Hunter Litigation Chambers came into existence in 2006 when Hunter Voith and Berardino Harris amalgamated to form one of the most highly respected litigation boutiques in Canada. In the years since its inception, Hunter Litigation Chambers has expanded and matured and is regularly recognized as one of the country’s premier dispute resolution firms.
Senior Counsel, Randy Kaardal, KC, William Smart, KC, Claire Hunter, KC, and Brian Duong are each consistently identified in peer-reviewed publications as leading lawyers across various litigation-related categories and subject areas.
The firm’s experience is enhanced by two retired judges as Associate Counsel: the Hon. Russell Brown, recently retired from the Supreme Court of Canada; the Hon. John Hunter, KC, one of the firm’s founders, returned following his retirement from the BC Court of Appeal.
With deep talent among our junior counsel and associate ranks, including former clerks of the Supreme Court of Canada and other appellate and trial courts, recognized for their expertise, the firm has the bench strength and capability to handle a wide range of disputes. Our Lawyers routinely act across a broad spectrum of subject areas, including commercial litigation and arbitration, class actions (such as antitrust and product liability cases), professional negligence, natural resource disputes, labour and employment, defamation, public and constitutional law, and criminal and quasi-criminal prosecutions.
In addition to their respective practices before trial courts, administrative and arbitral tribunals, counsel at Hunter Litigation Chambers appear regularly in the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada, and in the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal.
Commercial Litigation & Arbitration - This is a core area of the firm’s practice. Under the leadership of Randy Kaardal, KC, and Claire Hunter, KC, all lawyers from the most senior to the newest recruit participate in these cases.
The firm's senior counsel as well as retired Justices Russell Brown and John Hunter, also accept appointments as arbitration neutrals.
Class Actions - A growing area of practice within the firm. Claire Hunter, KC, leads the firm's growing practice in representing companies and organizations facing class actions.
Corporate & Securities Litigation - The firm has been involved in some of the leading cases in corporate and securities litigation. Randy Kaardal, KC, and Claire
Hunter, KC have broad expertise in regulatory issues and related corporate disputes.
Administrative & Public Law - The firm has extensive experience before all manner of administrative tribunals, commissions and courts. All of our senior counsel and most of our associate lawyers participate in this area of practice. Lawyers from the firm are regularly involved in constitutional litigation, relating to both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Federal–Provincial division of powers.
Labour & Employment Law - Randy Kaardal, KC, and Paul Heisler assist both employers and employees with employment-related disputes, including wrongful dismissal, Human Rights issues, WorkSafe BC matters and labour disputes.
Criminal & Regulatory Law - William Smart, KC, heads this practice group dealing with Criminal Code investigations and prosecutions, as well as those under other federal or provincial regulatory statutes – including the Income Tax Act, Competition Act, Customs Act, Excise Act and Excise Act, 2001, Excise Tax Act, Extradition Act, Fisheries Act, Canada Elections Act, Canada Labour Code, Workers’ Compensation Act, Securities Act, Financial Institutions Act, Police Act, Gaming Control Act and Mines Act, and WorkSafe among others. The criminal and regulatory practice also includes representing licensed individuals (e.g., lawyers, health care professionals, teachers, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, motor dealers) before their respective regulatory bodies, and occasionally representing the regulated professions in disciplinary or unlicensed practice matters. William Smart, KC, has over 45 years of experience appearing in trial courts on Criminal Law and Regulatory Cases and a member of faculty of the Federation of Law Societies National Criminal Law Program for over 30 years.
