John J.L. Hunter, K.C.
Profile
A founder of Hunter Litigation Chambers, Mr. Hunter has returned to the firm as Associate Counsel after his retirement as a Justice of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia.
For forty years prior to his judicial appointment, Mr. Hunter conducted a busy trial and appellate practice. His practice focused on commercial litigation and public law, including leading constitutional, administrative and Aboriginal law cases. Mr. Hunter appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada more than a dozen times and was invited by the Supreme Court to participate in the 2014 Senate Reference as one of two amici curiae for the Court. While in practice, Mr. Hunter had an AV Martindale Hubbell rating and was recognized as leading counsel by all the various legal directories. Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994, he is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers.
During his practice, Mr. Hunter was active in contributing to the profession. He has served as President of the Law Society of British Columbia and President of the Federation of Law Societies. In 2014, he was awarded the Law Society’s Begbie Award for achievement in and contribution to the legal profession. The next year he was appointed to the Board of Regents of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the first lawyer from Western Canada to be so honoured, and served in that capacity until April 2017 when he was appointed to the Court of Appeal directly from practice.
Mr. Hunter provides practical and cost-effective advice to his colleagues and to clients of the firm on civil litigation matters, including providing opinions on the prospects and strategies for success for counsel considering bringing an appeal before the Court of Appeal. He can assist counsel within and outside the firm by reviewing written and oral presentation of submissions on commercial and public law matters.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Hunter is also available to assist in alternative dispute resolution as a commercial arbitrator or mediator. Prior to his judicial appointment, he had been appointed as an arbitrator on both general commercial matters and disputes relating to energy and natural resources. In 2012, Mr. Hunter was named a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was a member of the Western Canada Commercial Arbitrators Society.
Notable Cases
Notable Cases
Teal Cedar Products Ltd. v. British Columbia, 2017 SCC 32 – represented a forestry company in an arbitration and subsequent litigation with the provincial government over the compensation to be paid for a reduction in the company’s operating area
Musqueam Indian Band v. Musqueam Indian Band (Board of Review), 2016 SCC 36 – successfully represented the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in an appeal concerning the assessment of the value of the golf club for tax assessment purposes
Henry v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2016 BCSC 1038 – acted for the Attorney General of British Columbia in an action claiming damages for wrongful conviction
Robinson v. Furlong, 2015 BCSC 1690 – represented John Furlong in successfully defending a defamation claim
Federation of Law Societies of Canada v. Attorney-General of Canada, 2015 SCC 7 – acted for the Federation of Law Societies in a challenge to the application of the federal money laundering legislation to the legal profession
In the Matter of a Reference concerning the Reform of the Senate, 2014 SCC 32 – was invited by the Supreme Court of Canada to participate as one of two amici curiae in the Senate Reform Reference
Ahousaht Indian Band and Nation v. Canada (Attorney General), 2013 BCCA 300 – represented the Province of British Columbia in a case to determine the existence and scope of Aboriginal fishing rights
McLean v. Canadian Premier Life Insurance Company, 2013 BCCA 264 – acted for a widow in successfully obtaining insurance coverage for the death of her husband, reversing the trial judgment denying coverage
Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. v. British Columbia (Environment), 2013 BCSC 2258 – obtained an order quashing a minister’s decision refusing to issue an environmental assessment certificate on behalf of a mining company
Canadian National Railway Co. v. McKercher LLP, 2013 SCC 39 – appeared as counsel for the Federation of Law Societies in an appeal concerning whether a law firm can accept a retainer to act against a current client on a matter unrelated to the client’s existing files
British Columbia (Forests) v. Teal Cedar Products Ltd., 2013 SCC 51 – acted for a forestry company to determine whether an arbitrator under the Commercial Arbitration Act had the jurisdiction to award compound interest
ICBC v. Trustees of the COPE 378/1CBC Pension Plan, 2013 BCCA 556 – represented the trustees of the COPE 378 pension plan with ICBC in a dispute over contribution rates under the plan
R. v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited et al, 2011 SCC 42 – acted for Imperial Tobacco Canada in a dispute over third party claims in the cost recovery litigation arising from the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act
R. v. Cunningham, 2010 SCC 10 – represented Yukon Law Society in appeal concerning the right of counsel for non-payment of fees
Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson v. Inmet Mining Corp., 2009 BCCA 385 – acted for a mining company in a fee dispute that engaged the principles of charging fair fees
Hayes Forest Services Limited v. Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, 2008 BCCA 31 – represented Weyerhaeuser in an appeal from an arbitration award
Gold v. Serratus Mountain Products Ltd. and Mountain Equipment Cooperative, 2006 FCA 98 – successfully defended Mountain Equipment Co-Op at trial and on appeal from a claim of patent infringement
British Columbia v. Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., 2005 SCC 49 epresented British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. In a constitutional challenge to the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act
Haida Nation v. British Columbia and Weyerhauser, 2004 SCC 73 – represented Weyerhaeuser in this major Aboriginal rights case
K.L.B. v. British Columbia, 2003 SCC 51 – represented the Province of British Columbia in an appeal to determine whether the provincial government is vicariously liable for foster parent abuse
British Columbia v. Canadian Forest Products Ltd., 2004 SCC 38 – intervened on behalf of the Council of Forest Industries in an appeal concerning the assessment of compensation for damages caused by a forest fire
Society Promoting Environmental Conservation v. Canada (Attorney General), 2003 FCA 239 – successfully represented the Attorney General of Canada in overturning a decision quashing an expropriation order of the Nanoose Bay underwater testing facility
Blencoe v. British Columbia (Human Rights Commission), 2000 SCC 44 – acted for the Human Rights Commission in successfully opposing a constitutional challenge based on administrative delay
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Simpson, [1996] 2 S.C.R. 1048 – represented MacMillan Bloedel in sustaining a John Doe injunction
Publications
Publications
Chapter 7 of The Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada (New Federation House, 2014): "The Right Honourable Francis Alexander Anglin, P.C."
