Craig A. B. Ferris, KC, FCIArb.

Professional Experience

Mr. Ferris has practiced with Lawson Lundell LLP for over 30 years. He has been involved in many (in excess of 20) international and domestic arbitrations as counsel. These arbitrations have covered a wide range of legal issues including most recently (last 2 years) mining, charitable giving, construction, and shareholders rights. For the past 3 years he has been Chair of the Law Society Tribunal and is currently President of the Law Society.


Dispute Resolution Experience and Training

  • 2017 – Present Law Society of BC, Tribunal Chair
  • 2016 – Present Law Society of BC, Chamber Bencher
  • 2013 – Present Law Society of BC, Panel Member
  • 2018 – Present Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Member (achieved CIArb. Designation)
  • 2013 – BC Council of Arbitrators Tribunals – Completed Tribunal Member training
Professional and Other Activities
  • 2014 – Appointed Queen’s Counsel
  • Best Lawyer in Canada 2010 – 2020
  • Chambers Canada: recommended in Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation 2020: listed as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers in
    Canada
  • Chambers Global: recognized in Dispute Resolution
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Litigation – Corporate Commercial
  • L’expert Zenith Awards 2018
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Academic Qualifications
British Columba (1991)
Queen’s Counsel, British Columbia (2014)
University of British Columbia (B.A., 1986)
University of British Columbia
(LL.B., 1989)

Diane E. Tucker

 

Professional Experience

Diane E. Tucker is the sole proprietor of DET et al., in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She holds the Chartered Arbitrator credential issued by the ADR Institute of Canada, and is a member of the arbitrators’ rosters of the ADR Institutes of Canada and of BC, and the Surrey Board of Trade. She is also an arbiter with Just Resolve!, a dispute resolution group located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and a member of the State Bar of California. She holds Certified Information Privacy Professional credentials for both Canada and the US. She also offers workshops on confidentiality, privacy and conflicts of interest as well as training seminars on other arbitration, ethics and privacy issues. Her law practice has included work in intellectual property, privacy and security in the high tech videogames industries.

Dispute Resolution Experience and Training

Adjudicator
City of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, 2017-present
Deciding appeals from decisions by the City from homeowners claiming they are not subject to a municipal tax.

Arbitrator
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2017-present
Determining the value of damaged or stolen vehicles when their owners reject offers made by the provincial insurance corporation.

Arbitrator
Mandatory Fee Arbitration Section, State Bar of California, San Francisco, CA 1990 – 2005
Mostly acting as sole arbitrator, decided fee disputes between lawyers and clients turning on the value of professional services rendered. As a seasoned member of the roster, I was assigned to more complicated and high-value cases.

Arbitrator
Lemon Law Auto Cases, Golden Gate Better Business Bureau, San Francisco/Oakland, CA 1984 – 2000
As sole arbitrator or a leader of a 3-person panel, decided cases arising under the Lemon Laws of the State of California, i.e. a material defect in a new vehicle arising within a certain period after purchase.

Judge pro tempore/Mediator
Unlawful Detainer Calendar, Superior Court, City & County of San Francisco, 1996 – 2005
Mediated disputes between landlords and tenants whose matters were pending immediate trial in this forum. Any matters settled were removed from the trial queue, making this practice an important step in the court process.

Professional and Other Activities

  • Chartered Arbitrator, ADR Institute of Canada, Toronto, ON
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/Canada (CIPP/C), International Association of Privacy Professionals, Portsmouth, NH
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US), International Association of Privacy Professionals, Portsmouth, NH
  • Certificate of Qualification, National Committee on Accreditation, University of Ottawa, ON
  • Marvin E. Lewis Award, Most Inspirational Professor, San Francisco Law School
    Certificate of Appreciation, University of San Francisco
  • Marvin E. Lewis Award, Most Inspirational Professor, San Francisco Law School
    Certificate of Appreciation, University of San Francisco
  • Vice-President, Board of Directors, Place des Arts, Coquitlam, British Columbia
  • Member, State Bar of California
  • Arbiter, Just Resolve!, San Jose, CA
Academic Qualifications

  • 2015, Arbitrator Training, Parts II and III, ADRBC, Vancouver, BC
  • 2005, Certificate of Qualifications, National Committee on Accreditation, University of Ottawa, ON
  • 1978, Juris Doctor, Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, California
  • 1976, Certificate of Merit in Comparative /International Legal Institutions and Jurisprudence, McGeorge Law School, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California (classes in Heidelberg, Vienna and Budapest)
  • 1972, Bachelor of Arts, Theology, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio

Mark Lee Tweedy

 

Professional Experience

Mark was called to the BC Bar in 1982. He practiced as a trial lawyer for many years. He has worked exclusively as mediator, arbitrator, and adjudicator since 2014.

