Meet Natalie, our new Associate

AMLC is pleased to announce that Natalie Chan has joined the firm as an associate.

Natalie is a 2021 call, and has worked as a civil and commercial litigator since her call to the bar.  After splitting time between Canada and Hong Kong growing up, Natalie completed her law degree at City University of Hong Kong, followed by an LLM at UBC. Natalie speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin.

 We are excited to have Natalie as a member of the team!

Greg Allen and Kaitlyn Meyer Successfully Defend Jurisdiction Application

Greg and Kaitlyn successfully defended an application by two of several defendants to have the claims against them dismissed or stayed on jurisdictional grounds.

The underlying action involves claims of misrepresentation, fraud and breach of contract arising from the plaintiffs’ investment in an energy drink company and a related farming business. The two defendants argued the claims surrounding the farming business were closely tied to Alberta and that a forum selection clause in an agreement between some of the parties favoured the jurisdiction of the Alberta courts. The BC Supreme Court disagreed, finding that the forum selection clause did not confer exclusive jurisdiction on the Alberta courts and that Alberta was not a clearly more appropriate forum for the claims against the two defendants. The Court also declined to order security for costs against the plaintiffs.

For more information on this case, visit 2023 BCSC 219. For more information on Allen / McMillan’s commercial litigation practice, please contact Greg at greg@amlc.ca or Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@amlc.ca.

Greg Allen Speaks on Panel with The Advocates’ Society

On March 31, 2023, Greg spoke on a panel for a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program with The Advocates’ Society. The panel, “Mind the Skills Gap: Lessons in Court Practice and Decorum,” covered the do’s and don’ts of civility and decorum. This program provided practical tips to junior lawyers on how to conduct themselves in court, and improve their advocacy. Greg was joined by Justices Susan A. Griffin, Karen Horsman, and Geoffrey Gomery, as well as Tracey M. Cohen, KC (Fasken), and Abbas Sabur (Kornfeld LLP).

Kaitlyn Meyer appointed Counsel by AMLC

Allen / McMillan is pleased to announce that, effective January 1, 2023, Kaitlyn Meyer has been appointed Counsel. Kaitlyn joined the firm in 2019, just one year after its inception, and quickly became an irreplaceable member of the team. Appointment as Counsel reflects Kaitlyn’s senior status at the firm and her dual role as a senior lawyer providing advice and advocacy services to the firm’s clients as well as mentorship and guidance to the firm’s younger lawyers. In her new role, Kaitlyn will also be taking on a greater leadership role within the firm. Congratulations, Kaitlyn!

Allen/McMillan Litigation Counsel ranked as a leading firm by The Legal 500 Canada

Allen/McMillan Litigation Counsel has been ranked as a leading firm for dispute resolution in British Columbia by The Legal 500 Canada. This is an incredible accomplishment, and we are proud of our team for receiving this recognition.

The Legal 500 is the world’s largest legal referral guide with over 6 million visitors globally. More details about this year’s rankings can be found here.

Greg Allen, Kaitlyn Meyer and Victoria Baylis win 7-day trial

Greg, Kaitlyn and Victoria acted for the defendants who had entered a series of financial transactions with the plaintiffs over the course of several years, primarily to fund the plaintiffs’ real estate development projects. The plaintiffs filed two actions alleging, among other claims, that they had overpaid the defendants. There was very little documentation recording the parties’ transactions. Moreover, many of the allegations raised by the plaintiffs were addressed in prior related proceedings.

The two actions were heard together at trial. The court found in favour of the defendants and dismissed the entirety of the plaintiffs’ claims, including finding that they were statute barred and amounted to an abuse of process.

For more information on this case, visit 2022 BCSC 1717. For more information on Allen / McMillan’s commercial litigation practice, please contact Greg at greg@amlc.ca, Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@amlc.ca or Victoria at victoria@amlc.ca.