"Presenting a Civil Appeal", prepared for the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC's Conference on Appellate Practice (October 2010)
"Post-Call Professional Legal Education -- the B.C. Approach", prepared for the Symposium of Lifelong Learning in Professionalism, presented at the Chief Justice of Ontario's Advisory Committee on Professionalism, February 20, 2009, Toronto, Ont. and published in the Canadian Legal Education Annual Review at 2010 C.L.E.A.R. 93.
"Disappointed Expectations: Why Delgamuukw has Failed to Achieve Results on the Ground", by John Hunter, Q.C., Chapter 2 of Aboriginal Law Since Delgamuukw (Canada Law Book 2009)
"The Criminalization of Workplace Safety: Addressing Personal and Corporate Liability Following Bill C-45", paper presented at Insight Information Co.’s Mining Forum, April 14 - 15, 2005 (co-author)
"Ethical and Practical Issues in Administrative Law Practice" for the Administrative Law Conference, 2008, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. November 28, 2008
"No Fault Liability against the Crown", by John Hunter, Q.C., for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia's conference on "Suing and Defending the Government, 2006”, Vancouver, B.C. January 9, 2006
"Investigating the Case and Gathering Evidence", by John Hunter, Q.C., in the Continuing Legal Education Society's Civil Trial Handbook, Second Edition, December 2005
"Understanding the Duty to Consult with First Nations", by John Hunter, Q.C., for the Insight Conference on "Aboriginal Land and Resource Management", November 2002
"Principles and Practice of Interlocutory Injunctions", by John Hunter, Q.C., in Injunctions - British Columbia Law and Practice, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, October 2002
"Advancing Aboriginal Title Claims after Delgamuukw: The Role of the Injunction", for the Continuing Legal Education Conference on Litigating Aboriginal Title, June 2000, cited as authoritative by the Supreme Court of Canada in Haida Nation v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), 2004 SCC 73
Presentations
Mr. Hunter has given a number of lectures and presentations on a wide range of subjects, including the following:
2015 – Mr. Hunter gave a presentation to the Commonwealth Law Conference in Glasgow, Scotland on the topic, “The Response of the Canadian Legal Profession to Money Laundering Legislation”
2014 – Mr. Hunter spoke on the subject of Recent Developments in Aboriginal Law at the Constitutional Law Symposium presented by the University of Alberta Faculty of Law in Edmonton and also gave a presentation on “The Role of Amicus Curiae – What You Need to Know” to the Advocates Society in Toronto.
In 2013, he was invited to address the conference on “The Future of Law School” presented by the University of Alberta Faculty of Law in Edmonton and spoke on the need to prepare students for the practice of law in the 21st
In 2012, Mr. Hunter gave the keynote address at the 5th International Legal Ethics Conference in Banff, Alberta on the topic “Regulation of Legal Ethics in Canada.”
In 2011, he was invited by the National Judicial Institute of the Canadian Judicial Council to participate in a roundtable discussion on “Good Judgment: Judicial Decision-Making and the Judicial Method.”
In 2010, Mr. Hunter was invited to deliver the annual F. Murray Fraser Lecture on Ethics at the University of Victoria Law School and delivered an address on the topic, “Ethics and Professionalism in the Practice of Law: The Role of Legal Education.” He also gave a presentation to the University of Alberta Faculty of Law on the subject “Preparing for Practice – Legal Education and the Practice of Law” and a presentation to the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia on “Presenting a Civil Appeal.”
