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Practice Expertise
- Administrative Law
- Litigation
- Property Tax
- Real Estate
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Litigation
- Property Tax
- Real Estate
- Taxation View More
Profile
Jim is a senior litigator with a focus on municipal, real estate, and administrative law, and is widely recognized as a leading practitioner in property taxation, expropriation, and related matters. He advises government bodies, utilities, Crown corporations, private entities, and First Nations on a wide range of land and tax-related issues.
His practice includes advising on the imposition and management of property taxes, property transfer taxes, mineral taxes, and similar levies affecting various types of properties. He also advises on grants in lieu of property taxes and their administration. Jim regularly acts on expropriations carried out for public infrastructure projects, including highways, transit lines, LNG pipelines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission corridors, and municipal amenities such as parks, libraries, and seawalls.
He has extensive experience negotiating and arbitrating commercial lease renewals and rent reviews, and resolving land use issues involving zoning, development permits, and other regulatory approvals. Jim frequently works with planners, development managers, appraisers, engineers, and other expert witnesses in complex valuation and litigation matters.
Jim routinely appears before tribunals, arbitration panels, and all levels of court. His appearances include the B.C. Property Assessment Review Panel, the B.C. Property Assessment Appeal Board, the Federal Payment in Lieu of Tax Dispute Advisory Panel, arbitration tribunals, the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Yellowknife Development Appeal Board, the B.C. Supreme Court, the B.C. Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court.
His practice includes advising on the imposition and management of property taxes, property transfer taxes, mineral taxes, and similar levies affecting various types of properties. He also advises on grants in lieu of property taxes and their administration. Jim regularly acts on expropriations carried out for public infrastructure projects, including highways, transit lines, LNG pipelines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission corridors, and municipal amenities such as parks, libraries, and seawalls.
He has extensive experience negotiating and arbitrating commercial lease renewals and rent reviews, and resolving land use issues involving zoning, development permits, and other regulatory approvals. Jim frequently works with planners, development managers, appraisers, engineers, and other expert witnesses in complex valuation and litigation matters.
Jim routinely appears before tribunals, arbitration panels, and all levels of court. His appearances include the B.C. Property Assessment Review Panel, the B.C. Property Assessment Appeal Board, the Federal Payment in Lieu of Tax Dispute Advisory Panel, arbitration tribunals, the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Yellowknife Development Appeal Board, the B.C. Supreme Court, the B.C. Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court.
Bar Admissions
Called to the Nunavut Bar, 2015
Called to the Northwest Territories Bar, 2008
Called to the British Columbia Bar, 1993
Education
University of Victoria, LL.B., 1992
University of Victoria, B.Sc., Physics Co-op, 1985
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Litigation
- Property Tax
- Real Estate
- Taxation
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
* Litigation of property tax, utility (business) tax, property transfer tax, foreign buyer tax, speculation and vacancy tax, mineral tax and social service tax cases for owners of a wide variety of property types
* Litigation of Federal grants in lieu of tax payable by a port authority to a municipality;
* Litigation of zoning, permitting and contractual disputes between developers and municipalities,
* Litigation of expropriations of property for electrical and pipeline utilities for expansion of transmission lines and pipelines and for owners of properties expropriated for highway widening, skytrain construction and utility corridor projects including gas stations, shopping centres, automobile dealerships, industrial and commercial lands, stores and residences, and
* Litigation of lease rent review and renewal arbitrations for landlords and tenants of office towers, light industrial and shipping facilities and port property.
Professional Associations
Recognition and Ranking
* Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2019-2026: Litigation Star
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2019-2026: Municipal Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2023: 'Lawyer of the Year': Municipal Law (Vancouver)
* Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory 2018: BV Peer Review rated
Professional Activities and Experience
* Canadian Property Tax Association, Past President
* Urban Development Institute (Pacific Region), Member of Tax Policy Committee
* British Columbia Real Property Assessment Manual, Editor
* British Columbia Expropriation Association, Member
* British Columbia Continuing Legal Education Society, frequent Lecturer (property tax assessment, administrative law, expropriation)
* Litigation of property tax, utility (business) tax, property transfer tax, foreign buyer tax, speculation and vacancy tax, mineral tax and social service tax cases for owners of a wide variety of property types
* Litigation of Federal grants in lieu of tax payable by a port authority to a municipality;
* Litigation of zoning, permitting and contractual disputes between developers and municipalities,
* Litigation of expropriations of property for electrical and pipeline utilities for expansion of transmission lines and pipelines and for owners of properties expropriated for highway widening, skytrain construction and utility corridor projects including gas stations, shopping centres, automobile dealerships, industrial and commercial lands, stores and residences, and
* Litigation of lease rent review and renewal arbitrations for landlords and tenants of office towers, light industrial and shipping facilities and port property.
Professional Associations
Recognition and Ranking
* Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2019-2026: Litigation Star
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2019-2026: Municipal Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2023: 'Lawyer of the Year': Municipal Law (Vancouver)
* Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory 2018: BV Peer Review rated
Professional Activities and Experience
* Canadian Property Tax Association, Past President
* Urban Development Institute (Pacific Region), Member of Tax Policy Committee
* British Columbia Real Property Assessment Manual, Editor
* British Columbia Expropriation Association, Member
* British Columbia Continuing Legal Education Society, frequent Lecturer (property tax assessment, administrative law, expropriation)
Articles
Blogs
North of 60 Blog
Our North of 60 Blog provides commentary on current legal trends and developments, and legislative updates affecting businesses in Northern Canada.
Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog
Lawson Lundell's Pension and Employee Benefits Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting pension and employee benefit plans. We cover a range of topics, including recent case law and changes to relevant provincial and federal legislation.
Real Estate Law Blog
Our Real Estate Law Blog provides brief commentary on current legal trends and developments affecting your business. The topics addressed in Lawson Lundell's Real Estate Law Blog are of interest to commercial real estate developers, real estate and strata agents, investors, landlords and tenants, as well as a variety of industry groups.
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