As of June 15, 2012 Peter Bernard, Q.C. has retired from the practice of law. Nonetheless, Peter will continue to sit as a member of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada and is available to serve as an arbitrator or mediator. We wish Peter all the best in his retirement.… more »
Peter Swanson was chair of the Host Committee of the recently held 18th International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators in Vancouver from May 13-18, 2012. The very successful Congress was attended by lawyers, arbitrators and other industry professionals from around the world. The next Congress will be held in Shanghai in 2015.… more »
Tom Hawkins recently chaired the very successful Canadian Maritime Law Association legal education seminar on May 12, 2012, which was held in conjunction with the Association’s annual general meeting. The topics covered ranged from shipping in the Arctic, to green house gas emissions, to general maritime law developments.… more »
Bernard LLP lawyer Tom Beasley is a speaker at Insight’s upcoming Employee Terminations Conference, being held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver on June 18 and 19th, 2012. Tom will be speaking on termination issues related to fixed term contracts. He will also be talking on emerging issues related to dependent contractors and the determination whether someone is… more »
Bernard LLP lawyer W. Gary Wharton is quoted in the article “Choppy Legal Water Ahead” published in the March 2, 2012 edition of The Lawyers Weekly, Canada’s leading weekly legal publication. He was interviewed by donalee Moulton and expresses his views on the responsibility of ship’s masters following the Costa Corcordia grounding off Giglio Island, Italy on January… more »
Tom Beasley, Associate Counsel with Bernard LLP, is co-counsel for the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, which is an intervenor in the appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada of Moore v BC (Ministry of Education), 2010 BCHRT 478. The Appeal, which is to be heard on March 22, 2012, concerns whether the School District of North… more »
February 21st, 2012 will see the roll out of a revamped Business of Shipping course with a day of focus on aspects of Shipping Law (morning) and Chartering (afternoon). Bernard LLP lawyer Peter Swanson will present a a session on Bills of Lading and Letters of Indemnity. The afternoon session will address the structure of chartering in the bulk, tanker… more »
On November 26, 2009 Transport Canada issued a Notice of Violation to a cruise ship for violations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 regarding the alleged discharge of a pollutant, failing to make entries in the oil record book, and obstructing inspectors. The administrative penalties assessed for the alleged violations exceeded $45,000. David K. Jones of Bernard LLP represented the… more »
Bernard LLP lawyer W. Gary Wharton successfully represented a vessel owner in a recent case before the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada (TATC). Under the Canada Shipping Act 2001, the owner of a pleasure vessel can charter its vessel on a bareboat basis without compromising the vessel’s status as a pleasure vessel. If the vessel is not a pleasure… more »
Bernard LLP is proud to be the first Gold Sponsor of the upcoming International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators (ICMA 2012) scheduled for May 13-18, 2012 in Vancouver, B.C. ICMA 2012 will provide arbitrators, national maritime associations, marine insurers, ship owners, charterers, cargo interests and the legal community from around the world with the opportunity to exchange views and… more »