Administrative Law

Harper Grey LLP lawyers are leading counsel in professional regulation and administrative law. We represent clients in most types of regulatory and administrative law matters. We have a strong team of lawyers dedicated to defending and assisting professionals facing serious legal problems related to their professional practice.

Professionals often grapple with serious ethical issues - issues that can become problems that threaten their reputations, security and practices. Harper Grey LLP lawyers have a long history of helping health care, financial, legal, engineering and other professionals with ethical obligations and responsibilities, as well as other practice issues.

Our Areas of Focus

We represent professionals before the following administrative and regulatory bodies:

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
• British Columbia College of Psychologists
• College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia
• British Columbia College of Teachers
• B.C. Teachers Federation
• Architectural Institute of British Columbia
• Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia
• British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association
• Law Society of British Columbia
• British Columbia Board of Registration of Social Workers
• Hospital Appeal Board of British Columbia
• Insurance Council of British Columbia
• British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal
• Environmental Appeal Board
• British Columbia Securities Commission
• Market Regulation Services Inc.
• Investment Dealers Association
• College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia
• College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia
• College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia
• British Columbia College of Chiropractors
• Employment Standards Branch

In addition, we provide ongoing advice to a number of professional organizations who give advice to their members.

We also act as counsel in other administrative matters involving economic regulation in numerous industries including forestry, mining, wildlife management, land use, taxation, and transportation.

Representative Experience

Our significant cases include acting as counsel:

• for professionals before their governing body in disciplinary matters including allegations of sexual misconduct, improper prescribing of medication, negligence, breach of confidentiality and incompetence.
• in many court decisions related to the scope of judicial review and appeals from administrative tribunals
• on appeals from disciplinary decisions including matters considered by the Supreme Court of Canada, such as Dr. Q. v. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
• to provide policy advice to professionals and organizations on matters including privacy legislation, the scope of and proposed amendments to the Health Professions Act, the role of mediation in professional regulation, the drafting of by-laws and ethical standards
• on appeals involving Constitutional and Charter challenges
• in cases involving privacy issues and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
• in many disputes with the Medical Services Commission related to billing audits and the recovery of alleged overpayments to health professions
• to the British Columbia Royal Commission on Workers Compensation
• in wildlife management matters involving the Environmental Appeal Board
• in disputes involving forest practice matters
• for broker dealers, registered representatives and traders in investigations and disciplinary hearings by securities regulatory authorities including the BC Securities Commission, the IDA and the MFDA

We also write and edit the Harper Grey Administrative Law Netletter for Quicklaw. This is a leading publication providing the timely review of leading administrative law cases from across Canada.

Contact

William Clark is the Chair of Harper Grey’s Administrative Law Group.  Please contact him at 604.895.2808 or send him an email.