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Business disputes can put owners, shareholders and operations at serious risk. Our commercial litigation team understands your competitive environment and your goals. We'll respect your need to negotiate an early agreement or go all the way to trial and beyond.

商业纠纷常将业主、股东和业务置于险境。我们的商业诉讼团队熟悉客户所处的竞争环境,也明了客户的目标。不论客户需要谈判并尽早和解,还是需要一路走到庭审,甚至庭审以后的诉讼程序,我们都尊重客户所需。

Our lawyers offer sharp insight and extensive expertise to ensure that matters are resolved efficiently and effectively.

We represent clients in mediations, at arbitrations, in hearings and in court every day. We understand that litigation can be costly, and we respect the fact that some of our clients want to resolve matters quickly and privately.

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.

Our 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.

凭借敏锐的洞察力和广泛的专业知识,我们的律师会确保问题快速有效的解决。

我们日常代理客户参加调解、仲裁、法庭听证、以及庭审。我们明白诉讼费用高昂,也尊重部分客户迅速私下解决问题的愿望。

我们解决争议的方法,是一开始就以庭审为前提。高明的诉讼策略总是预测案件在法官或陪审团前辩论时会用哪些招数、会出现哪些曲折变化。不管争议是庭外和解还是开庭审判,我们的律师都会将策略建立在最有把握的立场上。

无论是和大中型企业,还是和业主自营企业,我们的团队都有合作的丰富经验。我们服务的客户需求主要包括:

  • 合同纠纷;
  • 股东纠纷,包括反欺压股东行为的诉讼和股东代位诉讼;
  • 证券诉讼;
  • 地产诉讼;
  • 建筑诉讼,包括建筑商留置权诉讼;
  • 遗产继承诉讼;
  • 劳动关系诉讼;
  • 产品责任诉讼;
  • 担保权的行使,包括行使抵押权及债券持有人诉讼; 以及
  • 与市政府的纠纷。

Services 服务范围

  • Representation in mediations and arbitrations.
  • 代理客户参加调解和仲裁。
  • Representation in court hearings and in trials, including appellate work.
  • 代理客户参加法庭听证会和庭审,包括上诉。
  • Negotiating contract disputes including those involving leases, finance, employment and international issues.
  • 就合同纠纷(涉及问题包括租赁、融资、劳动关系、跨国法律问题,等等)进行谈判。
  • Work involving libel and slander, including protection from the risks associated with defamation.
  • 涉及口头和书面诽谤的工作,包括防控与诽谤有关的风险。
  • Negotiating with debtors, creditors and collecting debt on behalf of businesses. Includes Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act matters, and issues relating to insolvency and foreclosures.
  • 代理企业与债务人、债权人进行谈判,代企业追债,包括适用《公司债权人安排法》的案件,以及与破产和行使抵押权有关的案件。
  • Injunctions, which are sometimes necessary to prohibit proceedings such as purchase and sale of businesses.
  • 向法庭申请禁制令(有时有必要申请禁制令以防止某些行为,例如买卖企业)。
  • Representation in shareholder disputes, including oppression remedies, disputes over distributions and share structure, and family and inheritance issues.
  • 代理客户处理股东纠纷,包括反欺压股东行为的诉讼、收益分配和股权结构纠纷,以及家族和继承相关问题。
  • Representation for directors and officers of companies whose assets are at risk or who are held responsible for major loss.
  • 为其资产面临风险、或对重大损失负有责任的公司董事和管理人员提供代理。
  • Obtaining civil search warrants on behalf of clients involved in litigation, including obtaining electronic evidence.
  • • 在诉讼过程中,代理客户获得民事搜查令,包括获取电子数据证据。
  • Defending BC businesses against foreign judgments.
  • 针对外国法院判决,为不列颠哥伦比亚省的公司提供答辩。
  • Helping BC businesses find trusted lawyers in other jurisdictions worldwide through our membership in TAGLaw international.
  • 利用TAGLaw国际组织成员身份,帮助不列颠哥伦比亚省企业在世界范围内其他司法管辖区寻找信得过的律师。

Typical Situations 典型事例

  • A business partnership dissolves after 20 years, and disputes arise over who gets which assets, including investments, trademark rights and client portfolios.
  • A local manufacturer purchases a unique component for a large piece of machinery from a supplier in Europe. The supplier, however, shuts down its business, leaving the manufacturer in jeopardy of losing the machinery orders he pre-sold.
  • A British Columbia mining company is accused of violating several statutes, including tax and tariff regulations, in another country. Expansion is inhibited and shares are devalued.

