Family Law - Vancouver
Submitted by Section Co-Chair, Geeta Bains
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 8
October 16, 2013
Guest Speakers: Karen Nordlinger, Q.C., Georgialee Lang, and Lisa Hamilton
Meeting Title/Topic: Family Law Arbitration
Synopsis: The speakers discussed and answered questions relating to Family Law Arbitration, including what types of files are appropriate for arbitration, how to best prepare yourself and your client for arbitration and some do’s and don’ts through the arbitration process, arising from the personal experiences of the panel members.
November 21, 2013
Guest Speakers: Doug Jasinski, President of Skunkworks Creative Group Inc., Barbara J. Nelson, Q.C., Personal Law Corp., and Katherine L. Fraser, Lawyer and Family Law Mediator
Meeting Title/Topic: Business, Marketing and Advertising for Lawyers
Synopsis: The panel spoke about the use of marketing and business development strategies for lawyers from various perspectives.
February 6, 2014
Guest Speakers: Jen Newstand and Joseph K. Broadhurst
Meeting Title/Topic: Social Media, Evidentiary Issues and Privacy in Family Law
Synopsis: Ms. Newsted provided information on the different forms of social media, their use and basic applications to lawyers in their practice and in dealing with specific cases. Mr. Broadhurst provided an overview of the case law that relates to the use of social media and discussed the admissibility and evidentiary issues surrounding evidence gathered from social media.
February 20, 2014
Guest Speaker: Doug Runchey, DR Pension Consulting
Meeting Title/Topic: Canadian Pension Plan Credit Splitting
Synopsis: This meeting was a joint Section meeting hosted by all the Family Law Sections. Mr. Runchey discussed CPP Credit Splitting. (The Family Law - Vancouver Section broadcasted a live viewing of this meeting to members from the boardroom of Jenkins Marzban Logan)
March 6, 2014
Guest Speakers: Master Shelagh Scarth, Master Grant Taylor, and John Paul E. Boyd
Meeting Title/Topic: The Family Law Act One Year Later.
Synopsis: The Masters presented the views from the bench about the application of the Family Law Act one year after enactment. Mr. Boyd provided discussion and commentary concerning the implementation of the Family Law Act to date.
April 10, 2014
Guest Speakers: Alyson Jones, President Alyson Jones & Associates, Nancy Cameron, Q.C., and Nikki Charlton
Meeting Title/Topic: The Cost of Conflict on Children
Synopsis: Nancy Cameron and Nikki Charlton had a brief discussion on the use of Collaborative Lawyers and the growing popularity of Collaborative Law amongst lawyers typically known to be more "litigation driven." The main presentation with guest speaker Alyson Jones was on "The Cost of Conflict on Children." Alyson Jones provided an introduction on the "Family Forward" program which she also planned to present to the section in greater detail in October 2014.
May 8, 2014
Guest Speakers: Anna Laing, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Michelle Isaak, Davis LLP, and Robert Croezen
Meeting Title/Topic: Will and Estates- New Legislation and the Impact on Family Law
Synopsis: The panel spoke about estate matters in family law practice. Ms. Laing discussed the implications for family law practitioners of the new Wills, Estates and Succession Act, including the intersection with the Family Law Act. Ms. Isaak discussed estate matters in the context of family practice, including beneficiary designations and the death of a litigant in matrimonial proceedings. Mr. Robert Croezen opened the meeting with a brief discussion of the use and misuse of social science research in the context of parenting and parenting plans.
June 19, 2014
Guest Speaker: N/A
Meeting Title/Topic: Social Meeting
Synopsis: This was a strictly social meeting.
Comments and Observations of the Co-Chair
I enjoyed working as Co-Chair of the Family Law - Vancouver Section. The other members of our Section executive are very dedicated to the CBA and take part in helping to organize meetings, etc. All of our meetings were available in-person and via webinar, except for the social / dinner meeting in June. Our meetings have been well-attended and the feedback I have received has been positive in that our members have found the topics to be relevant and useful. Many members also attend meetings because they value the networking aspect of the meetings.