Claire E. Hunter, K.C.
Profile
Claire Hunter, K.C. is an experienced litigator with a broad civil litigation, public and administrative law and appellate practice. She appears regularly as counsel at both the trial and appellate level, including all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada, and before arbitration tribunals and administrative boards. She has experience working on complex commercial matters, including conducting internal investigations and conducting trials and appeals in high profile matters across a variety of sectors and on behalf of diverse clients ranging from individuals to large corporations. In 2017 she was named a Lexpert Leading Lawyer Under 40. She is currently ranked as a leading lawyer including by Lexpert, Benchmark Canada and Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2020 she was selected by Benchmark Litigation as one of the Top 50 Women in Canada and was names as a Gold Winner of the Woman of the Year award in Lexpert’s Canadian Law Awards. In addition to a general commercial litigation practice, Claire has acted as counsel on a number of significant defamation matters, on class actions relating to competition and consumer protection issues, on the leading Supreme Court of Canada decision in proprietary estoppel, for marketing boards and stakeholders in supply managed agricultural disputes, on matters arising out of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction, and on important public law cases at all levels of court.
Claire joined Hunter Litigation Chambers in Vancouver in 2010 after five years of practice with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York, where she focussed on defending financial institutions in criminal, regulatory and securities class actions. A graduate of McGill, Stanford and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Claire spent a year as law clerk to Justice Iacobucci of the Supreme Court of Canada before commencing her practice in New York. She has been a member of the New York State bar since 2004 and was called to the British Columbia bar in 2010. Claire was appointed King’s Counsel in 2018.
Throughout her career, Claire has been a frequent presenter on professional topics – in particular civil procedure and appellate practice issues, access to justice related topics and on the role of women in the profession –including for CLEBC, the Advocates Society, CBABC and at a number of Canadian law schools.
Claire is actively involved in community work including as a provider of pro bono legal services. She is a former Chair and President of the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia (2014-2020) and a current member of the Access to Justice Advisory Committee of the Law Society of British Columbia. From 2014 – 2017 she was an elected member of the Canadian Bar Association’s provincial counsel for British Columbia. She is also a past president of the Advocates Club, a former chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Committee and former director of the Lawyers Inn Society. Claire has received a number of awards for pro bono service including the Allan Parker QC Award for Representation Services from Access Pro Bono in 2013, the Harry Rankin QC Pro Bono Award from the Canadian Bar Association in 2015, the Ann Wilson and Robert Prichard Award for Community and Professional Service by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 2017 and a Lexpert Zenith Award in 2019. She was a volunteer big sister from 2011-2017 and sits on the board of the VSO School of Music.
Professional Activities
Recent Professional Activities
Frequent Presenter on Continuing Legal Education topics
"Electronic Evidence: Current Issues and Best Practices", Panel member (with Mr. Justice Elliott Myers) CLEBC Electronic Evidence and eDiscovery October 14, 2016
""No Fee" Status Applications in the Court of Appeal", Panel member (with Justice Bennett and Registrar Outerbridge) CBABC Appellate Advocacy Section Meeting, October 6, 2016
"The Inconvenient Truth – Not All Affidavits are Created Equal", Panel member (with Master MacNaughton and Meaghan Selinger" CBABC Webinar, February 16, 2016
"Litigation in the Facebook Age: Creative Discovery Through Cutting-Edge Internet Research on Parties and Witnesses" at CLEBC A Litigator’s Arsenal 2015, October 23, 2015
"Access to Justice Issues" Panel member (with Madam Justice Bennett and Katherine Hardie) at CLEBC Appellate Practice 2015, April 17, 2015
"Court of Appeal Chambers" Panel member (with Madam Justice Saunders and Raymond Leong) at CLEBC Appellate Practice 2015, April 17, 2015
"Organizing Your Evidence at Trial" Presenter at CLEBC Civil Litigation Basics, February 11, 2015
"Making Use of Pro Bono Counsel" Panel member (with Ryan Dalziel, Jamie Maclaren and Grace Pastine) at Law Foundation Systemic Advocacy Workshop, December 11, 2014
"Best Practices for Managing Evidence: Did You Get Everything You Need?" Presentation at Infonex Professional Regulation and Discipline Conference, October 22, 2014
"Taking it National" and "Working Outside the Box" Panel member at 2014 National Pro Bono Conference, Regina, September 25- 26, 2014
"Civility in the Courtroom: Essentials for Trial Lawyers" Panel member (with Mr. Justice Verhoeven) at CBABC Professional Development Webinar, May 15, 2014
Other Professional Activities
Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia
Law Society of British Columbia (Access to Legal Services Advisory Committee, 2015 – present)
Advocates Club (President, 2014 – 2015; Treasurer, 2011 – 2015; Member, 2010 – 2016)
Canadian Bar Association
Law Courts Inn Society
Notable Cases
Notable Cases
Poonian v. British Columbia (Securities Commission), 2024 SCC 28 (co-counsel with Devin Eeg): represented the intervener the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in a case deciding whether debts owing from regulatory sanctions survive bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
Madadi v. British Columbia, 2024 BCSC 719 (with Maryanna Dinh): successfully applied to dismiss the plaintiff’s claim of misfeasance in public office against three individual defendants who acted as disciplinary hearing panel members at the former BC College of Teachers.
7779615 Canada Inc. v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, 2023 BCSC 2094 (with Simone Penney): successfully defended against an application seeking to strike the plaintiffs’ claim and dismiss the action as an abuse of process for violating the rule against maintenance and champerty.
Peters v. East 3rd Street North Vancouver Limited Partnership, 2023 BCSC 879 (with Simone Penney): successfully defended on summary trial claims against a law firm acting as trustee under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act.
Madadi v. British Columbia, 2023 BCSC 150 (with Maryanna Dinh): successfully resisted an application to add 16 proposed individual defendants to a misfeasance in public office lawsuit.
Bajwa Farms Ltd. v. Bajwa, 2022 BCSC 1056 (with Maryanna Dinh): application to stay proceedings of a corporate plaintiff commenced at the behest of the president of the corporation only, without authorization from the board of directors nor leave of the Court.
Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v. British Columbia, 2022 BCSC 540 (with Susan Humphrey and co-counsel Nicholas J. Isaac): counsel for Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia and the Minister of Education of the Province of British Columbia in a successful motion to strike a number of paragraphs of the notice of civil claim filed by the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.
Myers v. Canada (Attorney General), 2022 BCCA 160: (co-counsel with Ryan Androsoff) represented two taxpayers in a successful appeal from an order dismissing in part and staying in part their claim for misfeasance in public office and negligence against the Canada Revenue Agency.
J.P. v. British Columbia (Children and Family Development), 2018 BCCA 325: On the costs application, the Court dismissed a number of orders sought against counsel for the mother, including an application for an order counsel for the mother pay special costs of the proceedings personally. Bill Smart, Q.C. and Claire Hunter acted for the mother’s lawyer in successfully resisting the orders sought against him.
Este v. Esteghamat-Ardakani, 2017 BCSC 878 (with Ken McEwan, Q.C.): obtained dismissal of trial after five weeks on a no evidence/abuse of process motion.