Litigation Support & E-Discovery Services

Because of its intangible form, transience and volume, electronic information needs to be treated differently than its paper counterparts.

To make matters even more challenging, the data is saved in multiple forms and in multiple places — from traditional file storage to email servers, the Web, smartphones, and other locations. When litigation arises, the task of preserving, collecting, processing, and reviewing this data can be daunting and expensive.

The Litigation Support & E-Discovery Services Department works in tandem with our lawyers in managing all electronically stored information data files and large-scale litigation. Our litigation support professionals manage the technical challenges of the e-discovery life cycle, which allows our lawyers to focus on reviewing and presenting the most relevant documents.

The investigative processes associated with e-discovery can be more complex and time-sensitive than in other legal matters. Using our proven and cutting-edge technologies, our litigation support professionals identify key documents and facts to assist our lawyers in developing the strongest possible case In addition, our Litigation Support & E-Discovery team advises on data management issues before litigation arises and provides efficient and economical solutions to control e-discovery costs after litigation develops.

Services

  • Data management strategies
  • Metadata discovery and analysis
  • Data remediation
  • Litigation support and dispute resolution
  • Information organization
  • Records & risk management

典型事例

  • 合作了20年后,商业合伙面临解散,就谁该分得哪些资产(包括投资、商标权和客户)产生纠纷。
  • 本地生产商从欧洲供应商购买了大型机械的独特组件。然而,供应商的企业关门,生产商面临损失此前已下的机械订单的风险。
  • 不列颠哥伦比亚省的矿业公司在他国遭控违反了多项法律,包括税务和关税规定,由此生意扩张受限,股票贬值。

诉讼支持及电子取证服务

由于电子证据没有物理形态、不易持久且内容巨大,不能像处理纸质证据那样处理电子证据。

从传统的文件存储设施,到电子邮件服务器、万维网、智能手机和其他地方,数据往往以各种形式保存在不同的地方,这些都使电子取证变得更有挑战性。在诉讼中,保存、收集、处理和审阅此类数据的任务可能让人望而生畏,并且费用昂贵。

我们的诉讼支持及电子取证服务部门与我们的律师密切合作,管理以电子形式保存的信息资料及大型诉讼。我们专业的诉讼支持人员负责应对整个电子取证过程中的技术挑战,让我们的律师专注于审阅并展示最相关的文件。

涉及电子取证的调查过程可能比其他法律事务更复杂,更具有时效性。我们的诉讼支持和电子取证团队利用成熟的尖端技术识别关键文件和事实,帮助我们的律师建立最牢靠的事实和法律基础。此外,我们的诉讼支持和电子取证团队在诉讼前就对数据信息管理提供意见和建议,并在诉讼开始后提供高效和经济的解决方案来控制电子取证成本。

服务内容

  • 数据管理策略
  • 元数据披露和分析
  • 数据修复
  • 诉讼支持和争议解决
  • 信息整理
  • 管理记录和风险

Notable Cases 案例圈点

Commercial Litigation

  • Defended a BC business in a three-week trial against allegations of breach of contract, unjust enrichment and misappropriation of funds.
  • Defended a Crown Corporation against allegations that it had caused a plaintiff’s initial public offering to fail – a case that involved an alleged $30 million in damages.
  • Acted on behalf of a large securities firm in an Alberta-based dispute. Our client was granted the entire $500,000 debenture sought.
  • Obtained an Anton Piller order (civil search warrant) and worldwide Mareva injunction in a contentious matrimonial dispute involving numerous foreign judgments and assets.

