John practises primarily in the areas of commercial and civil litigation.  He has appeared before BC Courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. 

John often lectures on commercial litigation topics and has been published in the Canadian Bar Review, the Washington State Bar News and other legal periodicals.

Representative Client Work

• Acting as plaintiff's counsel for a minority shareholder in an 8-week corporate oppression trial
• Appealing the valuation of a private company to the Supreme Court of BC
• Defending a private company against a petition for liquidation under the court’s just and equitable jurisdiction, brought by a minority shareholder
• Acting for a private company in contested proceedings relating to the rectification of its share register
• Acting for a large corporation in a 7-week trial relating to allegations of breach of a commercial contract
• Acting for an insolvent company in the Court of Appeal in proceedings relating to its proposal to creditors
• Acting for the liquidator of a national charity in contested proceedings relating to the eligibility of its charitable assets
• Acting for a corporate executive in a 9-week trial in which a minority shareholder alleged the executive had acted oppressively
• Acting for stock brokers, lawyers and other professionals in various contested matters

Professional & Civic Activities

• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Canadian Bar Association British Columbia, Civil Litigation subsection
• John has been active as a volunteer for several years in minor hockey. He is presently the assistant coach of a Novice boys' team.
• His published articles include:
• Oakwell Engineering v. Enernorth Industries: Questions of Burden and Bias in the Enforcement of Foreign Judgments, Canadian Bar Review, April 2007
• Business Judgment Cases Differ in Ontario, Delaware, Lawyers Weekly, August 2003
• The Developing Law on Internet Jurisdiction, The Advocate, July 2003
• Discovery Enterprises Inc. v. Ebco Industries Ltd.: a Case Study, presentation for the Canadian Institute's Advanced Forum on Directors and Officers Liability, June 2003
• Internet Jurisdiction Decisions Diverge, Lawyers Weekly, January 2003
• Enforcing your Washington State Judgment in Canada, Washington State Bar News, May 2001
• The Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in BC: Ten Years after Morguard, The Advocate, May 2001
• More than the Shirt of your Back: New Exemptions for Debtors under the Court Order Enforcement Act , The Advocate, May 1998

Background

John was born and raised in Vancouver. He enjoys playing hockey and skiing.