Cowper-Smith v. Morgan, 2016 BCCA 200: appeal relating to the standard to rebut the presumption of undue influence and the application of the doctrine of proprietary estoppel currently on reserve at Supreme Court of Canada on the proprietary estoppel issue.
S.M.B. v. A.J.M., 2016 BCSC 811: application for return under Article 12 of the the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
R. v. Dickey, 2016 BCCA 177: represented Pivot Legal Society on appeal relating to constitutionality of mandatory minimum sentence provisions.
Ma v. Nutriview Systems Inc., 2016 BCCA 4: appeal about the use of propensity evidence and the admissibility of fresh evidence on appeal.
Reum Holdings Ltd. v. 0893178 B.C. Ltd., 2015 BCSC 2022: application upholding certificate of pending litigation on Crown land.
Robinson v. Furlong, 2015 BCSC 627 (with John Hunter, Q.C.): successfully defended John Furlong in two week trial of a defamation claim made by a journalist against him.
Morice v. Furlong, 2015 BCSC 216 (with Bill Smart, Q.C.); West v. Furlong, 2015 BCSC 216 (with John Hunter, Q.C.): represented John Furlong in obtaining dismissal of claims brought by persons alleging historical abuse.
Goodwin v. British Columbia (Superintendant of Motor Vehicles), 2015 SCC 46; 2014 BCCA 79: represented British Columbia Civil Liberties Association on appeal relating to constitutionality of automatic roadside driving prohibitions.
Honborg v. Private Career Training Institutions Agency, 2015 BCSC 965: successful application to strike claim against Crown corporation.
Hughes v. Hughes, 2014 BCCA 196: appeal relating to enforceability of child support order in case involving conflicting orders on return of child of British Columbia court and Italian court under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Sutherland v. Reeves, 2014 BCCA 222, 2013 BCCA 495 (with John Hunter, Q.C.): motion to strike and appeal relating to scope of a "stay of proceedings" clause in a receivership order.
Reference re Senate Reform, 2014 SCC 32 (with John Hunter, Q.C. and Brent Olthuis): reference on constitutionality of and applicability of appropriate amending formula to proposed amendments to the Senate.
Watson v. Bank of America Corporation, et al., 2014 BCSC 532 (with Ken McEwan, Q.C.): represented Capital One Bank (Canada Branch) on certification of a class action relating to credit card merchant fees.
Wilson v. Williams, 2013 BCCA 471: appeal on issue of whether defamatory statements were published on occasions of absolute privilege.
Tangerine Financial Products Limited Partnership v. Sutherland, 2013 BCCA 283 (with John Hunter, Q.C.): appeal from injunction issued to enforce order prohibiting interference with sale of receivership assets.
Jer v. Samji, 2013 BCSC 1671 (with Ken McEwan, Q.C.): certification of class action relating to alleged ponzi scheme.
Johnson v. Jessel, 2012 BCCA 393: appeal relating to interpretation of provisions relating to wrongful removal of children in the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
VIH Aviation Group Ltd. v. CHC Helicopter LLC 2011, BCSC 402, 2012 BCCA 125 (with Ken McEwan, QC): application for leave to appeal from a commercial arbitration award.
Piscedda Mining Construction International v. Crew Gold Corporation, 2011 YKSC 79 (with Ken McEwan, QC): application on jurisdiction of Yukon courts to determine dispute under mining contract.
Publications
Publications
“The Impact of Pro Bono Counsel on Awards of Party-and-Party Costs in Civil Litigation” (2013), 71 The Advocate 23-33
“Continuing the Conversation: A Reply to Manfredi and Kelly” (2004) 49(3) McGill Law Journal 765 (with Sujit Choudhry).
“New Justification for an Old Approach: In Defense of Characterizing First Nations Treaties as Contracts” (2004) 62 (1) University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review 61.
“Measuring Judicial Activism on the Supreme Court of Canada: A Comment on Newfoundland (Treasury Board) v. Newfoundland Association of Public Employees" (2003) 48 (3) McGill Law Journal 525 (with Sujit Choudhry).
“Kymlicka’s Liberal Defense of National Recognition and the Case of the Nisga’a” (1999) 6 McGill Review of Interdisciplinary Arts 1.
Community
Community
Claire is actively involved in community work including as a provider of pro bono legal services. She is currently Chair and President of the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia, a director of the Lawyers Inn Society, serves on the Access to Legal Services Advisory Committee of the Law Society of British Columbia. From 2014 – 2017, she was an elected member of the Canadian Bar Association’s provincial counsel for British Columbia. She is also a past president of the Advocates Club and a former chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Committee. Claire has received a number of awards for pro bono service including the Allan Parker QC Award for Representation Services from Access Pro Bono in 2013, the Harry Rankin QC Pro Bono Award from the Canadian Bar Association in 2015, and the Ann Wilson and Robert Prichard Award for Community and Professional Service by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 2017.
Outside the law, Claire is a volunteer big sister and sits on the board of the VSO School of Music.
News
News
August 2024
We are honored to recognize that Claire E. Hunter, K.C., has been distinguished in The Best Lawyers in Canada (2025 Edition) since 2020 for her exemplary practice in several key areas of law. Claire’s expertise includes Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Practice, Class Action Litigation, and Corporate and Commercial Litigation. Claire’s sustained excellence and leadership in these fields reflect her exceptional skill and commitment to the legal profession. We extend our congratulations to Claire on this prestigious recognition.
The Supreme Court of Canada released its judgment in Poonian v. British Columbia (Securities Commission), 2024 SCC 28, a case about whether debts owing from regulatory sanctions survive bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Devin Eeg and Claire Hunter, K.C. represented the intervener the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in the appeal.
May 2024
HLC is delighted to announce its continued recognition as "Highly Recommended" in Benchmark Canada 2024. This acknowledgment highlights the exceptional expertise and dedication of our legal professionals. Congratulations to Claire E. Hunter, K.C. for her well-deserved recognition as a "Litigation Stars" by Benchmark.
HLC is proud to announce that Claire Hunter, K.C., is nominated as Canada, British Columbia, Top 100 Women- Canada Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Benchmark Canada 2024.
May 2024
Claire Hunter, K.C. and Maryanna Dinh were successful on an application for summary trial to dismiss a misfeasance in public office claim against three individual defendants who acted as disciplinary hearing panel members at the former BC College of Teachers. The reasons for judgment are available here.
March 2024
Claire Hunter, K.C. and Aubin Calvert successfully applied to stay proceedings in British Columbia in favour of an alternative forum, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, in a dispute involving the development and sale of supplemental type certificates for Twin Otter aircraft. The reasons for judgment are available here.
Claire Hunter, K.C., has once more received acknowledgment in the 2024 Lexpert Canada Directory for her accomplishments in the field of Corporate/Commercial Litigation and Public/Regulatory.
January 2024
HLC congratulates Claire Hunter, K.C. for her recognition in the 2024 Chambers & Partners directory, showcasing her contributions to the field of Administrative & Public Law (BC).