Mark has mediated hundreds civil claims in a wide variety of subject areas. He has particular expertise in, and enjoys, mediating disputes where there is high emotional content. He received his Chartered Mediator designation in 2017.

Mark’s arbitration experience includes under insured motorist claims, and commercial, and insurance disputes. He also has substantial experience sitting as a court appointed adjudicator in class action matters.

Mark also has also frequently served as a locum, which has more often engaged his skills as a mediator than his skills as counsel. His involvement in this work came about as a result of his volunteer work with the Lawyers Assistance Program, which he commenced in 2002. In that capacity he has also assisted in interventions, acted as counsel to lawyers in discipline, credentials, and practice standards matters before the Law Society of British Columbia, and acted as a peer counselor to other lawyers.

Mark is a frequent lecturer to professional and industry groups on ADR topics, and has co taught CLEBC’s “Fundamentals of Mediation” to lawyers wishing to become mediators.

Professional and Other Activities

  • Law Society of British Columbia, 1982 to date, currently non-practicing
  • Mediate BC, Civil Roster Member, 2004 to date
  • British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Center, Mediation, Domestic Arbitration, and UMP Panel Member, 2013 to date
  • ADRBC, Mediation Panel Member, 2016 to date
  • Volunteer, St. James Music Academy, 2017-2018
  • Board Member, Lawyers Assistance Program of BC, 2015 to date
  • Volunteer, Lawyers Assistance Program of BC, 2004 to date
  • Volunteer, First United Church, Hastings and Gore, Vancouver, BC, various dates
  • Board Member, Canadian Memorial United Church, Vancouver, BC, 2007 to 2010
  • Board Member, the grunt gallery, Vancouver, BC, 2010 to 2012
Academic Qualifications

  • Justice Institute of British Columbia, various courses in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, 2004 and 2007
  • University of British Columbia, B.A. (Hons.), 1978
  • University of British Columbia, LL. B., 1981
  • United World College of the Atlantic, South Wales, UK, International Baccalaureate, 1975

 

Carol L. Roberts

Professional Experience

Experienced dispute resolution professional with a strong track record of providing competent and efficient mediation and arbitration services in a variety of areas, including: sports, employment, human rights, workers’ compensation, and real property assessment. Skilled communicator and negotiator with the ability to navigate different legal cultures and agreements when dealing with international arbitration cases. Recognized for degree of professionalism, respect, and compassion shown to tribunal participants. Accrued experience in the area of conflict of interest/ethics, fairness, & conducting harassment investigations.

Dispute Resolution Experience and Training

  • Arbitrator and Mediator, Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada
  • Arbitrator and Mediator, Court of Arbitration for Sport
  • Ad-Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang
  • Member, British Columbia Employment Standards Tribunal
  • Adjudicator, Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat
  • Grievance Arbitrator, Unjust Dismissal Adjudicator & Wage Recovery Referee under Canada Labour Code
  • Adjudicator, University of Victoria Discrimination and Harassment Policy Roster
  • Member, Yukon and Nunatsiavut Dispute Resolution Boards
  • Mediator, Canadian Human Rights Commission Roster of ADR Specialists with Experience in Aboriginal Communities
  • Law Society of British Columbia, Fee Mediator
  • Member, Ethics Committee, International Floorball Federation

Past Professional Engagements Include:

  • Member, Musqueam Indian Band Board of Review
  • Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Legislative Assembly of the N.W.T.
  • Ethics Advisor, Rapid Transit Project 2000 Ltd. & Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre Expansion Project
  • Vice-Chair, BC Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal
  • Member, Property Assessment Appeal Board and British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal
Professional and Other Activities

  • Northwest Territories Law Reform Committee
  • Northwest Territories Law Society
  • N.W.T. Law Reports Editorial Board, Discipline Committee (Non – Resident)
  • Co‑Chair, Northwest Territories Branch, Canadian Bar Association, Native Law Subsection
  • Law Society of British Columbia, Discipline and Credentials Committee
  • Law Society of British Columbia, Discipline and Credentials Hearing Panel
  • National Steering Committee, National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL), Trustee, NAWL Trust
  • British Columbia Branch, Canadian Bar Association: Administrative Law and ADR Subsections
  • Equality Committee, Advisory Committee to Judicial Council of B.C.
  • Y.W.C.A. Board of Directors, Yellowknife, Judge, Y.W.C.A. Women of Distinction Awards, Victoria, B.C.
  • Director, Belfry Theatre, Victoria, B.C.
  • Law Society of B.C.
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section
  • Member, Mediate B.C.
  • Judicial Justice, Provincial Court of British Columbia
Academic Qualifications

