I have been a practicing lawyer for over thirty years. I clerked for the Tax Court of Canada after my call to the BC Bar in 1992.  I am a partner in my law firm Bekkering York.  My practice includes personal injury, insurance, and, general litigation. I have also handled family law and construction law cases over my career. I am a seasoned trial counsel and have conducted many jury and judge alone trials during my career. I have also appeared as lead counsel at the B.C. Court of Appeal.

I am a Chartered Arbitrator with ADRBC.  I am on the ADRBC Roster for total damage arbitrators for various insurance companies. I am also an adjudicator on the Attorney General’s Municipal Bylaw Adjudication Roster and conduct hearings at municipalities throughout the province.

I am a qualified mediator with ADRBC. I have also completed a six-month mentored mediation program focusing on Worksafe matters.  Mediation is a current part of my practice both as counsel and as mediator. My mediation practice is in the area of general civil litigation matters.  I am on the Roster List for the Attorney General of BC as an approved mediator.  I have co mediated and solo mediated many cases including WCB, CRT facilitations and Insurance/Personal Injury Matters.  I have also mediated cases involving oil tank placement, commercial disputes, and, occupiers’ liability.

I am an active volunteer currently assisting with Amici Curiae. I am currently the Treasurer for the ADRBC Board of Directors.

I have taken 80 hours of mediation-based training over and above my qualifications for my law degree. I partake in continuing education in this area.  My firm is a long term sponsor of the ADRBC annual symposium.

I have taken the Arbitrators’ Training Course through ADRBC. Since then, I have conducted numerous arbitrations for Insurance Companies including Commercial Claims. As a result, I achieved the Chartered Arbitrator Designation through ADRBC. I also participate in arbitration files as counsel defending UMP claims and have extensive experience in that area.

• Co-Author and Presenter Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia Medicine Bootcamp for Lawyers Ethical Considerations in Retaining and Advising a Medical Expert
• 2021 – Co-Presenter IIBC Fraud Investigation: Water Damages Claims Webinar
• 2020 – Author and Presenter Headings of Damage Unique to Catastrophic Claims In House presentation to ICBC Head Office Claims
• 2019 – Author and Presenter of Rule 7-5 Best Practices in-house presentation to ICBC Claims
• 2017 – Present Member ADR Institute of British Columbia
• 2006 – Present Member Vancouver Bar Association
• 2022 – Present Trial Lawyers Association Member
• 1992 – Present Canadian Bar Association Member

• August 2022               Chartered Arbitrator ADR BC
• December 2021          Qualified Mediator ADRBC
• June 2017                   Qualified Arbitrator ADRBC
• June 1991                   Bachelor of Laws University of Victoria
• June 1987                   Bachelor of Arts Simon Fraser University