William is a Partner with Harper Grey and chair of our Professional Regulation Group and assistant chair of our Health Law Group.
William represents clients in both civil and regulatory matters. He has acted as counsel for most types of professionals, including doctors, dentists, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, engineers and nurses.
Professionals rely on William to provide practical advice on regulatory and disciplinary matters. His experience in and intimate knowledge of how regulations such as the Health Professions Act are typically applied, and how professionals often structure their practice allow for very reliable advocacy.
When not helping clients, William serves as the firm’s resident expert on where to find the best pizza in town.
Professional Regulation
- Representing professionals in disciplinary matters including improper administration (billing, record keeping), communication with patients/clients, negligence, and allegations of sexual misconduct
- Advocating for professionals applying for a licence to practice in British Columbia
- Representing clients at tribunals, hearings and other meetings at regulatory organizations such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, and the College of Phsyiotherapists of BC
- Advising clients on matters involving breach of confidentiality and the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act
- Counsel on an appeal involving a Constitutional and Charter challenge to a finding of professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming
- Providing policy advice to professional organizations, including advice regarding professional liability insurance
- Counsel to the Royal Commission on Workers Compensation in British Columbia
Litigation
- William often works with other Harper Grey counsel on matters intersecting professional regulation, civil litigation and/or criminal law
- Counsel in a number of Supreme Court of Canada cases such as London Drugs v. Kuhne & Nagel (vicarious liability), A.M. v. Ryan (evidence, disclosure, counselling records), and Hollis v. Birch (establishing a manufacturer’s duty to warn of potentially hazardous medical products)
Education
- University of Victoria, LL.B., 1988
- University of British Columbia, B.A., 1982
Bar Admission
- British Columbia, 1989
Leadership
- Administrative Justice: A Practitioner’s Guide, Published by LexisNexis® Canada, Contributing Author (2016)
- Harper Grey Administrative Law Observer Newsletter, Editor and Contributing Author
- Harper Grey Canadian Administrative Law Blog, Editor and Contributing Author
- Harper Grey Health Law Group, Assistant Chair
- Harper Grey Professional Regulation Practice Group, Chair
- King David High School, Board Member
- LexisNexis® Harper Grey Administrative Law Netletter™, Contributing Author
- UVIC Health Law, Sessional Instructor
Membership
- Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Member
- Canadian Bar Association, National Health Law Subsection, Member
- Medical Legal Society of BC, Member
- The Law Society of British Columbia, Member