Claire Hunter, K.C. and Chantelle van Wiltenburg (with drafting assistance from Paul Jon and articled student Elspeth Adhihetty) represented an Indigenous child protection agency and successfully petitioned to quash a decision of the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Below, the Tribunal had found that the agency discriminated against a parent and awarded $150,000 in compensation. The Court set aside the Tribunal’s decision, holding that the Tribunal’s process was unfair and that the Tribunal committed legal errors. The Court remitted the case to the Tribunal and directed that the agency be afforded an opportunity to apply to have the human rights complaint summarily dismissed.
December 2023
Claire Hunter, K.C. and Devin Eeg appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of the intervener Federation of Law Societies of Canada in Poonian v. British Columbia Securities Commission. The intervener factum is available here.
Claire E. Hunter, K.C. and Simone Penney successfully defended against an application seeking to strike the plaintiff’s claim and dismiss the action for violating the common law rule against maintenance and champerty because the litigation had been effectively assigned to a third party pursuant to a litigation agreement. The Court concluded the third party had an obvious and genuine pre-existing commercial interest in the litigation, and the litigation agreement was not champertous. The reasons for judgment are available here.
September 2023
A team comprised of Claire E. Hunter, K.C., Brian Duong, Julia Roos, Susan Humphrey, Amanda Richards, Hayden Cook, and Elspeth Adhihetty (articled student) represented His Majesty the King in right of the Province of British Columbia and the Minister of Education and Child Care in respect of a series of applications filed as part of ongoing litigation with the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique and the Vancouver Board of Education. Copies of the resulting decisions can be found here: 2023 BCSC 1554 (adjournment); 2023 BCSC 1332 (document production); and 2023 BCSC 1281 (pleadings).
August 2023
We are thrilled to announce that Claire Hunter, K.C., has been named Vancouver’s “Lawyer of the Year” in Administrative and Public Law by Best Lawyers® Canada. This peer recognition is a testament to Claire’s knowledge and commitment to excellence in serving our firm’s clients in complex constitutional and administrative law matters. Throughout her career, Claire's impact has been felt both inside and outside the courtroom. This "Lawyer of the Year" award recognizes Claire's legal skills, dedication, and ability to advocate for her clients' rights.
Claire Hunter is recognized by Best Lawyers® in Canada (2024 Edition) for her work in Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Practice, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation.
The firm congratulates Claire Hunter K.C. for her inclusion by Benchmark Litigation on its 2023 list of Canada’s Top 100 Women in Litigation.
May 2023
Claire Hunter, K.C. and Simone Penney successfully defended on summary trial a law firm acting as a trustee under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act in respect of a claim arising from the release of purchase deposits to the developer. The Court concluded that the law firm complied with its mandatory obligations under the Act in releasing the deposits and dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims. The reasons for judgment are available here.
April 2023
Hunter Litigation Chambers is proud to continue to receive the highest ranking of “Highly Recommended” in Benchmark Canada 2023. This is a testament to the talent and hard work of our individual lawyers, three of whom have been ranked as “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark. Congratulations to Bill Smart K.C., Randy Kaardal, K.C. and Claire Hunter, K.C.
March 2023
Hunter Litigation Chambers was proud to represent Crystal Smith and Raymond Shaw in their application to permit registration of their baby son λugʷaləs K'ala'ask Shaw’s name on his birth certificate. Our clients reached a resolution with the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency to permit the use Kwak̓wala characters on the birth certificate for their son. The Hunter Litigation Chambers team working on this matter included Claire Hunter K.C., Nicole Gilewicz, Aubin Calvert and Amanda Richards.
Claire Hunter K.C. and Caitlin Ehman acted for an Indigenous child protection agency in successfully resisting an application for access by former foster parents. Amanda Richards assisted in preparing the materials for this application. The reasons for judgment are indexed as J.W. v. British Columbia (Director of Child, Family and Community Service), 2023 BCSC 512.
The firm is pleased to announce that Claire Hunter K.C. and Randy Kaardal K.C. have been shortlisted for Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards this year. Claire is one of six lawyers on the shortlist for British Columbia Litigator of the Year and Randy is one of five lawyers nationally on the shortlist for Labor & Employment Litigator of the year.
Hunter Litigation Chambers has again been ranked in Lexpert Canada Directory 2023. This year we are honoured to be included in the directory’s highest category for Vancouver boutiques of Most Frequently Recommended for our work in Litigation-Corporate Commercial and Repeatedly Recommended for Forestry Law. In addition, Claire Hunter K.C. is ranked as a leading lawyer in both the Litigation-Corporate Commercial and Litigation- Regulatory & Public Law categories and Randy Kaardal K.C. is ranked as a leading lawyer in the Employment Law – Employer and Employment Law – Employee categories.
February 2023
Claire Hunter K.C. and Maryanna Dinh successfully resisted an application to add 16 proposed individual defendants to a misfeasance in public office lawsuit on the basis that the claim fails to disclose any cause of action against them and, in any event, would not be just and convenient in the circumstances, particularly given the recent Court of Appeal decision in British Columbia v. Greengen Holdings Ltd., 2023 BCCA 24. A copy of the decision can be found here.
October 2022
Claire Hunter, K.C. and Monique Evans successfully defended an appeal from an order denying a party’s attempt to include allegations of communications at a without prejudice meeting in his amended pleading. The Court confirms that unless settlement privilege has been waived or an exception to privilege applies in the circumstances, matters that are subject to settlement privilege should not be pleaded or the subject of discovery prior to trial. The reasons for judgment are available here.
September 2022
HLC congratulates Claire Hunter, K.C. on being named for a sixth time in the 2023 Chambers & Partners directory for her work in Administrative & Public Law.
August 2022
Best Lawyers in Canada™ has released the 2023 edition of its publication and Claire Hunter Q.C. is recognized in three areas: Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Practice and Corporate and Commercial Litigation.
June 2022
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Maryanna Dinh, on behalf of their clients, successfully stayed legal proceedings brought by a corporate plaintiff on the basis that the proceedings were not authorized by its board of directors and leave of the Court to commence a derivative action was not obtained. The decision clarifies the principles relating to the implied authority of an individual to commence legal proceedings in the name of a company. A copy of the decision can be found here.
May 2022
A Hunter Litigation Chambers team led by Claire Hunter Q.C., with the assistance of associates Simone Penney, Maryanna Dinh, Susan Humphrey and Nathan Wells following a 4-day hearing obtained a judgment setting aside an ex parte Mareva injunction against our client.
Claire Hunter Q.C. and Ryan Androsoff successfully appealed an order striking parts and staying others of a notice of civil claim in an action for misfeasance in public office. The reasons for judgment in Myers v. Canada (Attorney General), 2022 BCCA 160 are available here.
April 2022
On April 29, Claire Hunter was a panelist at the 18th National Symposium on Class Actions put on by Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development. Claire presented on current issues in class action practice in British Columbia on the “Cross Country Check-up” panel.
Claire Hunter led a team including Hunter Litigation Chambers associates Susan Humphrey, Amanda Richards and Stacey Waterman and co-counsel Nicholas Isaac representing Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia and the Minister of Education of the Province of British Columbia in a successful motion to strike a number of paragraphs of the notice of civil claim filed by the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique. Justice Gomery’s reasons for judgment are available here.
