On May 2, 2007, the Allard Law Alumni Association hosted the 2007 Alumni Achievement Awards. The event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel Ballroom in Vancouver, BC. Over 250 guests celebrated the remarkable accomplishments of the Allard School of Law alumni and faculty. Distinguished guests included Chief Justice Lance Finch, Chief Justice Donald Brenner, UBC President Stephen Toope, Chancellor Allan McEachern, and Allard School of Law Dean Mary Anne Bobinski. All award winners received an aboriginal print created by celebrated Nuu-chah-nulth artist Joe David.
Three graduates of the Allard School of Law received Alumni Awards of Distinction. These awards recognized individuals for their outstanding achievements and endeavors in the practice of law, government service, the judiciary, business, legal academe, community service or other areas have brought honour to the law school. The recipients were Jim Taylor, QC, Mr. Justice Chris Hinkson, QC, and Anne Giardini.
Mr. Taylor is a leading counsel who has taught at UBC, served as a deputy minister in Saskatchewan, authored the leading textbook on the Rules of Court and has carried on an active litigation practice. Justice Hinkson, also a leading counsel, has appeared for clients in all levels of court, represented persons with disabilities on a pro bono basis, acted for lawyers facing difficulties, and mentored young lawyers through the Inns of Court program. Ms. Giardini is known not only for her expert legal work as general counsel for a large public company, but also for her literary skill. While our other recipients for the Awards of Distinction are known for their legal writing, Ms. Giardini authored and published a successful novel The Sad Truth About Happiness.
Professor Janis Sarra, Professor Emeritus JC Smith, and Dean Emeritus Peter Burns received Awards for Research. These awards recognized research achievements that have contributed to the Faculty’s reputation as a leading research institution. This was the first year in which the award was extended to emeritus professors.
Professor Smith was a member of the Faculty for over thirty years, and published broadly in the area of legal theory and tort law, did pioneering work in artificial intelligence and the law, developed expert systems for case law and legal basis and psychoanalytical jurisprudence. Professor Burns, also a long-time professor and former dean for nine years, is best known for his work in tort law and international criminal law. He served on and chaired the United Nations Committee Against Torture and has received the Renata Shearer Human Rights Award. Professor Sarra, also an Associate Dean, is widely published, particularly in corporate and insolvency law, and was a driving force behind the recent establishment of the National Centre for Business Law at UBC.
Miranda Lam took home the Young Alumna Award. She is an associate at McCarthy Tétrault who has clerked in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, served as chair of the Board of Directors for Volunteer Vancouver and in the past has received the YWCA Young Woman of Distinction as well as the Ray Herbert Award as the all-round graduating student.
Excerpts originally published by the Board of Directors of Allard Law Alumni Association in the UBC Law Alumni Magazine, Spring 2007.