British Columbia

Firm overview

The bright minds working on the world’s most important challenges and interesting opportunities need more than a law firm. They need true partners and allies who understand the complexity of what they’re tackling, who can help build vision and strategy, and bring a team of experts who get it. That’s MT + Co. In 2009, we started a law firm based on some ground-breaking principles: that a law firm can care about sharing values with clients and can boldly say their purpose is to help people do good things; that important law isn’t the sole purview of Big Law and that a focused team of passionate professionals can get you as far (or further) than the large national and international firms; that you are a client with a cause, not an invoice number; and that you should like your lawyer.

Since then, we’ve worked exclusively with two types of clients: forward-thinking businesses and Indigenous organizations on the cutting edge of reconciliation. We represent leaders who dare to dream big. Our integrated team supports their game-changing work by breaking down roadblocks and building roadmaps for the large and important opportunities our clients are chasing. From vision to strategy to execution, we assemble a specialized team that gets the right things done. Because what you are doing matters—to you, to us, and the world.

MT+Co.’s Litigation + Dispute Resolution Group

Our Corporate Commercial Litigation work includes complex contractual disputes, shareholder and transactional disputes, corporate governance matters, and business torts. We also have experience representing clients before a broad range of regulatory and administrative bodies and in alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration.

On the Indigenous Law side of our Litigation practice, our group assists clients in the areas of Aboriginal rights and title, governance, Indian reserve issues, mutual benefit agreement interpretation and implementation, regulatory matters, and the development of strategic approaches to the participation of First Nations in consultation and negotiation with the Crown and industry.

Our Litigation + Dispute Resolution Group has a strong voice in firm management and decision-making, which means that we have the ability to structure our service offering in a way that aligns with our values and the values of our clients. While our firm began with the two fundamental pillars of Business Law and Indigenous Law, the addition of our Litigation + Dispute Resolution Group has allowed us an even greater depth of collaboration, expertise, and seamless client service.

Many law firms view Litigation as its own silo. In contrast, we work collaboratively with our solicitors across all practice groups at almost every stage to ensure issues are identified, and effective resolutions are achieved, early on. Collectively, the members of our team have the deep legal experience needed by our most forward-thinking and sophisticated clients –bringing past learning and insight to bear on their challenges. At the same time, we are diverse, progressive, and imaginative –we do not get “boxed in” by the law and instead find creative solutions that continually advance our clients’ interests.

Firm overview

As a leading business law firm, McMillan LLP serves public, private and not-for-profit clients across key industries in Canada, the United States and internationally. With recognized expertise and acknowledged leadership in major business sectors, we provide solutions-oriented legal advice through our offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal.

To help organizations stay ahead, we provide exceptional industry insights in transportation, technology and technology transactions, infrastructure and construction, and natural resources and energy. Whether it’s a cross-border transaction, a complicated private equity deal, complex real estate financing, or a bet-the-company lawsuit or regulatory dispute, by fostering a supportive workplace culture, McMillan’s 300+ lawyers serve clients with excellence and responsiveness, delivering the real-time solutions they need.

Our firm values - respect, teamwork, commitment, client service and professional excellence - are at the heart of McMillan’s commitment to serve our clients, our local communities and the legal profession. Among other industry and professional accolades, we are proud to be named Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2024, one of only two law firms recognized in this prestigious competition.

About our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group

With an impressive track record in domestic and cross-border litigation, McMillan’s lawyers are recognized for their creativity and effectiveness in bringing disputes to satisfactory conclusions, both inside and outside the courts. And with specialists in key areas such as competition, intellectual property, real estate, securities and others, our litigators always strive to deliver a complete solution—no matter the nature of your corporate or commercial disputes.

As experienced litigators, we always assess risk and opportunities before advising clients on the likelihood of success and helping them weigh their options. We also understand that litigation is not always the preferred option, and help clients pursue a full range of resolution avenues including early negotiated settlements and alternative dispute resolution methods. If we proceed to court, however, we are recognized for our ability to tenaciously advance our clients’ commercial interests.

Firm overview

Founded in 1907, Harper Grey LLP is a Vancouver, BC based full-service law firm with a large and experienced commercial litigation group. Our firm has a long tradition of excellence and is one of the most well-established law firms in Western Canada.

Harper Grey’s litigators offer sharp insight and extensive expertise to ensure that matters are resolved efficiently and effectively either by agreement or through the courts. Our approach to dispute resolution begins with the premise that a matter will go to trial. The best litigation strategies anticipate every angle, twist and turn that may crop up if a dispute is argued before a judge and possibly a jury. Our lawyers strategize from the strongest possible position, regardless of whether the issues are resolved before or after court.

Harper Grey’s litigators have an exceptional reputation. They are committed to delivering the highest quality legal work and counsel and many of them are repeatedly recognized among the top practitioners in their areas of expertise by Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers in Canada, Chambers Canada and Lexpert.