HLC congratulates Claire Hunter, Q.C. on being named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Canada 2022. This designation is bestowed upon individuals who are consistently recommended as reputable and effective litigators during interviews with clients and the nation’s leading private practice lawyers and in-house counsel.
March 2022
HLC congratulates Randy Kaardal, Q.C. and Claire Hunter, Q.C. and their fellow nominees on being shortlisted by Benchmark Canada for, respectively, 2022 Labor & Employment Litigator of the Year and 2022 Litigator of the Year (BC). The full list of nominations can be found here.
February 2022
Claire Hunter and Monique Evans were successful on behalf of our single purpose real estate holding company client in resisting pleadings amendments on the basis of settlement privilege. Master Vos’ reasons for judgment are available here.
Claire Hunter, Q.C. has once again been recognized in Lexpert Canada Directory 2022 for her work in Corporate/Commercial Litigation.
January 2022
Claire Hunter, Q.C., and Nicole Gilewicz successfully represented Carol Todd, the mother of Amanda Todd, and the Amanda Todd Legacy Society (“ATLS”) in a constitutional challenge to s. 486.4(3) of the Criminal Code, which imposed a mandatory publication ban on any information that would identify Amanda Todd in criminal proceedings against the man accused of exploiting her online. The provision, which precluded publication, broadcast or transmission of any information that could identify a young person who was either a witness in a proceeding involving child pornography charges or the subject of child pornography, was struck down as unconstitutional by the Honourable Justice Devlin of the B.C. Supreme Court on January 10, 2022 on an immediate and prospective basis. Carol Todd and ATLS were further granted a constitutional exemption from the publication ban as it applied to Amanda’s identity in the ongoing criminal case. The reasons for judgment striking down the ban are subject to a further publication ban under the Criminal Code and are not currently publicly available. Some examples of media coverage of the decision are available here and here.
In Carol Todd’s words:
I am very pleased that the Court ruled today that the section of the Criminal Code that required the publication ban over Amanda’s name was unconstitutional and that the advocacy work based on her story will be able to continue in her legacy and in her memory.
It has always been the reaching goal of Amanda’s Legacy to be able to share her story (as she herself did with her YouTube video) in addition to providing prevention and awareness related to cyberbullying, digital safety and exploitation so that other children and families would be able to be informed and have strategies on how to reach out for support.
With this ruling today, we can continue to work together to create a safer online world for our children.
This matter was referred by the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia who provided disbursement coverage. Moira Aikenhead, a graduate student at the Peter A Allard School of Law, also provided research support.
December 2021
The Law Society of B.C. has appointed Claire Hunter Q.C. to the Board of Governors of the Law Foundation of B.C. for a 3 year term commencing January 1, 2022.
November 2021
On November 22, Claire Hunter Q.C. and Julia Roos presented at CLEBC’s Appellate Practice 2021 program. Claire was co-chair of the session and presented on chambers practice and Julia Roos spoke on a panel entitled “New to Appeals – A Primer”.
October 2021
On October 6, 2021, Claire E. Hunter, Q.C. and Diana Sepúlveda, together with Kate Feeney and Kim Hawkins, obtained leave to intervene at the Supreme Court of Canada, representing West Coast LEAF and Rise Women’s Legal Centre. This is an important appeal dealing with important issues of evidence law and family violence.
Hunter Litigation Chambers lawyers Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Caitlin Ehman, together with Adrienne Smith of Adrienne Smith Law successfully represented a youth referred to as R.A.S.J. in opposing a last-minute injunction brought by R.A.S.J.’s mother to prevent him from obtaining the gender affirming surgery scheduled to be performed the morning after the application was heard. Madam Justice Brown dismissed the application for failure to meet any of the three necessary branches of the RJR-McDonald test in reasons available here.
September 2021
CBABC has re-appointed Claire Hunter Q.C. to sit on the Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council of BC. Claire has also been appointed to CBABC’s Court Services Committee.
HLC congratulates Claire Hunter, Q.C. on being named for a fifth time in the 2022 Chambers & Partners directory for her work in Administrative & Public Law.
August 2021
Claire Hunter Q.C. was counsel to two SFU faculty members on a successful application by the university to dismiss a claim by a former student.
Best Lawyers in Canada™ has released the 2022 edition of its publication and Claire Hunter, Q.C. is recognized in four areas: Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Practice, Class Action Litigation and Corporate and Commercial Litigation.
The firm congratulates Claire Hunter Q.C. for her selection by Benchmark Litigation as one of the Top 50 Women in Litigation in its annual publication. This is the second year in a row that Claire has been selected for this national award that recognizes her skills as a litigator as well the many significant matters in which she is lead counsel.
July 2021
Claire Hunter Q.C. is counsel to Jamieson Laboratories Ltd in a proposed class action relating to labeling of glucosamine sulfate products. In reasons for judgment available here, a class action was certified against some defendants but the application against Jamieson was adjourned to permit plaintiffs to file additional evidence.
June 2021
Claire Hunter, Q.C., Alexander Bjornson, and Aubin Calvert were successful in opposing an application for leave to the Supreme Court of Canada. The applicant shareholder had sought leave to appeal a decision of the BC Court of Appeal where the Court had upheld a previous dismissal of that shareholder’s petition to commence a derivative action against the respondent mining company. Hunter Litigation Chambers represented the mining company in the application. Reasons for judgment can be found here.
May 2021
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Stacey Waterman were successful in obtaining dismissal of an application for special costs against a solicitor personally in a family matter. The reasons for judgment are available here.
Hunter Litigation Chambers is pleased to announce that Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Randy Kaardal, Q.C. have been shortlisted by Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards 2021: Claire in the category of British Columbia Litigator of the Year and Randy in the category Labor & Employment Litigator of the Year. The winners will be announced at the virtual awards ceremony on May 12, 2021.
April 2021
Hunter Litigation Chambers has again been ranked in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2021 in the areas of Litigation-Corporate Commercial and Forestry Law. Four of our Counsel have been again recognized in various practice areas: Randy Kaardal, Q.C. (Employment), Claire Hunter, Q.C. (Corp/Comm Litigation), Mark Oulton (Forestry Law), and Ryan Dalziel, Q.C. (Corp/Comm Litigation and Regulatory & Public Law). In addition, Trevor Bant has been named a Leading Lawyer to Watch in the area of Regulatory & Public Law. The Lexpert Directory is the product of a comprehensive annual peer survey, the selected lawyers being acknowledged as leaders in their respective fields. Congratulations to all for this well-earned recognition.
Claire Hunter Q.C. and Brent Olthuis have jointed the BC roster of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute. The Institute allows lawyers appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada to conduct an pre-hearing “moot” of their argument in front of senior appellate counsel, and obtain feedback from that counsel. The Institute was set up in 2007 by the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, for whom both Claire and Brent clerked, and other lawyers. Aubin Calvert is also involved with the Institute, with responsibility for co-ordinating BC sessions.