In 2009, Mr. Hunter presented a paper on “Post-Call Professional Legal Education -- the B.C. Approach”, at the Symposium of Lifelong Learning in Professionalism, presented at the Chief Justice of Ontario's Advisory Committee on Professionalism, February 20, 2009, Toronto, Ont. He also presented a paper on “Setting the Fee for Commercial Litigation - Ethical and Practical Considerations”, at the Canadian Bar Association (British Columbia Branch) Annual Branch Conference, November 22, 2009, Los Angeles California
Professional Affiliations
News
News
July 2024
John Hunter, now K.C., has returned to the firm as Associate Counsel to support the firm’s litigation and appellate practice and to serve as a commercial arbitrator.
February 2024
Mr. Justice Hunter has retired as a Justice of the British Columbia and Yukon Courts of Appeal, having reached the mandatory retirement age.
April 2017
John Hunter, Q.C. has been appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Yukon Court of Appeal, effective immediately. He is the only member of those Courts to have been appointed directly from practice.
May 2016
On May 13th, John Hunter, Q.C. participated on a panel at a Judicial Ethics Seminar presented by the National Judicial Institute. The topic of the panel was Judges’ Returning to Practice.
Euromoney’s 2016 Guide to the World’s Leading Litigation and Product Liability Lawyers has been published, and John Hunter, Q.C. is listed among the Litigation counsel identified for Canada.
March 2016
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".
November 2015
The UK-based Chambers Guide has for the first time published a guide focussed on Canada. Hunter Litigation Chambers was listed on the top rank in Dispute Resolution, and four of our counsel, John Hunter, Q.C., Ken McEwan, Q.C., Mike Stephens and Brent Olthuis, were identified as leading practitioners in Dispute Resolution. John was also recognized in the field of Aboriginal Law.
John Hunter, Q.C. was quoted in the press as counsel for the Attorney-General of British Columbia in the Ivan Henry wrongful conviction trial. Ivan Henry's wrongful conviction a cautionary tale for self-representation in court, says lawyer: CBC News, Nov. 23, 2015
October 2015
John Hunter, Q.C. has been elected to the Board of Regents of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The ACTL is an influential U.S.-based organization composed of trial lawyers in the United States and Canada to which membership is extended by invitation only. The management of the College's affairs is vested in a Board of Regents, consisting of five officers and fifteen regents. Each of the regents has an assigned jurisdiction of states and/or provinces. John will be responsible for the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta and the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.
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.
August 2015
The third party directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, has released its current guide and once again lawyers from this firm are well represented. We have been recognized in eight practice areas, Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ken McEwan, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C.), Administrative and Public Law (Randy Kaardal, Q.C. and John), Bet-the-Company Litigation (John), Class Action Litigation (Ken), Natural Resources Law (John), Labour and Employment Law (Randy), Securities Law (Ken) and Aboriginal Law (John).
July 2015
John Hunter, Q.C. was in the news as counsel for the Yukon Government in the dispute about land use planning in the Peel watershed of the Yukon.
- Peel Watershed case wraps up in Whitehorse: CBC News, July 10, 2014
- Lawyers debate future of Nova Scotia-sized Yukon wilderness: CBC News, July 8, 2014
June 2015
John Hunter, Q.C. has been identified as one of the top practitioners in Commercial Litigation by the international publication Who's Who Legal 2015, published in London England. John was one of four litigation counsel practising in British Columbia to be recognized.
John Hunter, Q.C. and Claire Hunter were in the press recently in connection with a two week trial in which the firm acted for former VANOC CEO John Furlong in a defamation action brought against him by Laura Robinson. Judgment in the trial was reserved.
- John Furlong's lawyer accuses Laura Robinson of trying to bring him down: CBC News, June 17, 2015
- Journalist denies intent of story was to ‘bring down' Furlong: Globe & Mail, June 17, 2015
- Journalist persisted attack on John Furlong after story ran, lawyer says: Globe & Mail, June 18, 2015
- John Furlong vs. journalist: Both claim to be the victim: CBC News, June 26, 2015
- Tables turned on journalist Laura Robinson at Furlong defamation trial: National Post, June 22, 2015
April 2015
John Hunter, Q.C. gave a presentation at the biannual conference of the Commonwealth Law Society that took place in Glasgow, Scotland in April. John spoke on the response of the Canadian legal profession to money laundering legislation and the recent Supreme Court of Canada judgment addressing this issue.
