1. Charity and Non-profit Law
2. Co-operatives
3. Public sector organizations and issues
4. Teaching

My clients are a wide range of charitable organizations, foundations, non-profit organizations, philanthropists and co-ops across Canada and internationally.

Charity and Non-profit Law

I provide legal, strategic and policy advice and services to a wide range of charities and non-profit organizations. My legal services include incorporation, securing charitable tax status, regulatory compliance issues, planned giving, general legal services (contracts, insurance, employment issues, tax issues, government relations, etc.) and issues of organizational structure, governance and strategic planning (mergers, partnerships, business activities, fundraising, etc.). In 2005 I completed a project in Shanghai, China that examined civil society infrastructure needs in China.

Co-operatives

I work with co-ops and credit unions, providing a range of legal and policy advice and services. An example of this work was assisting with the design and creation of VanCity Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of VanCity Credit Union that provides innovative lending and enterprise support services.

Public Sector Organizations and Issues

I have extensive experience in the public sector. My most senior role was with BC Assessment Authority, where I served as Executive Director of Corporate Planning and Corporate Secretary. Through my work with BC Assessment, I gained substantial experience with British Columbia’s excellent property assessment, taxation and registration infrastructure, and participated in law reform projects in this field in St. Petersburg, Russia and Pudong, China.

Teaching

I have designed and taught many courses, public workshops and training sessions on various aspects of charity, non-profit and co-op law. Recent courses include “Charities, Non-Profit Organizations and Co-operative Enterprises,” at the University of Victoria Law School; and “Law and Governance” for the Non-profit Management program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.