On April 6-7, 2021, Claire Hunter Q.C. and Trevor Bant were faculty in CLEBC’s Civil Litigation Basics 2021. Claire participated in a demonstration of a mareva injunction application and Trevor participated in a demonstration of examination and cross examination at trial.
On April 13, 2021, Claire Hunter Q.C. and BC Court of Appeal Registrar Outerbridge gave a presentation to on Court of Appeal chambers practice for Access Pro Bono volunteer lawyers.
On April 20, 2021, Claire Hunter Q.C. was a panellist on the CBA national program “Remote Appellate Advocacy: Best Practices for Virtual Appearances”.
February 2021
Claire Hunter Q.C. and Ryan Dalziel Q.C. were counsel to the BC Chicken Marketing Board in a successful appeal from a decision allowing judicial review of a decision of the Farm Industry Review Board that had summarily dismissed an administrative appeal from a decision of the BC Chicken Marketing Board. The BC Court of Appeal’s reasons are available here.
Claire Hunter Q.C. and Caitlin Ehman were successful in obtaining a discretionary publication ban over the identity of a defendant in a civil action.
January 2021
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Adrienne Smith are counsel to a youth referred to as YZ whose mother had obtained an ex parte injunction to stop him from obtaining gender affirming chest surgery. On January 18, 2021 the BC Supreme Court struck the mother’s claim as an abuse of process in reasons available here. Hunter Litigation Chambers associate Diana Sepulveda assisted in preparing for the application. Media coverage of the decision is available here and here.
Claire Hunter Q.C. and Matthew Milne-Smith of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP obtained dismissal of an appeal of approval of a plan of arrangement of a cannabis company for a private equity firm in iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. v. Walmer Capital Limited.
November 2020
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Alexander Bjornson successfully resisted a shareholder’s effort in the B.C. Court of Appeal to commence a derivative action against directors of a mining company. The shareholder’s petition was not granted leave to commence the proposed derivative action by a chambers judge and then appealed the chambers judge’s decision. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision and dismissed the shareholder’s appeal. Reasons for judgment can be found here.
October 2020
Claire Hunter provided a counsel perspective on a panel entitled “Navigating the new world of chambers and trial practice” at CLEBC’s Litigation Update 2020.
The Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia held its Annual General Meeting on October 21, 2020. Claire Hunter Q.C. completed her term as President of Access Pro Bono and Trevor Bant was elected as a director of the Society.
We are pleased to announce that Claire Hunter, Q.C., was named as the co-Gold Winner of the Woman of the Year award in Lexpert’s Canadian Law Awards. Claire tied for this honour with Audrey Boctor of IMK LLP in Montreal. We congratulate both Claire and Audrey for this well-deserved recognition.
August 2020
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Julia Roos successfully acted for an applicant on judicial review, challenging a decision made on behalf of the Minister of Health refusing to grant a security clearance to the applicant under the Cannabis Regulations. The decision was set aside as unreasonable and remitted back to the decision-maker for redetermination. Reasons for judgment can be found here.
The firm congratulates Claire Hunter, Q.C. for her selection by Benchmark Litigation as one of the Top 50 Women in Litigation in its annual publication. This is a national award and recognizes Claire’s skills as a litigator as well the many significant matters in which she is lead counsel.
April 2020
HLC is pleased to continue to receive the highest ranking of “Highly Recommended” in Benchmark Canada 2020. This is a testament to the talent and hard work of our individual lawyers, seven of whom have been ranked as “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark. Congratulations to Bill Smart Q.C., Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Claire Hunter, Q.C., Mike Stephens, Mark Oulton, Brent Olthuis and Ryan Dalziel.
Hunter Litigation Chambers has again been ranked in Lexpert Canada Directory 2020 in the areas of Litigation-Corporate Commercial and Forestry Law. In addition, six of our Counsel have been again recognized by Canadian Legal Lexpert 2020 Directory in a wide variety of practice areas: Randy Kaardal, Q.C. (Employment), Claire Hunter, Q.C. (Corp/Comm Litigation), Mike Stephens (Corp/Comm Litigation), Mark Oulton (Forestry Law), Brent Olthuis (Corp/Comm Litigation) and Ryan Dalziel (Corp/Comm Litigation and Regulatory & Public Law). Congratulations to all for this well-earned recognition.
Lexpert has now released the list of finalists in its Canadian Law Awards 2020. Hunter Litigation Chambers is honoured to be named in the category of Litigation & Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year. We also congratulate Claire Hunter, Q.C. who is a finalist for the Woman of the Year award. Both of these nominations are, we believe, a testament to the depth, experience and talent of the HLC team. The winners will be announced at an event in Toronto on October 6th. We congratulate all nominees and are gratified to be named among such impressive firms and lawyers.
January 2020
The British Columbia Court of Appeal issued reasons on January 10, 2020 in a significant family appeal relating to the right of the 14-year old transgender teenager identified as AB to consent to gender affirming medical treatment over the objections of his father. The Court confirmed that AB was entitled to consent to the medical treatment and dismissed the appeal from this aspect of the order below. Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Sarah Chaster, together with barbara findlay, Q.C. and Kay Scorer, were counsel to AB on the appeal. The team was assisted by UBC student Devin Eeg during his summer articles at Hunter Litigation Chambers.
Claire Hunter, Q.C., with the assistance of articling student Diana Sepulveda successfully resisted an application by the Egg Marketing Board to summarily dismiss the appeal of our egg farm client. The appeal will now proceed before the Farm Industry Review Board.
Claire E. Hunter, Q.C. has been appointed to the Law Society of British Columbia’s Access to Justice Advisory Committee for the 2020 term. Claire has also been appointed to the Western Canada Advisory Board for McGill University.
December 2019
The Law Society of British Columbia awarded Claire E. Hunter, Q.C. its inaugural pro bono award which recognizes lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the provision of pro bono services in British Columbia. The award was presented at the Law Society’s annual recognition dinner in December.
November 2019
Claire Hunter, Q.C. was a contributing author to the newly released LexisNexis Canada publication, The Law of Objections in Canada: A Handbook. Claire contributed chapters on objections to expert evidence and the best evidence rule.
The Legal 500 has once again ranked Hunter Litigation Chambers in the field Dispute Resolution: British Columbia in its 2020 edition. Two of our counsel, Claire Hunter Q.C. and Brent Olthuis, were included on a select list of 15 lawyers nation-wide as “Next Generation Partners”.
On November 27, 2019, Claire Hunter Q.C. presented at CLEBC’s “A Litigator’s Arsenal 2019”. Claire’s presentation was on recent developments in the law on preliminary objections to rights of audience.
On November 7, 2019, Claire Hunter Q.C. and Sarah Chaster succeeded in obtaining dismissal of an application that our client be found in civil contempt of a family court order.
On November 6, 2019, Claire Hunter Q.C. was a guest panelist on a panel about law as a tool for social change at the UBC Allard Law School seminar “Women, Law and Social Change”.
Claire Hunter Q.C. and Brent Olthuis acted as volunteer guest instructors for the Civil Mock Trial portion of the UBC Allard Law’s Allan McEachern Advanced Trial Advocacy Course.
