’s presentation was an update on oil spill related legal issues and included a review of the following: powers of inspection and investigation and the important distinction between the… more »

Harry Ormiston joins Bernard LLP as our newest litigation associate

June 4th, 2018

The Partners of Bernard LLP are delighted to welcome Harry Ormiston as the newest member of our litigation team.  Harry articled with Bernard LLP after graduating with both a Juris Doctor and LLM from Bond University in Australia.  Harry is a welcomed addition to the litigation side of the firm and will work closely with our senior lawyers to provide… more »

The Partners are delighted to welcome Jason Hicks, our newest business lawyer, to the Firm

November 7th, 2017

The Partners of Bernard LLP are delighted to welcome Jason Hicks as the newest member of our legal team. Jason brings a wealth of legal and business experience to the firm having practiced as in-house counsel for over a decade with significant contributors to the Vancouver market, including the Vancouver International Airport Authority and most recently Pacific NorthWest LNG. “Jason… more »

Tom Beasley speaks at SFU Labour Studies Program

October 31st, 2017

On October 14, 2017, Tom Beasley was a panelist at a conference organized by the SFU Labour Studies Program at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, in Vancouver. Tom responded to a keynote address by Michael Mitchell one of the Special Advisors to the Changing Workplaces Review commissioned by the Ontario government, and gave an update on the BC Law Institute’s more »