The B.C. Court of Appeal has held that the Shaughnessy Golf Club should be assessed for property tax purposes as a golf club, not as land available for residential development, as argued by the Musqueam Indian Band. John Hunter was counsel for the Shaughnessy Golf Club on this appeal.
March 2015
The Supreme Court's judgment in Canada (Attorney General) v. Federation of Law Societies of Canada was the feature story on the February 27, 2015 issue of the Lawyers' Weekly, and John Hunter, Q.C. was quoted extensively on the significance of the judgment: see Hunter sees victory for clients as SCC enshrines independence
February 2015
Benchmark Canada has announced its annual awards for 2015. Ken McEwan, Q.C., John Hunter, Q.C., 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.
On February 13th, the Supreme Court of Canada released its long-awaited judgment in Canada (Attorney General) v. Federation of Law Societies of Canada, 2015 SCC 7. The Supreme Court held for the first time that the lawyer's duty of commitment to the client's cause was a principle of fundamental justice in Canadian constitutional law and struck down provisions of Canada's anti-money laundering legislation insofar as they imposed record-keeping obligations on lawyers concerning their clients' activities. John Hunter was counsel for the Federation.
January 2015
Ken McEwan, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C. have once again been recognized in the 2015 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada for Corporate-Commercial Litigation, and have been designated among the leading Canadian cross-border commercial litigators in the December 2014 Lexpert magazine.
November 2014
At the annual Bench and Bar dinner, John Hunter, Q.C. received the Law Society Award, which is awarded based on the criteria of integrity, professional achievement, service and law reform. The award is a sculpture of BC's first Chief Justice, dispensing justice in the Cariboo on horseback. John is the fourteenth recipient of the Law Society award since its inception in 1986.
October 2014
John Hunter, Q.C. was quoted in the Financial Post commenting on a matter in which the firm is representing Taseko Mines Ltd.: Taseko seeks to sue Ottawa for damages over B.C. mine rejection: Financial Post, October 21, 2014
In October, John Hunter, Q.C. gave two presentations on the constitutional implications of the Supreme Court of Canada's decision concerning the aboriginal title of the Tsilhqot'in First Nation, one at the annual Constitutional Law Symposium of the University of Alberta Law School's Centre for Constitutional Studies and one at a conference hosted by the Pacific Business and Law Institute.
September 2014
A new book on The Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada has been published (New Federation House, 2014) which includes a chapter written by John Hunter, Q.C. on Chief Justice Francis Anglin, the 9th Chief Justice of Canada.
July 2014
On July 30, John Hunter, Q.C. was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in London.
June 2014
The 2014 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has been published and counsel from our firm are again well represented in the listing of leading practitioners in British Columbia in Corporate-Commercial Litigation (Ken McEwan, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C., both in the “most frequently recommended” category), Product Liability Litigation (Ken and Bill Berardino), Employment Law – Management and Labour (Randy Kaardal), Securities Litigation (Ken), Aboriginal Law (John), Class Actions (Ken) and Forestry Litigation (John).
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
John Hunter, Q.C. gave a presentation on “Amicus Curiae: Everything you need to know” for the Advocates Society's Spring Symposium in Toronto.
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.
John Hunter, Q.C. and Claire Hunter were successful in an defending against an application brought by the Bank of Nova Scotia and ING Bank of Canada seeking to strike out an application brought by our clients RSP Generation Limited Partnership and RSP Generation Corp. relating to the right to use the name “Tangerine”. The Reasons for Judgment are here.
April 2014
In April, Euromoney published their “Expert Guide to the World's Finest Lawyers” in Litigation and Product Liability. Bill Berardino, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C. were recognized in Litigation, and Bill was also cited for his expertise in product Liability.
On April 29, John Hunter, Q.C. was called to the bar of the Yukon Territory. John has been retained by the Yukon Government to defend several lawsuits brought by First Nations in the Yukon.
March 2014
The annual Chambers Global Guide for 2014 has been published and once again Hunter Litigation Chambers has been listed in the top rank of dispute resolution firms in British Columbia. Bill Berardino, Q.C., John Hunter, Q.C., Ken McEwan, Q.C. and Mike Stephens are individually ranked by Chambers. The full report can be found here.
John Hunter, Q.C. and Ken McEwan, Q.C. were panellists on the Continuing Legal Education's Civil Litigation Conference 2014 on March 27. Ken spoke on Recent Developments in Class proceedings and John was on a panel with the Chief Justice of British Columbia to discuss standards of review in appellate proceedings.
