Law History Profiles

After completing her LLB, Elizabeth M. Vogt, QC clerked for the BC Court of Appeal and subsequently joined McCarthy Tétrault. While she briefly worked as a litigator, Ms. Vogt quickly transitioned to the real estate department. As a partner, Ms. Vogt went on to hold the titles of head of the Real Property and Planning Group, BC’s Regional Managing Partner, and Chief Diversity and Engagement Officer.

Just 13 years after graduating from the Peter A. Allard School of Law, Jeff Lowe, QC—then 33 years old—became the managing partner of British Columbia’s oldest law firm and continues in that role today.

In more than 30 years with Richards Buell Sutton, Lowe, who was appointed to Queen’s Counsel in 2013, has established a successful corporate law practice while overseeing the business of running the firm. His areas of expertise include intellectual property, franchising, and corporate finance as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Sue Paish, QC is a UBC Faculty of Law alumna, Class of 1982, and a respected leader with a track record of success in law, business and philanthropy. As a lawyer, Ms. Paish worked her way from articling student to managing partner at Russell & DuMoulin, one of the nation’s leading law firms, which is now known as Fasken. There, not only was she the youngest and first female managing partner, but Ms. Paish spearheaded the expansion of the firm from one office in Vancouver to an international platform with nine offices in three continents. In 2007, Ms.

Frits Verhoeven is the new president of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association after serving in various other CBA positions since 1999. Frits is a partner and senior litigator at Edwards, Kenny & Bray LLP. He has appeared in a wide range of civil lawsuits and administrative proceedings since his call to the bar in 1983 …

Miriam Kresivo was the secretary treasurer of the Vancouver Bar Association for almost 14 years. Elected a Bencher of the Law Society of BC in May 2012, Miriam held the positions of Chair of the Governance Committee, Vice Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, a member of the Discipline Committee, Executive Committee, and Regulation and Insurance Working Group. In 2018, she became the President of the Law Society of BC. Miriam has been on the executive of both the Canadian Bar Association’s Pension and Corporate Counsel Sections.

Visitors to Russ MacKay's judicial chambers in Chilliwack were instantly treated to his famous sense of humour, as they walked across a doormat at the entrance to his office which read "Come Back with a Warrant!" Russ was always a practitioner of what is known in 12-Step circles as "Rule 62" (never take yourself too seriously). He took his commitment to his family, his obligation to help others and his duties as a Provincial Court judge seriously, but never himself. For Russ MacKay life was meant to be enjoyed, not endured…

On January 1, 2012, Bruce LeRose, Q.C., became the new president of the Law Society of British Columbia, and the first, ever, from the Kootenays. He was born in Trail on September 13, 1957, and except for the time he spent pursuing the post-secondary education that culminated in a law degree from UBC in 1982, Trail has been his home ...

Born to an Inuk mother in 1936 and raised in Edmonton, Kiviaq holds the distinction of being Canada’s first Inuit lawyer. As a child, Kiviaq endured the racism of schoolyard bullies, and developed prowess as a fighter. As a young man, he had a distinguished athletic career that included boxing and football. 

Howard Ehrlich was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to David Ehrlich, an Auschwitz survivor, and his wife Grace. He studied at the University of British Columbia, where he obtained his undergraduate degree, before obtaining his law degree in 1981. He continued legal studies at Southern Methodist University in Texas, obtaining an LLM before returning to practice in Vancouver.

Theresa Arsenault, QC knew in the early 1980s that she wanted to do corporate law but considered Vernon, where she practised for four years, too small for that. So was Salmon Arm, where she had attended high school. Vancouver, where she did her UBC arts under- grad and law degrees (class of ’81), was too big. This outdoor enthusiast was looking for that just-right place – like Goldilocks, she says by phone with a laugh ... 

"Throughout my youth, everyone either knew I was going to be a lawyer or they were telling me that I should become one," explained the Honourable Gary Cohen, a Surrey Provincial Court judge whose interest in law was noticed by everyone, including his mother and teacher who gave him permission to skip class in high school to watch court proceedings.

Elizabeth Watson graduated from the Allard School of Law in 1981. After 20 years of thriving private practice, Ms. Watson founded Watson Advisors Inc., now Canada’s largest multi-disciplinary governance consultancy working with established and growing companies to recruit exceptional directors and executive leaders and optimize board effectiveness. In addition to her practice, Ms. Watson speaks regularly on governance matters and teaches in the Institute of Corporate Director’s Program on Governance Effectiveness. Ms.

Born to an Inuk mother in 1936 and raised in Edmonton, Kiviaq holds the distinction of being Canada’s first Inuit lawyer. As a child, Kiviaq endured the racism of schoolyard bullies, and developed prowess as a fighter. As a young man, he had a distinguished athletic career that included boxing and football.

John D'Arcy Gardner was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan in 1950 near his grandparents Midale, Saskatchewan wheat farm. The family moved along with Gardner's father's mining work, from New York City to Arizona, Peru, and finally Los Altos, California. He enrolled at Grinnell, a highly-ranked liberal arts college in Iowa. At the time, the Vietnam War had ensnared the United States, and on a trip with classmates to Winnipeg he formally renounced his U.S. Citizenship.

July is a cold, wintry month in Melbourne, Australia. That is when, and where, approximately 46 years ago, Richard S. Margetts, president of the Law Society of British Columbia, was introduced to the world. A contrarian by both inclination and genetics, it is fitting that Richard should now thrive in a land on the opposite side of the globe, where July is part of a warmer and more hospitable season ... 

Adriana Wills is a Partner at Harris & Company LLP (“Harris”) in Vancouver. Her legal practice primarily focuses on workplace law as well as employment law, labour law, and human rights law. With over 30 years of experience, Wills has appeared before the British Columbia Supreme Court and the British Columbia Court of Appeal, as well as the Labour Relations Board and the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. Since 2010 she has been annually recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada in the Labour and Employment Law sectors.

Jan Lindsay, Q.C., the new president of the Law Society of British Columbia, is smart, warm and genuine. Jan has risen to her position as president as a result of hard work, determination and a bucketload of talent. The profession will be well served by her leadership. Jan has lived her entire life in the Lower Mainland. She was born at the Vancouver Grace Hospital on January 20, 1955, the first-born child of Abie and Carol Klassen. As the eldest offspring and only daughter, Jan was expected to set a good example for her younger brothers, Stan, Lory and Glen.

“I was actually a counsel on the first Charter case filed and argued on the first day in which the Charter came into force…”

Michael F. Welsh, QC is a member of the LLB class of 1980. He is a professionally certified mediator and arbitrator and a partner at the litigation and mediation firm Mott Welsh & Associates, based in Penticton, BC.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Welsh graduated with a BA philosophy, cum laude, from Cornell University (1975). Following graduation from UBC’s law school, Mr. Welsh clerked at the BC Supreme Court. He went on to complete his articles at Russel & DuMoulin (now known as Fasken).

“One of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn’t belong...” Judith Bellis sings behind the closed door of her DOJ office in Ottawa. It’s an old Sesame Street ditty, and Bellis’s response to being told she’s been selected as a subject for this feature. “I cannot strictly speaking be characterized as a lawmaker,” she says, “although I know a great deal about how laws are actually made.” Outspoken, a formidable intellect, and one of the top lawyers for the top lawyer in the country, Bellis knows more about how laws get made than most people in Canada ...