Contract Disputes

  • Represented a law firm in a Legal Profession Act hearing over the enforcement of a significant contingency fee agreement. This case also involved the valuation of a large business.

Creditor Issues

  • Represented the liquidator of a charitable organization in ground breaking litigation to sell properties to satisfy outstanding claims for sexual abuse perpetrated by individual Christian Brothers at the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland. The liquidator ultimately made a recovery of $19 million by way of settlement.
  • Represented defendants in litigation following the collapse of two large financial institutions: Eron Mortgage Corporation and the Legion Credit Union.

Directors and Officers Liability

  • Represented the plaintiff in an oppression trial over shares in a company that owned a successful taxi business and significant hotel assets. This case also involved a large business valuation.
  • Represented the founder of a technology company in an oppression proceeding relating to the use of anti-dilution shares.
  • Represented Kuehne & Nagel International at the Supreme Court of Canada in a landmark decision that allows third parties to claim the benefit of an exclusion clause in a contract to which they were not a party. This case also explored the boundaries between contract and tort law, and is recognized as the seminal decision in the ongoing debate concerning vicarious liability.
  • Represented an employer before the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the British Columbia Court of Appeal concerning vicarious liability for an independent contractor.
  • Represented the defendants in the combined trial of corporate oppression and derivative actions in Discovery Enterprises v. Ebco Industries.

商业诉讼

  • 不列颠哥伦比亚省的企业遭控违反合同、不当得利和非法挪用资金。在为期三周的庭审中,我们为其提供辩护。
  • 国有公司被控致使原告的首次公开股票发行失败,我们为其辩护。此案中诉求的损害赔偿金额高达3000万加元。
  • 为大型证券公司代理阿尔伯塔省的纠纷。我方客户全额获判其诉求的50万加元债券。
  • 在涉及众多国外判决和财产的激烈的婚姻家庭纠纷中,为客户申请到了民事搜查令和世界范围内的财产冻结令。

合同纠纷

  • 代理某律师事务所参加申请强制履行高额风险代理协议的听证会(适用《法律职业法》)。此案也涉及大型企业的估价。

债权人纠纷

  • 在开创性的诉讼中,代理慈善组织的清算人申请出售有关物业,以偿付纽芬兰的凯袖山(Mount Cashel)孤儿院遭基督兄弟会个人成员性侵受害人的索赔。清算人最终通过和解方式收回了1900万加元。
  • 在埃隆抵押贷款公司(Eron Mortgage Corporation)和览众信合(the Legion Credit Union)两家大型金融机构倒闭后的诉讼中担任被告律师。

董事及高级职员的责任

  • 在反欺压股东行为案的庭审中代理原告,争议焦点为公司股权。该公司拥有成功的出租车业务和可观的酒店资产。此案也涉及大企业估价。
  • 在反股东欺压行为案中代理科技公司的创始人,事关反稀释股权手段的使用。
  • 代理德迅国际 (Kuehne & Nagel International) 参加加拿大最高法院的诉讼。该案中,加拿大最高法院做出了一项里程碑式的裁决,允许非合同一方的第三方诉求合同中的责任排除条款的利益。该案也探索了合同法和侵权法之间的界限。在关于雇主责任的论辩中,该案目前仍被公认为开创性的案件。
  • 在不列颠哥伦比亚省高等法院和不列颠哥伦比亚省上诉法院代理雇主,事关为独立承包商承担的雇主责任。
  • Discovery Enterprises Ebco Industries一案中,法庭将反欺压股东案和股东代位诉讼案进行了合并庭审,我们在庭审中代理被告。

25 Lawyers Recognized as Leaders in their field by Benchmark Canada® 2022

Benchmark Canada® 2022

Harper Grey recognized as "Consistently Recommended" in the area of Litigation – Commercial Insurance by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®, 2019-2023