December 2013
In Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. v. British Columbia, BCSC 2258, released December 9, the British Columbia Supreme Court set aside a refusal by the BC Government to approve a copper/gold and molybdenum mine near Morrison Lake BC. The company's application must now be reconsidered by the Government on terms set out in the decision. John Hunter represented Pacific Booker Mines in this successful judicial review application.
John Hunter, Q.C. successfully defended an application for security for costs brought by Laura Robinson against the firm's client John Furlong. The Oral Reasons for Judgment are here.
Ken McEwan, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C. were recognized by Lexpert as leading corporate-commercial practitioners in that company's 2013 Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada. Brent Olthuis was identified as one of Lexpert's “US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers to Watch.”
November 2013
John Hunter, Q.C., Brent Olthuis and Claire Hunter appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada on the Senate Reform Reference the week of November 12. The Reference concerned the interpretation of the constitutional amending formula in respect to reform of the Senate. Mr. Hunter was appointed amicus curiae to the Court, along with Daniel Jutras, Dean of Law at McGill Law School.
October 2013
On October 31, the Supreme Court of Canada released its long-awaited judgment in Sun‑Rype Products Ltd. v. Archer Daniels Midland Company, 2013 SCC 58. Ken McEwan, Q.C. and Eileen Patel represented Cargill, and successfully opposed certification of a class action against Cargill by indirect purchasers of the product.
Bill Berardino, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C. have been recognized in Who's Who Legal: Canada 2013 in the field of Commercial Litigation.
September 2013
On September 28, John Hunter, Q.C. presented a paper on "Professional Education and the Modern Law School" at the conference on "The Future of Law School" hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta in connection with the centenary of that law school.
August 2013
The 2014 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada has been published and once again lawyers from Hunter Litigation Chambers have been recognized in a wide range of areas, including Bet-the-Company Litigation (Bill Berardino, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C.), Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Bill Berardino, Q.C., John Hunter, Q.C., and Ken McEwan, Q.C.), Labour and Employment Law (Randy Kaardal), Natural Resources Law (John Hunter, Q.C.), Class Action Litigation (Bill Berardino, Q.C. and Ken McEwan, Q.C.), Director and Officer Liability (Bill Berardino, Q.C.), Administrative and Public Law (John Hunter, Q.C. and Randy Kaardal), Product Liability (Bill Berardino, Q.C.), Securities Law (Bill Berardino, Q.C. and Ken McEwan, Q.C.), Aboriginal law (John Hunter, Q.C.), Personal Injury Litigation (Bill Berardino, Q.C.) and Legal Malpractice Law (Bill Berardino, Q.C.). The firm was “top-listed in British Columbia” in Bet-the-Company Litigation and Administrative and Public Law. In addition, Ken McEwan, Q.C. was named Best Lawyers' 2014 Vancouver Class Action Litigation Lawyer of the Year, and Bill Berardino, Q.C. the Director and Officer Liability Lawyer of the Year.
June 2013
John Hunter, Q.C. and Claire Hunter acted for the successful respondents on an appeal from an injunction prohibiting interference with the purchaser's use of assets purchased from a receivership. The Court of Appeal's Reasons for Judgment in Tangerine Financial Products Limited Partnership v. Sutherland, 2013 BCCA 283, are available here.
April 2013
Benchmark Canada, a third party directory that describes itself as “the Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys” has released its 2013 edition and again Hunter Litigation Chambers is listed in the top category for British Columbia. The Guide identifies Michael Stephens, Randy Kaardal, Ken McEwan, Q.C., John Hunter, Q.C. and Bill Berardino, Q.C. as "Local Litigation Stars" and Brent Olthuis as one of BC's "Future Stars".
March 2013
Mike Stephens and John Hunter, Q.C. appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada on the issue of whether an arbitrator in British Columbia has the power to include compound interest in an award setting compensation for a statutory taking.
The 2013 Chambers Guide as been published and Hunter Litigation Chambers continues as one of only four firms listed on the top tier in British Columbia for Dispute Resolution. Bill Berardino, Q.C. (described in Chambers as “one of the greatest trial lawyers in the history of the province”), John Hunter, Q.C. and Ken McEwan, Q.C. are all recognized as leading counsel in this field.
February 2013
John Hunter, Q.C. has been appointed amicus curiae (friend of the court) by the Supreme Court of Canada for the Senate Reference in which the Government of Canada has asked the Supreme Court for its opinion on various questions relating to reform of the Senate.
January 2013
John Hunter, Q.C. represented the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in the Supreme Court of Canada in a case concerning the scope of a lawyer's obligation not to act against the interests of a current client. Ken McEwan, Q.C. and John Hunter, Q.C. have been recognized as leading practitioners in Corporate Commercial Litigation in the 2013 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.