Administrative Law: Public scrutiny over ethical issues for professionals has increased dramatically over the past several years. Harper Grey provides advice and assistance to professionals in their dealings with governance issues, ethical obligations and responsibilities, and represents them before a wider range of regulatory bodies.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring: Acting for individual and corporate debtors in financial difficulty, Harper Grey has the skill, insight and experience to resolve debt problems. The group also provides advice and representation to secured and unsecured creditors, receivers, liquidators, and trustees in bankruptcy.

Complex, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Complex claims that threaten a company’s survival present unique challenges, both in the courtroom and in the boardroom. Successful resolution of these claims therefore requires counsel who are not only effective as a courtroom advocate, but also have the necessary experience to provide sound strategic advice. Our lawyers have that experience and have handled some of Canada’s most significant, complex and challenging cases.

Commercial Litigation: This group has significant experience working with large corporations, medium-sized firms and owner-operated companies. Client needs served include: contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, including oppression remedies and derivative actions, securities litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation, including builders’ liens actions, estate litigation, employment litigation, products liability litigation, enforcement of security, including foreclosures and debenture holders’ actions, and municipal disputes.

Construction Law: Harper Grey takes a practical approach to disputes arising from the construction industry, enabling effective solutions in matters such as allegations of professional negligence, professional disciplinary matters, contractual disputes, leaking condominium issues, commercial real estate disputes and risk management advice.

Environmental Law: Clients seek Harper Grey’s advice on a wide range of environmental issues from contaminated sites to sick building syndrome to cross-border disputes. Harper Grey has senior, experienced counsel who provide a practical approach to the most complex environmental matters, including cost recovery actions, directors’ and officers’ liability, property development and transactions, and environmental insurance coverage issues.

Health Law: Harper Grey is the leader in civil litigation defence for medical practitioners in British Columbia and has been involved in all leading litigation regarding the standard of medical care, medical products, litigation consent issues and limitation issues.

Insurance Law: Harper Grey works with insurance companies and their insureds in all areas of insurance law. Members of the group have developed specialized expertise in various areas, such as: professional errors and omissions, commercial and personal general liability, property damage, directors’ and officers’ liability, life and disability insurance, defamation, subrogation, sexual abuse claims, and transportation related issues.

Professional Liability Defence: Harper Grey has, for many years, been the recognized leader in the defence of professionals facing liability issues. They act for doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects and engineers. They also provide administrative law advice for professionals facing disciplinary action.

Real Estate Law: This cross-disciplinary team of experienced legal advisors, are deeply invested in the success of their clients. Balancing high-level technical expertise with business savvy real-world experience they deliver results relating to commercial real estate issues including acquisitions/dispositions, commercial leasing, property development and real estate dispute resolution.

Securities Regulation & Litigation: We represent securities clients whose reputation, ability to operate, and share value are seriously threatened. Broker dealers, investment advisors, mutual fund salespeople, brokerage firms, public companies, directors and officers rely on our lawyers to resolve their securities law issues fairly and efficiently. Our lawyers handle securities matters involving both civil and criminal law. We take an objective, pragmatic view of your best options, and rely on strong, respectful relationships with authorities to negotiate a solution.

Workplace Law: We help organizations and individuals resolve employment law issues in a way that minimizes risk to business operations and reputation. The lawyers in this group all practice business litigation and are very experienced in matters relating to workplace law, such as corporate finance, white collar crime, human rights insurance and directors and officers liability.

Firm overview

Poulus Ensom Smith LLP is a litigation boutique located in downtown Vancouver focused on complex corporate, commercial and securities litigation as well as white-collar crime/enforcement matters. Our experienced team of lawyers approaches dispute resolution through a commercial lens: we have the technical expertise as well as extensive experience in corporate management, business law, securities disputes and regulatory/administrative investigations and enforcement proceedings. This unique mix allows our team to provide real value and ensure our clients’ business objectives are understood and achieved. The firm’s experience includes contract disputes, and shareholder disputes, securities litigation and enforcement proceedings, administrative law and regulatory prosecutions, professional negligence claims, injunctions, commercial arbitrations, appeals, and defamation claims.

The firm acts for public and private companies of all sizes across a broad range of indus-tries, with particular expertise acting for real estate developers (including Kingswood Properties), telecommunications companies (including TELUS), junior and operating mining companies, and any number of companies subject to regulation under the Securities Act. Further, and in addition to his commercial practice, Joe Ensom acts for Indigenous governments and individuals in litigious matters.

Poulus Ensom LLP was founded in February 2022 by Hein Poulus, KC, and Joseph (Joe) Ensom (Managing Partner). In March 2022, Laésha J. Smith (partner), and Kelly Ann Maw (senior associate) joined the firm, adding significant experience, skill and bench strength to the existing practice. In January 2023, Kelly Ann Maw was promoted to partner and Laésha J. Smith became a name partner resulting in our rebranding, as of May 1 2023, to Poulus Ensom Smith LLP.

The firm has continued to grow quickly but selectively resulting in the addition of Kyle Thompson as a partner as well as four top quality associates, which totals nine lawyers at the firm. We also hired two law students from UBC and TRU to “summer” with our firm who have since accepted positions with us as articling students following their comple-tion of law school in spring 2024.