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May 2025
With sadness, we advise of the passing of The Honourable John J.L. Hunter, K.C., one of the founders of Hunter Litigation Chambers.
Last year, John returned to the firm after serving seven years as a Justice of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia. Prior to his judicial appointment, he had enjoyed a busy trial and appellate practice for 40 years, focussing on commercial litigation and public law, appearing in leading constitutional, administrative and aboriginal matters. He appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada on more than a dozen occasions, including as one of two amici curiae for the Court in the 2014 Senate Reference. Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994, he was recognized nationwide and beyond as one of Canada’s very finest counsel. He was a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and was the first Western Canadian to serve on the Board of Regents of the College. John was active in contributing to the profession, serving as President of the Law Society of British Columbia and President of the Federation of Law Societies. In 2014, he was honoured with the Law Society’s Begbie Award for achievement in and contribution to the legal profession.
A cherished and respected colleague, we will miss him and will strive to advance his legacy in our work and professional contributions.
Congratulations to the Hunter Litigation team on their national legal recognition by Benchmark Canada.
We are proud to share the recent achievements of several members of our team who have been recognized for their excellence in the legal profession.
Claire Hunter, K.C. has been honoured among Canada’s Top 50 Trial Lawyers, the Top 100 Women in British Columbia, and Top 100 Women in Canada—a remarkable testament to her leadership, advocacy, and outstanding contributions to the profession.
We also congratulate Aubin Calvert, Monique Evans, Rebecca Robb, Julia Roos, Nicole Gilewicz, and Paul Heisler on being named Future Stars, recognizing their talent and promise as the next generation of leading litigators.
Finally, we celebrate Randy Kaardal, K.C., William B. Smart, K.C., and Brian Duong, who have been recognized as Litigation Stars, underscoring their exceptional skill and commitment to excellence in advocacy.
Please join us in congratulating all of them on these well-deserved honours.
April 2025
Congratulations to Claire Hunter, K.C., shortlisted for BC Litigator of the Year and Randy Kaardal, K.C., shortlisted for Labour and Employment Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Litigation. Well-deserved recognition for their exceptional legal expertise and dedication!
Congratulations to Randy!
We are pleased to share that Randy Kaardal, K.C., has been recognized by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as one of Canada’s Best Employment Lawyers, earning the distinction of Consistently Recommended counsel. This well-deserved recognition reflects his expertise, and commitment to excellence in employment law.
Please join us in celebrating this achievement!
Best employment lawyers in Canada | Lexpert
Congratulations to Claire!
We are proud to announce that Claire Hunter, K.C., has been recognized by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as one of Canada’s Most Frequently Recommended Counsel in Corporate Commercial. This well-deserved recognition highlights her exceptional expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence.
Join us in celebrating this well-earned achievement!
Best Corporate commercial litigation lawyer in Canada | Lexpert
March 2025
Hunter Litigation Chambers Recognized Among Canada’s Leading Law Firms in the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
We are honored to be recognized as one of Canada’s top law firms in the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. This respected ranking is based on a thorough peer-review process that showcases the nation’s most distinguished legal professionals and firms.
Hunter Litigation congratulates Claire Hunter, K.C. on her recognition in the 2025 Lexpert Canada Directory for her outstanding accomplishments in Corporate/Commercial Litigation and Public/Regulatory law. This well-deserved recognition highlights Claire’s dedication, expertise, and contributions to the legal profession.
Hunter Litigation congratulates Randy J. Kaardal, K.C. on once again being recognized in the 2025 Lexpert Canada Directory for his achievements in Employment Law. This continued recognition reflects Randy’s dedication, expertise, and contributions to the legal profession.
January 2025
Hunter Litigation has been recognized once again in Chamber Canada 2025 for its work in Litigation: General Commercial (BC) and Agribusiness: Forestry (Nationwide - Canada).
Lawyers Ranked:
- General Commercial Litigation (BC) : Randal Kaardal, K.C.
- Administrative & Public Law (BC) : Claire Hunter, K.C.
- Crime (Nationwide) : Bill Smart, K.C.
- Transportation: Rail & Road ( Nationwide) : Monique Evans
Retirement Announcement: Martin R. Taylor, K.C.
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Martin R. Taylor, K.C., a highly respected and dedicated member of our legal community.
Born in England in 1931, Martin began his career as a newspaper reporter before moving to Canada at the age of 22. His interest in the law was sparked during his early work here as a police reporter in Sarnia, Ontario, where he covered the courts every day.
His interest was furthered four years later while working in Vancouver for Canadian Press when he learned during an interview with then UBC President Dr. Norman A.M. MacKenzie that he could enter law school while working by taking Grade 13 by correspondence and spreading second-year Arts over a summer and winter session.
Martin made his mark at UBC Law as Editor of the UBC Law Review and by winning the Allan Gregory Memorial Award for advocacy.
Following graduation in 1962 Martin articled with Charles W. Brazier, QC., at Davis & Company (now DLA Piper), where he practised until appointed in 1978 to the BC Supreme Court. Following his retirement from the BC Court of Appeal in 1995 he sat part-time for seven years on the Court of Appeal for the Cayman Islands while serving also as special referee, arbitrator, mediator and commissioner, including as Ethics Commissioner for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. In 2010 he joined Hunter Litigation Chambers, where he continued to contribute his expertise to the legal community.
Martin was instrumental in organizing a 'Donoghue v. Stevenson Festival' at UBC in 1982, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Class of 62 along with the 50th anniversary of the landmark case in negligence law.
This led to the 1990 'Pilgrimage to Paisley' attended by 250 Canadian lawyers, judges, and academics in Paisley, Scotland, to honour at its birthplace the famous ‘snail-in-a-bottle’ case that has reshaped the law of negligence around the Commonwealth common law world. His keynote address, 'Mrs. Donoghue’s Journey,' is available on the Scottish Society of Law Reporting website.
This led in turn in 1995 to the movie ‘The Paisley Snail’, created in by David Hay, KC, and Michael Doherty, broadcast originally on Knowledge Network television and since shown to high school and university law classes around the world.
In 1998 Martin was awarded the BC Law Society’s Begbie Award for exceptional service, and in 2009 the UBC Law Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
As Martin steps into retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of service, dedication, and excellence in the legal profession. His contributions have had a lasting impact, and his presence will be deeply missed by colleagues, clients, and the broader legal community.
We wish Martin all the best in this next chapter of his life and thank him for his remarkable contributions to the law.
Welcome Wes Dutcher-Walls to the Team!
We’re excited to welcome Wes Dutcher-Walls as our new Associate! With a strong background in criminal, civil, constitutional, and administrative law, Wes brings valuable experience and energy to our team.
Wes is an expert in litigation, having represented clients at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also served as an advocate and advisor, offering counsel to various justice-system participants and contributing to For the Defence magazine. Wes completed his law degree at the University of Toronto and earned an award in constitutional law at UC Berkeley.
We’re confident that Wes will make a tremendous impact. Please join us in welcoming him to this exciting new chapter!