June 20th, 2023
David S. Jarrett was recently appointed as the Chair for the Canadian Bar Association (National), Maritime Law Section for the 2023 – 2024 term. As Chair, David’s duties include overseeing section activities and presiding over its meetings. David was previously the Vice-Chair for the 2022 – 2023 term.
The Maritime Law Section deals with law and practice of provincial, national… more »
May 24th, 2023
We Are Moving
We are excited to announce that our office will be relocating on September 29, 2023. Our new and improved workspace will be located at:
1420 – 400 Burrard Street
(CIBC Building)
Vancouver, BC
V6C 3A6
We will be a few short steps from transit and the breath-taking Vancouver waterfront.
We would like to take this opportunity to… more »
May 18th, 2023
On April 15, 2023, Tom Beasley chaired the Indigenous Maritime Archaeology Conference (IMAC), at the Joe Mathias Centre on the Squamish First Nation in North Vancouver. This was the first Conference in North America devoted solely to indigenous maritime archaeology topics.
The Conference featured 12 speakers on maritime archaeology in the Pacific Northwest and Ontario, environmental change over time and… more »
April 6th, 2023
Peter Swanson was recently re-elected to the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Shipping of BC. The Chamber is a not for profit society that has been the public voice of the marine industry on Canada’s West Coast since 1923. The Chamber highlights the importance and impact of shipping, and works to ensure that policies are being followed… more »
March 3rd, 2023
Tom Hawkins has been reappointed and Peter Swanson has been newly appointed as adjunct professors of law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. Tom and Peter are co-teaching the Maritime Law course to 2nd and 3rd year law students. This is the first time the Maritime Law course has been… more »
November 28th, 2022
Bernard LLP is named by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine in its second annual list of “Canada’s Best Law Firms” in the field of transportation law. This achievement distinguishes Bernard LLP as one of 15 firms recognized nationally, and the only transportation law boutique firm to be recognized in Vancouver. The selection of Bernard LLP was based… more »
November 18th, 2022
On November 16, Tom Beasley was onboarded in Ottawa as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. This appointment is in recognition of Tom’s leadership in maritime archaeology, artificial reefs, maritime heritage, shipwreck discovery and preservation, scuba diving safety, marine conservation, and maritime museums in BC over the last 40 years. https://rcgs.org/about/fellows/… more »
October 13th, 2022
The partners of Bernard LLP are delighted to announce the recent addition of a new lawyer to the Firm. Buck Hughes has joined our litigation team to focus on maritime, employment and personal injury law, while also providing assistance to our business law group. Buck was called to the BC Bar in 2016.
Buck brings high quality skills and experience… more »
October 12th, 2022
Following the May 2021 AGM of the Vancouver Maritime Museum Society (VMM), Tom Beasley was elected President of the VMM Board. Tom replaced Peter Bernard who had been the VMM President for 8 years. Tom led a change in the diversity of the VMM Board members adding 3 indigenous women under 35, all who are involved in maritime activities… more »
September 23rd, 2022
Bernard LLP was successful in defending Catherwood Towing in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in a dispute over an indemnity provision.
This litigation arose from the grounding of two barges while under tow by Catherwood Towing. The supplier of the barges claimed damages in an amount exceeding $800,000. Bernard LLP defended Catherwood Towing against this claim by arguing to… more »