Preferred Areas of Practice
Construction Law
Builders liens and claims
Arbitrator in construction disputes
An engineer for nine years before beginning his legal career, Jim practices construction law, primarily prosecuting and defending disputes among construction project participants. These often include builders liens, claims for extras, delay costs and fee claims, and allegations of inadequate design, construction and inspection services. Jim has been involved in many significant mediations, and has acted as an arbitrator in construction disputes. He also has an active practice defending engineers in professional discipline proceedings.
He lectures on builders liens for the Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C., and is a co-author of CLE's British Columbia Builders Liens Practice Manual. He lectures to U.B.C. engineering students and to many industry groups on construction law and the engineering profession. He is a past chair of the CBA's BC Construction Law Subsection, and has also given presentations to that group on related topics.
Jim has worked in the geotechnical field, in subsurface investigations and pile-driving projects throughout British Columbia and in Ontario, Alberta and Alaska. As a designer he worked on pipeline, hydro-electric and aquacultural projects. He also wrote and marketed one of the early Canadian personal income tax preparation programs.
Education
LL.B., University of British Columbia
B.Sc., Civil Engineering, Queens University
*denotes law corporation
