Leyla Salmi

Associate

She/Her

Leyla maintains a complex practice focused on construction and engineering law.

Biography

As part of our Construction and Engineering Group, Leyla advises a variety of professionals, including architects and engineers, on a range of civil litigation issues. She has experience advising clients in situations including errors and omissions, risk management, negligence and other professional liability issues. Leyla also acts for architects in complaints brought under the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC). She has represented clients at all levels of court in British Columbia.

Prior to joining Harper Grey in 2021, Leyla commenced her career within the construction litigation and dispute resolution group of a national law firm working on a broad range of project development and construction matters. She also advised local municipalities. Leyla then transitioned to the Ministry of the Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, assisting with contract administration and dispute resolution related to major transportation infrastructure projects.

Leyla takes pride in giving back to the profession and her community. She has acted as a Beedie Luminaries Mentor, providing mentorship to students as they complete their post-secondary education. She also regularly provides mentorship to UBC undergraduate students. During law school, she served as the President of the Business Law Association, Vice-President Academic of the Law Students’ Society, and was an active member of several student organizations. She currently serves on the Alumni UBC Advisory Council providing advice and counsel to the alumni UBC Board and the Associate Vice-President & Executive Director, and she serves as a board member for the Phoenix Chamber Choir. She is regularly invited to speak at UBC events, including at the Peter A. Allard School of Law.

Outside of work Leyla enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, playing tennis, and painting.

Assistance Team

Karen Buquet

Legal Administrative Assistant

[email protected] Contact by email
Expertise
Education
  • University of Victoria, J.D., 2019

  • University of British Columbia, B.Sc., 2016

Bar Admission
  • British Columbia, 2020
Languages spoken
  • English
  • Russian
  • French
  • Spanish
Experience
Construction & Engineering Law

Neale Engineering Ltd. v. Ross Land Mushroom Farm Ltd., 2023 BCCA 429: Successfully acted for the appellant who sought and obtained a five justice panel to consider overturning the line of reasoning in Sohal v. Lezama, 2021 BCCA 40, at paras. 110-111, in respect of “anomaly #3”. The appeal was allowed.

Professional Credentials
Leadership
  • Phoenix Chamber Choir, Board Member
  • Alumni UBC Advisory Council, Member (2022 – current)
  • Beedie Luminaries, Mentor (2021-2023)
  • Canadian Bar Association BC ADR section, Past Member at Large (2022 – 2023)
  • University of Victoria Business Law Association, Former President
  • University of Victoria Law Students’ Society, Former Vice-President
Memberships
  • Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, Member
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Member
Community Involvement
  • LiL Leader, Life in Law

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Leyla Salmi

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