Submitted by Section Chair, Jeremy Shelford
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 3
October 22, 2015
Guest Speaker: Jana McLean (Bull Housser & Tupper)
Peter Millerd (Ratcliff & Company)
Meeting Title/Topic: Hot Tips for Natural Resource Solicitors – a Litigation Perspective
Synopsis: Litigators Jana McLean (Bull Housser & Tupper) and Peter Millerd (Ratcliff & Company) will present on What Every Natural Resource Solicitor Should Know About Litigation. Topics covered will include: a. What to expect when a natural resource approval is challenged – an overview of the key avenues, including judicial reviews and Environmental Appeal Board claims; b. Frequent issues that arise in natural resource litigation, including First Nation standing, privilege and document disclosure; c. General practice tips – how to anticipate litigation before it commences.
March 3, 2016
Guest Speaker: Thomas Moran (Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP)
Billy Garton (Seaspan)
Meeting Title/Topic: Forestry Case Law Update
Synopsis: Mr. Moran and Mr. Garton delivered an informative session regarding recent case law developments stemming from BC’s forest sector. The session included “commentary from the trenches” and audience participation was encouraged.
May 19, 2016
Guest Speaker: Mark S. Oulton (Hunter Litigation Chambers)
Meeting Title/Topic: Best Practices in Preparing your Client for an Opportunity to be Heard
Synopsis: Mr. Oulton spoke to best practices for advising and preparing your client for an opportunity to be heard. The session addressed: • What is an Opportunity to be Heard? • Why should your client participate? • Role and Function of Counsel • Challenges and opportunities in the Process • Managing the Client and Client Expectations
Comments and Observations of the Chair
Difficulties with attendance from section members. Strong overlap in topics with Environmental Law and Aboriginal Law sections. Some practical issues encountered with regard to scheduling meetings and conflicts with meetings from Enviro and Aboriginal Law sections. For example, 1. given the overlap in membership in Natural Resource and Aboriginal sections if both sections scheduled meetings in the same week, it would be likely that one of meetings would be poorly attended (i.e. a member of both sections would probably only go to one meeting a week, not two). 2. if Aboriginal law invites Natural Resources to participate in a meeting but in fact Natural Resources has iteslf a meeting scheduled for the week following the Aboriginal law meeting, it may be that the Natural Resources law meeting is not well attended. I suggest that the chairs of the Aboriginal, Environmental and Natural Resource sections have a conference call every quarter to discuss upcoming timing of meetings so as to avoid conflicts and advise of potential joint meetings.