Lawyers

Eliza Lynn Brown Associate

Eliza articled with Bernard LLP and joined the firm as an associate in September 2021. She practices in the areas of maritime, employment, human rights, and personal injury law.

She has appeared before the Provincial Court of British Columbia, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Federal Court, and the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Eliza obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia in 2020, where she was awarded the Harvey T. Strosberg Essay Prize for the best student essay on class actions in Canada. At law school, Eliza was the President of Legal Education Outreach, which aims to inspire high school students to pursue a legal education.

Representative Cases

Kovacs v. City of Maple Ridge (No. 2), 2023 BCHRT 158: Acted as counsel for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”), which intervened in a human rights matter involving a blind claimant. Introduced expert evidence that was relied on by the BC Human Rights Tribunal. The respondent was found to have breached the Human Rights Code, and the claimant received $35,000 for injury to dignity, feelings, and self-respect.

Kovacs v. City of Maple Ridge, 2022 BCHRT 96: Acted as counsel for the CNIB, which sought to intervene in a human rights matter involving a blind claimant. The BC Human Rights Tribunal granted CNIB’s application to intervene.

The Owners, Strata Plan BCS 1871 v. WCS Waste Control Systems Inc., 2022 BCPC 175: Acted as lead counsel for the claimant strata, which sought damages for breach of contract after its waste management company failed to pick up garbage on schedule. The Provincial Court accepted the claimant’s arguments that the claim was made within the limitation period and that an adverse inference should be drawn from the defendant’s failure to call a key witness. The Provincial Court awarded the strata damages in the amount of $26,449.38, which was the total amount claimed.

Professional and Other Affiliations

  • Called to the Bar of British Columbia, 2021
  • Young CMLA Committee Western Region Vice-Chair
  • Canadian Defence Lawyers Young Lawyers Committee
  • CBA Maritime Law Section Executive
  • CBABC Maritime Law Section Executive

Author and Speaker

  • “Water Lots and Reconciliation - Implications from the Ladysmith Marina court decision” (2024) 22:7 Western Mariner 35
  • Panelist, CNIB’s Addressing Discrimination in the Workplace Workshop, 2024
  • “Covenants to Insure” (2022) BC Tugboat 8
  • “Federal Policy and the West Coast in 2022” (2022) 19:12 Western Mariner 45

Other Interests

When she is not in the office, Eliza enjoys exploring local parks and spending time with friends and family.

Eliza Lynn Brown

Areas of Practice

Education

  • J.D., University of British Columbia, 2020
  • B.A., University of British Columbia, 2015