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®

Harper Grey lawyers receive 58 rankings from Best Lawyers® in Canada 2022

Best Lawyers® in Canada

Harper Grey receives 51 rankings from Best Lawyers® in Canada 2021

Best Lawyers® in Canada

Harper Grey recognized as a "Leading Law Firm" regionally in the area of Commercial Litigation by Chambers Canada®, 2020-2023

Chambers Canada®

24 Harper Grey lawyers recognized for litigation expertise by Benchmark Canada®, 2021

Benchmark Canada®

Harper Grey receives highest firm ranking as a “Highly Recommended” local litigation law firm in British Columbia from Benchmark Canada® 2014 - 2021

Benchmark Canada®

John Sullivan recognized as a "Leader in His Field" in the area of Dispute Resolution (British Columbia) by Chambers Canada®, 2016-2020

Chambers Canada®

19 Harper Grey lawyers recognized as “Leading Practitioners” by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®, 2021

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®

29 Harper Grey lawyers recognized across 15 specialty areas by Best Lawyers® in Canada, 2020

Best Lawyers® in Canada

Harper Grey recognized as a "Leading Law Firm" regionally in the area of Dispute Resolution by Chambers Canada®, 2017-2020

Chambers Canada®

Martindale Hubell® recognizes 13 Harper Grey lawyers across 27 practice areas

Martindale Hubell®

Harper Grey receives the TAGLaw Membership Award of Distinction acknowledging 15 years of outstanding service, 2017

May 11, 2017

Harper Grey recognized as a Top 10 Regional Firm in British Columbia, Alberta and the Territories by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, 2012 and 2014

Canadian Lawyer Magazine

“is particularly active representing clients hailing from the financial services, pharmaceutical and natural resources sectors” “also advise clients on shareholder disputes, bankruptcy proceedings and fraud allegations.”

Chambers Canada® 2023

“Vancouver-based team is acclaimed for its specialist offerings in the fields of securities litigation and professional liability.”

Chambers Canada® 2023

“a popular choice in British Columbia for single-plaintiff and class action litigation, being well equipped to resolve disputes for clients of all sizes, from individuals to multi-national companies”

Chambers Canada® 2023

“They were amazing to work with! They were incredibly competent and resolution based. They kept me centered in the midst of the storm and got me a great result in very short time frame.”

Benchmark Canada® 2022

“Harper Grey has a 100-year-old profile in this market,” testifies one senior-level peer, adding, “but the talent there now is mostly all younger than me!”

Benchmark Canada® 2022

"They are very strong technically and can be aggressive in a positive way, as well as personable."

Chambers Canada® 2021

John Sullivan and Salman Bhura "truly saved my life through my case! I had no choice but to trust them and they exceeded my expectations. They were outstanding at navigating and guiding me at a time that was like climbing Mount Everest. They worked endlessly to get me a quick resolution. I’m so grateful to them.”

Benchmark Canada® 2019

"The Harper Grey team is a well-oiled machine. All the lawyers I deal with are well-trained and hardworking. They communicate well and are always available for questions."

Benchmark Canada®

"Roselle Wu is an outstanding lawyer in many respects. She is extremely knowledgeable, easily gains the trust of her clients, and has the respect of the courts as well as opposing counsel and clients."

Benchmark Canada® 2021

“It’s lawyers have a sense of wanting to help their clients, provide successful results and make their community a better place.”

Chambers Canada® 2020

“The team as a whole was wonderful and of immense assistance.”

Chambers Canada® 2020

“Appreciate their ability to marshal a variety of resources quickly and efficiently.”

Chambers Canada® 2020

“Incredibly strong skill set, knowledge of litigation and strategic, and keen ability to solve problems.”

Benchmark Canada® 2020

“These lawyers are all subject matter experts, and leader in their field, whose knowledge and skill are matched by their excellent client service.”

Benchmark Canada® 2020

“Una is an extraordinary lawyer. She keeps us up to date, provides excellent and pragmatic advice, and knows us and our legal issues. She also has incredible judgment and memory."

Benchmark Canada® 2019

"Una Radoja has a very broad depth of environmental and contract law."

