Farris LLP

Farris is proud to be recognized by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as a Top Western Firm for 2024-2025. This designation recognizes firms that demonstrate a blend of creativity, courage, commercial insight, legal expertise, and a profound understanding of their clients’ businesses. Award recipients are identified through Canadian Lawyer’s rigorous selection process, whereby an impartial legal sector authority conducts extensive research, interviews industry professionals, and applies exacting criteria to identify and showcase the industry’s top performers. Adding to the achievement, Managing Partner, Bo Rothstein is featured in the Top Western Firms 2024-2025 Special Report, where he shares insights on Farris’ success, vision, dedication to industry excellence and its continued commitment to delivering exceptional results. For more information on the full list of winners and/or to read Bo’s article, please visit us at: https://lnkd.in/giaM_SZN.

Farris partner Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C., was part of a panel addressing ethics and professionalism at the CBABC Civil Litigation – Vancouver Section meeting on December 11, 2024. The panel discussed various matters relevant to the profession, from conflicts of interest to dealing with unrepresented litigants to ethical issues in cross-examination. Ludmila is an experienced litigator who represents clients in corporate-commercial disputes both in the courts and in arbitration, as well as acting in regulatory and public law matters. For more information about Ludmila's practice, please visit us at: https://lnkd.in/gdUa6tf9

In what has become a cherished December tradition, the articling students traded in their bi-weekly breakfast meeting for a morning skate at Robson Square, topped off with cocoa back at the office. ‘Tis the season!

The Farris articling elves have been busy in the workshop gathering goodies and wrapping Christmas hampers for three deserving families this year. We are grateful for the opportunity to support our community this season but dream of the day when it’s no longer needed.

Farris is pleased to announce that our Partner, Michelle Moriartey, has been elected to the board of governors of the Canadian Tax Foundation I Fondation canadienne de fiscalité (CTF). Founded in 1945 under the joint sponsorship of the Canadian Institute of Charted Accountants and the Canadian Bar Association, the CTF is Canada’s leading source of insight on tax issues, promoting understanding of the Canadian tax system through analysis, research, and debate and providing valuable recommendation on areas of improvement. For more information about Michelle's practice, please visit us at: https://lnkd.in/gZa4HtQi

Farris was proud to once again sponsor and participate in the Hockey Helps the Homeless Vancouver charity tournament, held on November 29th, 2024 at UBC. Farris raised over a quarter million dollars ($329,889) to support the work of this vital charity. For the past 13 years, Farris Partner Jay Sujir has served on the event’s organizing committee. The event itself raised a whopping $1,242,902 and all net proceeds will support 13 local organizations who foster hope and reduce harm by supporting people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable adults in our community. The Farris team, captained by Associate, Zachary Kay and included Partner, Jay Sujir, Associates, Jeff Scheffel and Jack Sorokin, and Articling Students, Saylor Preston, Dustin Deugau and Ian Meikle.

Farris' pro bono program was recently featured in a BarTalk article penned by Access Pro Bono Society of BC (APB)'s Associate Executive Director, Heather Wojcik. The article, “Pro Bono: A Win-Win Proposition”, discusses how the private law sector can encourage pro bono engagement and advance access to justice in local communities. Established in 2022, Farris’ first of its kind partnership with APB facilitates a steady flow of pro bono work that services a variety of pressing legal needs. In the three years since its launch, our lawyers and articled students have taken on matters ranging from drafting wills for palliative patients on the DTES, to urgent family law applications to reunite parents and children, to obtaining charitable registrations for grass roots non-profit organizations. The partnership is overseen by Farris’ Associate Director of Professional Development & Marketing, Rebecca Levi, who was interviewed for the article and emphasized how our deep history in BC drives us to “give where we live”. You can read the full article by visiting us at: https://lnkd.in/gdBFfzrR.

Farris was pleased to sponsor the South Asian Bar Association of British Columbia’s Fall Conference, held on November 28 in Surrey. This annual premier professional development and networking event brought together lawyers, students, paralegals, and corporate and public counsel across various practice areas. The conference featured engaging discussions on key legal topics, including litigation best practices, advancements in legal regulation, the unique challenges of in-house counsel, and mental health within the South Asian legal community. It also celebrated the achievements and future vision of the South Asian Legal Clinic of British Columbia. For more information, please visit us at: https://lnkd.in/gNb8FVxJ.

I am pleased to share the news of a recent transaction: we recently represented the sellers of Gabbie's Cider (Gabriola Island). A big congratulations to my clients on their successful exit and sale of their 27 acre apple orchard and successful Cidery business. A big thank you to Paul Hague and Nicole Eastman from Sotheby's. It is always a pleasure working with your team :)

On November 22, Farris Associate Counsel, Thomas Ciz presented to the Finance Subsection of the BC Legal Management Association on the topic: “When is a Supply of Legal Services Subject to GST?” The presentation provided a practical guide to determining when to charge GST on legal services, outlining relevant legislation, principles, and a decision matrix to evaluate GST applicability and rates based on service specifics and jurisdiction. Thomas has broad experience in both inbound and outbound taxation as well as corporate/commercial law. In addition to his time in private practice, Thomas has acted as general counsel for both public and private corporations. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (Chartered Accountant). For a copy of the presentation, please visit us at: https://lnkd.in/gmfE-_Qs.