Bill has over 40 years of experience as a professional providing advice to clients in a range of industries. Bill’s practice is focused on acquisitions and divestitures of large and small businesses, shareholder agreements and disputes, joint ventures and limited partnerships.

Prior to entering the field of law, Bill trained and practiced as a Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA), a background that he draws on to deal with a variety of corporate and commercial matters.

He has considerable experience structuring and negotiating joint venture agreements and long term supply agreements. Bill has developed special knowledge and expertise in advising clients on the process of buying and selling businesses.

Industry Experience

Bill has carried out arbitrations and has worked with clients in a wide range of industries including:

trucking
retail operations
logging contractors
shipbuilding
marine transport
high technology
mining
restaurants
real estate development
construction
pulp & paper
functional mushrooms
marine construction
metal fabricating
food importers
educational institutions
parts manufacturing and distribution
food processing and distribution
lumber manufacturing and sales
cannabis growing and distribution
oil & gas services
telecommunication installation services
construction materials supply
agricultural feed supply

• Bill is a Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb.) and is recognized as a domestic arbitrator by the Vancouver International Arbitration Centre and has been involved with numerous large and small arbitrations, including acting as the court-appointed arbitrator.
• Acted as an arbitrator and mediator in numerous disputes:
• Partnership and ownership disputes
• • Business acquisition disputes
  • Working capital adjustment disputes
  • Accounting principles disputes
  • Breach of contract disputes
  • Fee disputes

• Past Chair – Auditing and Assurance Standards Oversight Council (Canada)
• Former Member – Accounting Standards Oversight Council (Canada)
• Chair – Legal Strategies for Business Acquisitions – Continuing Legal Ed
• Contributor – Buying and Selling Business – Earnouts – Continuing Legal Ed
• Editorial Board – Advising B.C. Business
• Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia (13 years)
• Chambers Canada, British Columbia: Corporate/Commercial, Chambers and Partners, 2017-2024
• Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, (2016-2024): recommended in Corporate Commercial Law and Corporate Mid-Market
• Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized as a leading lawyer in the areas of Corporate Law, Transportation Law, Mergers + Acquisitions Law and Natural Resources Law (2017-2024)
• CLEBC’s Most Prolific Volunteers (1996 to 2016): Recognized as prolific contributor
• Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of Transportation: Shipping (2015)
• LexisNexis – Martindale-Hubbell: AV Peer Review Rated

LL.B, University of British Columbia, 1977
B.Comm., University of British Columbia, 1972
Chartered Accountant, Manitoba and British Columbia, 1974
Chartered Arbitrator, ADR Institute of Canada, 2005