Bernie practices primarily in the areas of personal injury and insurance litigation. He is the Chair of our Personal Injury Practice Group and Chair of our Articling Students Committee.

Bernie is very experienced in the defense of institutional sexual assault claims. He articled with the firm and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1987. In 1988-1989 Bernie took a leave of absence while he was employed with Clyde & Company, a leading firm of solicitors in London, England.

Representative Client Work

Recent examples of Bernie's representative cases include:

• Acting for several religious denominations in historical sexual assault claims

• Representing the United Church in proceedings collectively cited as Blackwater v. Plint et al which were concerned with determining the liability of the Government of Canada and the Church for sexual assaults committed at Indian Residential Schools. The case was decided by the Supreme Court of Canada in October 2005 (2005 SCC 58) and will serve as a leading judgment on issues of institutional vicarious liability and assessment of damages.

Speaking Engagements

• Bernie has been a lecturer with the Continuing Legal Education Society and spoken frequently on topics regarding the defense of sexual assault claims.

Professional & Civic Activities

• Member, Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch - Civil Litigation and Insurance Law subsections
• Member, Canadian Defence Lawyers
• Associate Member, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
• Past-Executive Member, Vancouver Bar Association

Background

Born Vancouver, British Columbia 1960, Bernie lives in the Vancouver area with his wife and two kids. He is a coach in both Minor Baseball and Minor Soccer Leagues and sits on an Advisory Committee to the Delta Parks and Recreation Commission.