The Law Society of British Columbia has announced that Claire E. Hunter, Q.C. has been chosen to received its inaugural pro bono award which recognize lawyer who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the provision of pro bono in British Columbia. The award will be presented at the Law Society annual recognition dinner in December.
Claire has also been named a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
October 2019
On October 10 and 15, 2019, Bill Smart Q.C. and Claire Hunter Q.C. were guest instructors for the cross examination section of UBC Allard Law’s Allan McEachern Advanced Trial Advocacy course. Bill gave a demonstration of a cross examination of a witness in a criminal trial and Claire gave the civil trial demonstration.
September 2019
Hunter Litigation Chambers and its counsel were again highly ranked in the 2020 Chambers Canada guide released this month by Chambers and Partners. The Chambers Canada guide ranks lawyers and law firms in over 40 specialist practice areas across Canada, based primarily on peer and client interviews. In this most recent edition, five of our counsel achieved recognition, and across three categories. Randy J. Kaardal, Q.C., Claire Hunter, Q.C., Mike Stephens and Brent Olthuis were each again ranked as leading practitioners in the general commercial litigation category for British Columbia. Mike was also featured in the spotlight table for administrative & public law litigation in BC. Mark Oulton again achieved Band 1 recognition – the highest ranking - for his work in Agribusiness/Forestry nationally.
On September 12 and 17, 2019, Claire Hunter was a guest instructor at the UBC Allard Law’s Allan McEachern Advanced Trial Advocacy Course. Claire gave a demonstration of an examination for discovery.
August 2019
CBABC has re-appointed Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Shannon Ramsay to sit on the Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council of BC for one year terms commencing on September 1, 2019.
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Alexander Bjornson obtained dismissal of a petition seeking leave to commence a derivative action on behalf of their client Eastern Platinum Ltd. The Court held that the numbered company seeking to commence the derivative action had not satisfied the good faith requirement set out in the Business Corporations Act. The reasons are available here.
June 2019
Claire Hunter, Q.C. is a winner of one of the 2019 Lexpert Zenith Awards: Celebrating Change Agents in Law! Winners of the Lexpert Zenith Awards have made changes to the legal profession and to thought leadership.
Claire Hunter, Q.C. was included on the inaugural “ReferToHer” list for Commercial Litigation. ReferToHer is an initiative of Lenczner Slaght to create lists of experienced female lawyers to whom you can confidently refer work. More information about the ReferToHer initiative is available here
May 2019
Lexpert has released its 2019 directory of leading Canadian lawyers. Three of the firm’s lawyers are ranked as leading practitioners: Randy Kaardal is ranked in employment law (employer and employee), Claire Hunter in corporate commercial litigation and Mark Oulton in forestry law.
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Rebecca Robb were counsel for the British Columbia Chicken Marketing Board in successfully defending appeals to the Farm Industry Review Board from both the chicken processors and growers from the Board’s decision to set a pricing formula for chicken. The decision is available here
April 2019
On April 26, 2019, Claire Hunter, Q.C. was a speaker at the CBA West 2019 Conference in Penticton. Claire spoke about ethics and professionalism issues on a panel entitled “When I Need You: Expert Opinion Evidence in Civil Litigation”.
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Alexander Bjornson were counsel to Eastern Platinum Ltd, a Vancouver-based mining company, on an application for document production and pre-hearing examinations brought in the context of an application by a shareholder for leave to commence a derivative action. Our client was successful in obtaining a dismissal of the shareholder's application for pre-hearing discovery. The reasons are available here.
On April 8, the Advocates Society held a Women in Litigation Symposium in Vancouver, with Justice Suzanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada as the keynote speaker. Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Miranda Lam of McCarthy Tétrault LLP were co-chairs of the sold-out event. In addition to Claire, Shannon Ramsay was a mentor for the roundtable discussions and Kimberley Knapp, Rebecca Robb, Nicole Gilewicz, Julia Roos, Aubin Calvert, Sarah Chaster, Caitlin Ehman and students Susan Humphrey and Megan Chambers attended.
Four Hunter Litigation Chambers lawyers — Mike Stephens, Claire Hunter, Q.C., Trevor Bant and Julia Roos — were recognized in the British Columbia Court of Appeal’s 2018 Annual Report for their contributions to pro bono services on Court of Appeal cases in 2018.
March 2019
On March 28, Claire Hunter, Q.C. spoke on a panel entitled “Motivate, Facilitate, Celebrate: Pro Bono Models that Work for US and Canadian Lawyers” at the ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting.
On March 27, Claire Hunter, Q.C., was a guest lecturer at UBC Law School’s Ethics and Professional class.
Benchmark Canada has released its 2019 Attorney rankings and again Claire Hunter is recognized as a litigation star.
February 2019
Claire Hunter, Q.C. with the assistance of Sarah Chaster acted for a lawyer on a significant matter relating to the right of a 14-year old to obtain medical treatment for gender dysphoria over the objections of his father. The father had named the lawyer who was acting for the child in a family proceeding seeking the right to obtain the medical treatment on an application he brought for an interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the medical treatment from proceeding. The Court ordered that the child had capacity to consent to the medical treatment and dismissed the father's injunction application. The reasons are available here.
Claire Hunter, Q.C. and Ryan Androsoff were counsel to Thomas Fresh Inc., a major vegetable wholesaler, and Prokam Enterprises Ltd., a vegetable producer, in a successful appeal to the Farm Industry Review Board from decisions of the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission. In a decision following an 8-day hearing in the spring of 2018, the FIRB found that the Commission had exceeded its authority by purporting to set minimum prices for the sale of British Columbia potatoes into Alberta and Saskatchewan without complying with the requirements of the Statutory Instruments Act. The Hunter Litigation Chambers team that assisted with this hearing also included Aubin Calvert and co-op student Diana Sepulveda. The decision is available here.
December 2018
The firm is very pleased to announce that Claire Hunter was appointed Queen’s Counsel. In announcing Claire’s appointment, the Attorney General explained that the Q.C. designation recognizes a lawyer’s “superb record of achievement and commitment to our province’s legal system” and, in Claire’s case, noted that she “is a prominent voice for the provision of pro bono services and a frequent presenter on access-to-justice issues”. The news realease is avaialble here.
Hunter Litigation Chambers was again recommended as a Top-Tier Firm in Dispute Resolution in British Columbia, in The Legal 500 Canada 2019 edition. Four Lawyers are recommended in the editorial, William Smart Q.C., Michael Stephens, Brent Olthuis and Claire Hunter. Brent and Claire are also recognized as Next Generation Lawyers in 2019.
November 2018
On November 10, Claire Hunter spoke on a panel entitled “Social Media: What Every Litigator Needs to Know” at the Advocates’ Society’s Fall Convention in Laguna Beach, California.
October 2018
Claire Hunter was appointed to the Advocates’ Society’s national Access to Justice Taskforce.
Hunter Litigation Chambers was again highly ranked in the 2019 Chambers Canada guide, recently published by Chambers and Partners.