Benchmark Canada® 2019

“This team has provided outstanding legal service. They are prompt, responsive, and communicative. They are strong strategists and provide well researched, experienced legal advice. We work with many firms, and Harper Grey stands out. One member of the team remembers every interaction, memo, pleading and document. They understand a very complicated file and address it with ease and candor. We very much appreciate their strong advocacy.”

Benchmark Canada® 2019

“The firm is top notch. They have many lawyers specialized in medical defense work who are highly skilled in their legal acumen and practice management, but who also recognize the importance of carrying out their work in a practical, results-oriented manner. They actively look for ways to more efficiently partner with their clients for effective management of the work, while at the same time not weakening their excellent service delivery, their responsiveness, or their effectiveness in the work.”

Benchmark Canada® 2019

“The firm’s lawyers are principled and have deep integrity. Their work is thorough and of consistent high quality.”

Benchmark Canada® 2019

“Excellent response time, good talent from junior and intermediate to senior levels and reasonable service costs.”

Benchmark Canada® 2019

“A Vancouver staple, Harper Grey is perhaps the most BC-centric of the “highly recommended” firms, owing largely to the firm’s bench strength in several key areas.”

Benchmark Canada® 2018

“There was insight and nuance in how John Sullivan handled the case. He did it masterfully.”

Chambers Canada® 2016

“Harper Grey is one of the best firms in Vancouver. They have excellent service, knowledge and their cost structure is excellent.”

Benchmark Canada® 2017

“Rod Anderson is lauded for his enthusiastic client following and his track record of success.”

Benchmark Canada® 2015

“Every day it seems like I am dealing with someone at Harper Grey, and I always find them professional, courteous and effective.”

Benchmark Canada® 2017

“Peers vouch for Bryan Baynham’s acumen, addressing him as “a worthy opponent, good on his feet, very skilled and seasoned.”

Benchmark Canada® 2012

“They exceeded all my expectations. I am very satisfied with their work and very happy to recommend them.”

Chambers Canada® 2017

“John Sullivan attracts praise from market commentators for his ‘diligent and knowledgeable’ approach to a wide range of commercial matters.”

Chambers Canada® 2017

“Harper Grey has niches, and in those niches they are the best of the best.”

Benchmark Canada® 2017

“One source enthused about John Sullivan ‘His service to the client was exceptional’.”

Chambers Canada® 2017

“A lawyer who refers work to Harper Grey wrote it has ‘great service, a breadth of practice and I have never received a negative comment from referrals to the firm’.”

2014 Canadian Lawyer Magazine Stronger than Ever - Top Western & Northern Firms, September 1, 2014

“Bryan Baynham has a strong presence and remains active and upbeat. I always seem to have something going with him, confirms one peer.”

Benchmark Canada® 2016

“Rod Anderson – he’s got a reputation for success, he’s got a client following, and he just wins.”

Benchmark Canada® 2013

“The firm has real quality people, and they’ve put three people on the bench there in six years.”

Benchmark Canada® 2015

“Recognition remains vibrant for firm figurehead Bryan Baynham, a veteran of commercial law as well as niche areas such as real estate, defamation, media and privacy.”

Benchmark Canada® 2017

“Harper Grey lawyers are ‘dedicated to their clients and focused on finding and implementing practical solutions for them. The lawyers are prompt, intelligent and insightful, and provide a high level of customer service’.”

2012 Canadian Lawyer Magazine Embracing Regionalism - Canadian Lawyer’s Top 10 firms from B.C., Alberta, and the Territories are in the Sweet Spot Right Now, October 1, 2012

“Bryan Baynham exemplifies the ways in which this firm has set itself apart. He attends to a variety of practice areas that he has really cornered a market on, like aviation and also defamation and media law.”

Benchmark Canada® 2016

“Harper Grey is a trial lawyer’s firm, and they’ve got a big deep bench of well-trained litigators.”

Benchmark Canada® 2017

“Harper Grey has a stellar pedigree as a litigation firm, and they’ve put a ton of people on the bench, observes one peer.”

Benchmark Canada® 2014

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