B.A. Political Science Major, University of Calgary
LL.B., University of Calgary

“Get on Board’ Governance Education Program, Intermediate Series, Canadian Board Diversity Council
Cornell University Summer Institute of International & Comparative Law, LL.M. credit courses, Paris, France
Summer Seminar of International Law (International Economic Law), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Gabriel M. Somjen

Professional Experience

Gabriel Somjen QC is a labour lawyer focusing on neutral work such as arbitration and mediation. Admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1975. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Juris Doctor in 1974.

Dispute Resolution Experience and Training

He has adjudicated or mediated several hundred cases. He also teaches ADR Techniques to law students. He has experience in all areas of labour and employment law.

Professional and Other Activities

  • Member, Arbitrator’s Association of British Columbia
  • Member and Past chair of ADR Vancouver Subsection of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Listed arbitrator for the Collective Agreement Arbitration Bureau for British Columbia, The British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre and Member of the Civil Roster Mediate BC
  • Past chair: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society
  • Past board member: Vancouver Youth Theatre, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, Vancouver Art Gallery, The Children’s Foundation and Greater Vancouver Food Bank
  • Published articles and delivered lectures on various topics in labour relations, including mandatory retirement, picketing, collective bargaining, grievances and workplace impairment.
Academic Qualifications

B.A., University of Toronto, 1969
Juris Doctor, 1974

Gary S. Snarch

Professional Experience

Gary Snarch is a chartered arbitrator (C.Arb), mediator and lawyer. He has been providing arbitral and mediation services on corporate/commercial, construction professional negligence and insurance related matters for the last 20 years.

Gary has also practiced law as a commercial litigator for 40 years appearing before all Courts including the Supreme Court of Canada and before numerous regulatory bodies. He was a senior partner with the law firm of Snarch and Allen before joining Taylor Veinotte Sullivan as Associate Counsel in 2006. He has been recognized for a number of years by LEXPERT as a leading litigation practitioner, and by Canada Benchmark as a Litigation Star.

As counsel, Gary Snarch has appeared before the:

  • Supreme Court of Canada
  • BC Court of Appeal
  • BC Supreme Court
  • Federal Court of Appeal
  • Federal Court of Canada – Trial Division
  • BC Provincial Court
  • BC Securities Commission
  • Vancouver Stock Exchange Hearing Panels
  • Investment Dealers Association (IDA) and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) Hearing Panels
  • Market Regulation Services Inc. (the independent regulation service provider for Canadian Equity market including the TSX and the TSX Venture Exchange)
  • BC Labour Relations Board
Professional Qualifications

  • BCL and LL.B., McGill University 1978
  • Member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 1979
  • Associate Counsel with the law firm of Taylor Veinotte Sullivan
  • Chartered Arbitrator with the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre
  • and the ADR Institute of Canada since 2005
  • Mediator with the British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute
  • Member of the ADR Institute of Canada
  • Designated as a Chair for hearings with the British Columbia Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal
  • Previously designated as a Chair for hearings under the Investment Dealers Association, TSX and the Universal Market Integrity Rules
  • Appointed as a Panel member for British Columbia Law Society Conduct Reviews
  • Appointed as a Panel Member for mediations/arbitrations for the National Automobile Dealer Arbitration Program
  • Member of the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre Appeal Panel
  • Appointed as a Panel Chair by IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada)
Professional and Other Activities

  • Recognized by LEXPERT as an expert in Securities litigation
  • Chartered Arbitrator (C. Arb.)
  • Member of Law Society of British Columbia since 1979
  • Member of Canadian Bar Association since 1979
  • Chartered Arbitrator and Member of British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute
  • Member of ADR Institute of Canada
  • Panel member of the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre
  • Continuing Legal Education Instructor and contributing author for CLE courses on Securities Litigation –Broker Liability
  • Providing regular seminars to securities industry and to members of the Canadian Securities Institute
Academic Qualifications

BCL, McGill University, 1978
LL.B., McGill University, 1978