In this most recent edition of the Guide, five of our counsel achieved recognition across two categories. Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Michael Stephens, Brent Olthuis and Claire Hunter were each again ranked as leading practitioners in the area of Litigation: General Commercial. Mark Oulton achieved a Band 1 recognition – the highest ranking - for his work in Agribusiness: Forestry – Nationwide - Canada.
The Chambers Canada guide ranks the best lawyers and law firms in over 40 specialist practice areas across Canada. Rankings are primarily based on peer and client interviews, but also rely on information submitted by law firms.
On October 4-5, Access Pro Bono BC hosted “Seeing the Need, Taking the Lead” the 7th National Pro Bono Conference in Vancouver. Claire Hunter is the President of Access Pro Bono and chaired panels at the conference on “Unlocking the Professional Development of Pro Bono” and “New Frontiers in Pro Bono Service”. Hunter Litigation Chambers was a gold sponsor of the conference.
August 2018
On August 20, the Court of Appeal released its Reasons for Judgment on a costs application in J.P. v. British Columbia (Children and Family Development), a family case that has been the subject of significant attention and commentary. On the costs application, the Court dismissed a number of orders sought against counsel for the mother, including an application for an order counsel for the mother pay special costs of the proceedings personally. Bill Smart, Q.C. and Claire Hunter acted for the mother’s lawyer in successfully resisting the orders sought against him.
Claire Hunter obtained summary dismissal on behalf of our provincial government employee of a claim alleging misfeasance of a public official. The reasons for judgment are available here.
Following a trial of over 50 days, Claire Hunter and Ken McEwan (former counsel at the firm) obtained dismissal of a claim brought for breach of trust against a national law firm. The reasons for judgment are available here.
July 2018
CBABC has appointed Claire Hunter to sit on the Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council of BC for a one year term commencing September 1, 2018.
June 2018
On June 22, 2018 Claire Hunter was on the faculty for CLEBC’s Commercial Litigation 2018 program. Claire spoke on a panel and co-wrote a paper with Ross McGowan and Abbas Sabbur on Fraud in Civil Proceedings.
May 2018
Benchmark Canada has released its 2018 Attorney rankings and each of Claire Hunter, Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Brent Olthuis, Mark Oulton, Bill Smart, Q.C. and Michael Stephens are recognized as litigation stars.
On May 11, 2018, Claire Hunter was on the faculty for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia’s “Expert Evidence” program. Claire’s presentation was on “Professionalism and Ethical Issues with Expert Evidence”.
April 2018
Lexpert has released their 2018 directory of leading Canadian lawyers. Once again, Hunter Litigation Chambers is one of only two British Columbia litigation boutiques ranked in the top “most frequently recommended” band for corporate commercial litigation and the firm is also ranked as a leading firm in forestry law. Four lawyers are ranked as leading practitioners: Randy Kaardal is ranked in employment law (employer and employee), Mike Stephens and Claire Hunter in corporate commercial litigation and Mark Oulton in forestry law.
Five Hunter Litigation Chambers lawyers — Mike Stephens, Brent Olthuis, Claire Hunter, Trevor Bant and Julia Roos — were recognized in the British Columbia Court of Appeal’s 2017 Annual Report for their contributions to pro bono services on Court of Appeal cases in 2017.
February 2018
Claire Hunter has been re-elected as a director of the VSO School of Music.
December 2017
Claire Hunter has been re-appointed as Vice Chair of the Law Society of BC’s Access to Legal Services Advisory Committee for 2018. Claire has been a member of this committee since 2015.
Claire Hunter has been appointed to the CBABC Governance Review Task Force, which has been struck to review and consider on structural governance matters within the CBA's BC Branch.
On December 14, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada has released its reasons for judgment in Cowper-Smith v. Morgan, an important case on estate law and the law of proprietary estoppel, available here. Claire Hunter and Ryan Androsoff were counsel for the respondent Gloria Morgan at the Supreme Court of Canada. Claire was also quoted in the Lawyers Daily about the significance of the decision for the test for proprietary estoppel.
Claire Hunter, with the assistance of Anna Poezzhaeva (articling student), obtained a dismissal for our strata corporation client of a claim by an owner that a decision of the strata had been significantly unfair. The decision is available here.
November 2017
On November 29, 2017, Claire Hunter was a panelist on a CBABC webinar entitled "Anatomy of a Document, Documentary Evidence: How to Assess it, Organize it and Submit it at Trial".
On November 21, 2017, Claire Hunter was a guest lecturer at the upper year Ethics and Professionalism class at UBC Law School. Claire made a presentation and led a discussion on access to justice.
Claire Hunter was presented a Rising Stars Award at the Gala honouring Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40. Lexpert paid tribute to the rising stars of the legal community at an awards presentation on Thursday, November 16, 2017.
On November 1, Claire Hunter was on the faculty for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia’s “Appellate Practice 2017” program. Claire spoke on a “Special Issues” panel about interlocutory appeals and self-represented litigants.
October 2017
Hunter Litigation Chambers has again been listed as one of the three top dispute resolution firms in British Columbia by the influential Chambers Guide 2018. Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Michael Stephens, Mark Oulton, Brent Olthuis and Claire Hunter were identified as leading litigation practitioners in the Guide.
Claire Hunter attended the inaugural Canadian Benchmark Women in Litigation Forum in Toronto on October 18. Claire spoke on a panel on the “Importance of leadership in developing your career”.
April 2017
Benchmark Canada has released its 2017 rankings and each of Claire Hunter, John Hunter Q.C., Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Ken McEwan, Q.C., Brent Olthuis, Mark Oulton, Bill Smart, Q.C. and Michael Stephens are recognized as litigation stars.
Claire Hunter has been awarded the Ann Wilson and Robert Prichard Award for Community and Professional Service by the University of Toronto Law Alumni Association. The award is presented bi-annually and honours a graduate of the Faculty of Law who demonstrates the highest standards of professional integrity, excellence and leadership, and who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession and/or community through his or her public interest work, pro bono activities and/or community service.
December 2016
Claire Hunter and Ken Leung obtained dismissals in chambers of four appeals brought against the Private Career Training Institutions Agency and its employees. The decisions are available here:
Kikla v. Ayong
Fraser Valley Community College v. Private Career Training Institutions Agency
October 2016
Claire Hunter has been elected Chair and President of the Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia.
On October 14, Claire Hunter appeared on a panel with the Honourable Mr. Justice Elliott Myers on Electronic Evidence: Current Issues and Best Practices as part of CLEBC's Electronic Evidence and eDiscovery 2016 program.
September 2016
On September 26, Claire was the keynote speaker at the University of Victoria's launch of their Pro Bono Students Canada program for this year. Claire talked about how providing pro bono services can enhance life in private practice.
May 2016
Claire Hunter and Eileen Patel successfully appealed an order in proprietary estoppel awarding the respondent a right to purchase the appellant’s interest in her share of the family home. The majority held on this issue that a remedy in proprietary estoppel cannot arise where the person making the alleged representation regarding the property in question has no current or immediate right to the property, settling a point of law not previously determined in British Columbia. The reasons are available here. (at paragraphs 98-119)
Claire Hunter has successfully defended an international child abduction claim brought in relation to Article 12 of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The reasons for judgment may be found here.
