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Most professionals are required to abide by laws, regulations and rules affecting their practice.

As a professional, you rely on your reputation to sustain the career you’ve built. Administrative law issues such as certification problems, complaints or investigations can put that reputation in peril, impeding work and affecting your livelihood

Professionals often grapple with serious ethical issues – issues that can become problems that threaten their reputations, security and practices.  We have helped clients with almost every type of regulatory issue.

We defend individuals and work with liability insurers, professional associations and organizations to determine the best options.

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

Public scrutiny over ethical issues for professionals has increased dramatically over the past several years. We provide advice and assistance to professionals in their dealings with governance issues, ethical obligations and responsibilities, and represent them before a wide range of regulatory bodies.

 

Did you know that Harper Grey publishes the Canadian Administrative Law Blog?  Stay current with new case law and emerging issues – read more here.

Services

  • Providing advice regarding investigations and inquiries by administrative authorities.
  • Advocating for clients before administrative tribunals such as the Health Professions Review Board.
  • Representing clients in Judicial Review matters.
  • Appealing the decisions of administrative bodies.
  • Advising professional organizations regarding liability insurance programs, communication to members and responses to new rules and regulations.
  • Constitutional and Charter challenges.
  • Defamation, libel, slander and breach of trust matters.
  • Advising clients regarding billing audits by the Medical Services Commission, insurance companies and other organizations.
  • Human rights complaints and representation before the Human Rights Tribunal.
  • Privacy and matters relating to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.
  • Helping clients with issues relating to government and public bodies.
  • Professional errors and omissions insurance claims.
  • Workers Compensation Board issues.
  • Reinstatement of professional practice applications.

Typical Situations

  • A pharmacist is under investigation after she fills a script incorrectly, causing a patient to experience heart palpitations and a visit to the emergency room.
  • The College of Dental Surgeons audits the billing practices of a dental clinic and finds out that the office manager has misappropriated funds.
  • A teacher transferring from another province is denied a Certificate of Qualification. He applies for Judicial Review of the decision.

Select Cases

  • Representing professionals before their governing body in disciplinary matters, including allegations of negligence, sexual misconduct, improper prescribing of medication, breach of confidentiality and incompetence.
  • Acting as counsel in many court decisions related to the scope of judicial review and appeals from administrative tribunals such as the Health Professions Review Board.
  • Appealing disciplinary decisions including matters considered by the Supreme Court of Canada, such as Dr. Q. v. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia .
  • Providing policy advice to professionals and organizations on matters including privacy legislation, the scope of and proposed amendments to the Health Professions Act, the role of mediation in professional regulation, the drafting of by-laws and ethical standards.
  • Representing health care professionals in disputes with the Medical Services Commission related to billing audits and the recovery of alleged over-payments to health professions.
  • Representing clients in wildlife management matters involving the Environmental Appeal Board.
  • Representing clients in disputes involving forest practice matters.
  • Representing broker dealers, registered representatives and traders in investigations and disciplinary hearings by securities regulatory authorities including the BC Securities Commission, the Investment Dealers Association and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association.

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

Benchmark Canada® 2022

Harper Grey recognized as "Repeatedly Recommended" in the area of Professional Liability by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®, 2019-2022

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®

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

Benchmark Canada®

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

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 19 specialty areas by Best Lawyers® in Canada, 2020

Best Lawyers® in 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®

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

Martindale Hubbell®

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

TAGLaw

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

“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 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

"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® 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® 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® 2018

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

Benchmark Canada® 2017

“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

“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

“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

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

Benchmark Canada® 2017

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

Benchmark Canada® 2013

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

Benchmark Canada® 2017

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

Benchmark Canada® 2015

“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

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

Chambers 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

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