April 2016
On April 25, 2016, the British Columbia Court of Appeal released its decision in a trilogy of cases indexed as R. v. Dickey, 2016 BCCA 177 considering the constitutionality of two-year mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses. The Court found that these mandatory minimum provisions were unconstitutional because they infringed section 12 of the Charter as being cruel and unusual punishment. Claire Hunter was counsel to the Pivot Legal Society on the appeal.
March 2016
Claire Hunter and Rebecca Robb brought a successful appeal on behalf of two hatching egg producers from a series of decisions of the British Columbia Broiler Hatching Egg Commission relating to the establishment of a quota system for specialty hatching egg production in British Columbia. In March 29, 2016, the Farm Industry Review Board found "significant errors of both policy and process" and set aside the decisions under appeal. The reasons are available here.
Hunter Litigation Chambers was nominated as British Columbia firm of the year. The firm has once again been identified in the current Benchmark 2016 as "Highly Recommended", the highest category in the Benchmark listing. Ken, John Hunter, Q.C., Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Bill Smart, Q.C.,Michael Stephens and Brent are recognized as "Local Litigation Stars", while Claire Hunter is listed under "Future Stars".
October 2015
On October 23, Claire Hunter was on the faculty of CLEBC's program "A Litigator's Arsenal 2015". Claire gave a presentation entitled "Litigation in the Facebook Age: Creative Discovery Through Cutting-Edge Internet Research on Parties and Witnesses" based a paper co-written by Claire and Hunter Litigation Chambers articling student, Julia Roos.
September 2015
John Hunter, Q.C. and Claire Hunter have successfully defended John Furlong, the Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Committee, in a defamation suit brought by a journalist who had published unsubstantiated allegations against Mr. Furlong and had in turn been criticized by him. The decision can be found in Robinson v. Furlong, 2015 BCSC 1690. John, Claire and Bill Smart, Q.C. had represented Mr. Furlong in earlier proceedings against him, all of which were dismissed.
June 2015
The Canadian Bar Association has awarded Claire Hunter the prestigious Harry Rankin, Q.C. Award for Pro Bono Services in recognition of her contribution to the provision of pro bono services in British Columbia and nationally.
May 2015
Claire Hunter has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the VSO School of Music, a school established under the auspices of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to promote music education in Vancouver. Claire has also been appointed to the Board of the Lawyers Inn.
Mike Stephens and Claire Hunter were on the faculty for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia’s conference “Appellate Practice 2015”. Claire was on panels on Court of Appeal Chambers practice, which included Madam Justice Saunders and Registrar Outerbridge and on Access to Justice Issues, which included Madam Justice Bennett and Mike spoke on Leave to Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
March 2015
Bill Smart, Q.C. and Claire Hunter, with the assistance of Rebecca Robb, successfully obtained dismissed at trial of a historical abuse claim made against the firm’s client John Furlong. The Court found that the conduct in the litigation of the man who made claim was egregious, reprehensible and worthy of rebuke and awarded special costs to Mr. Furlong. The Oral Reasons For Judgment are available here.
February 2015
Benchmark Canada has announced its annual awards, and for the third straight year Ken McEwan, Q.C. has been recognized as British Columbia Litigator of the Year. Ken was also nominated for Canadian Trial Lawyer of the Year and Canadian Competition Lawyer of the Year. Hunter Litigation Chambers was nominated for British Columbia firm of the year, Canadian class action firm of the year and Canadian litigation boutique firm of the year and continues to be designated as “highly recommended”, the highest category in the Benchmark listing. Ken, John Hunter, Randy Kaardal, Q.C., Bill Smart, Q.C. and Mike Stephens are included as “Local Litigation Stars” while Brent Olthuis and Claire Hunter have been recognized as “Future Stars.” Brent was also nominated for emerging talent of the year in Canada.
John Hunter, Q.C. and Claire Hunter, with the assistance of Rebecca Robb, successfully obtained dismissal at summary trial of a historical abuse claim made against John Furlong. The woman’s claim was dismissed on the basis that the evidence supported a conclusion that she did not attend the school at which Mr. Furlong taught during the time he was there. The Reasons for Judgment are available here.
January 2015
We are pleased to announce that Claire Hunter has become a shareholder in the firm. After serving as a law clerk in the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004, Claire began her practice in commercial and regulatory litigation, first in New York, now in Vancouver with our firm. Congratulations to Claire!
December 2014
Claire Hunter has been appointed to the Law Society of British Columbia’s Access to Legal Services Advisory Committee for 2015. This Committee advises the Benchers on priority planning with respect to access to legal services. Claire is past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Committee and is currently Vice-President of Access Pro Bono.
November 2014
Randy Kaardal and Claire Hunter were counsel on one of the first applications for leave to appeal from an arbitral award heard by the British Columbia Supreme Court following the Supreme Court of Canada’s release of Sattva Capital Corp. v. Creston Molly Corp., 2014 SCC 53.
September 2014
Claire Hunter has been elected to the Provincial Council of the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch (CBABC) for the County of Vancouver. The purpose of Provincial Council is to carry on the work of the CBABC and advance its objects.
Claire Hunter successfully defeated two applications for security for costs brought against our client in a shareholder oppression proceeding: Ocean Pastures Corporation v. Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation, 2014 BCSC 1788.
June 2014
John Hunter, Q.C. and Claire Hunter, with the assistance of Ken Leung, were successful in the Court of Appeal in defending dismissal of an action against our firm’s client on the basis that it was an abuse of process. The Court of Appeal’s Reasons for Judgment in Sutherland v. Reeves, 2014 BCCA 222, are available here.
May 2014
On May 15, Claire Hunter co-chaired a webinar on “Civility in the Courtroom: Essentials for Trial Lawyers, sponsored by the Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch. Claire presented the lawyer’s perspective, with Mr. Justice Frits Verhoeven of the Supreme Court of British Columbia offering the perspective of the judge.
Claire Hunter and Heather Cochran were counsel in an appeal that raised important issues about the interaction between foreign and domestic child support orders and the impact of a parent’s non-compliance with British Columbia court orders and the right of her child to support. The Reasons for Judgment are available here.
March 2014
Ken McEwan, Q.C. and Claire Hunter were counsel for Capital One Bank (Canada Branch) in an application to certify a class action against the credit card industry in Canada heard over 12 day in 2013. The Reasons for Judgment in Watson v. Bank of America Corporation, et al, 2014 BCSC 532, have been released and are available here.
February 2014
Claire Hunter has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Access Pro Bono, British Columbia’s leading pro bono organization with the objective of delivering a full spectrum of pro bono services for low-income clients.
May 2013
Claire Hunter has received the Allan Parker Q.C. Award for Representation Services from Access Pro Bono for her tireless pro bono work on several cases in 2012 involving parental rights, democratic participation, the right to housing and the right to essential benefits for a disabled person. Claire was also recognized for assisting Access Pro Bono to refine and improve its Civil Chambers Program to better serve low- and modest-income Supreme Court and Court of Appeal litigants.