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Jeffrey Horswill

Partner
About

Jeff Horswill is a litigator whose practice focuses on the litigation and resolution of complex disputes.  ‎

Jeff is a skilled negotiator and strategic thinker who is particularly adept at using alternative dispute ‎resolution to resolve disputes in a practical, solution oriented way, beneficial to his clients.‎

Jeff acts most commonly in the areas of commercial litigation and dispute resolution; shareholder and ‎society member disputes; product liability cases; and disputes involving international law and ‎intersecting jurisdictions.  As a litigator with a general practice, however, Jeff’s experience includes a ‎wide variety of other cases, including in respect of human rights issues and sports law.  Over the course ‎of his career, Jeff has developed significant experience in matters involving significant public relations or ‎political components.  ‎

As a complementary adjunct to his barrister practice, Jeff has experience in relation to the investigation ‎and prevention of corruption, fraud, money laundering and related issues.  In particular, he has ‎investigated alleged bribe payments, developed anti-corruption and training programs, advised ‎companies in relation to FINTRAC compliance, investigated fraud allegations, and provided advice in ‎relation to Canada’s sanctions regime.‎
Jeff’s practice has allowed him to act as counsel in a wide variety of forums including: all levels of British ‎Columbia Courts and the Federal Court, formal and informal mediations, and ad hoc arbitrations ‎conducted under the UNCITRAL Rules.‎

Jeff is the past co-chair of the BC-CBA Subsection on International Law and member of the executive of ‎the CBA National sub-section on International Law and that subsection’s International Dispute ‎Resolution Committee, and a recipient of the Lexpert Zenith Platinum Award 2010 - Gender Change ‎Agent.

Bar admissionsBritish Columbia, 2004

EXPERIENCE

Commercial Disputes

  • Co-counsel to major Asian Banks pursuing the proceeds of fraud in Canada.
  • Counsel in product liability actions, including in relation to construction, aviation and tobacco products.
  • Counsel in complex shareholder disputes resolved in court and through managed dispute resolution conducted by counsel.
  • Counsel in disputes over the governance of not-for-profit societies and charities.
  • Counsel in breach of confidence cases in a variety of industries including mining, technology and network marketing.
  • Counsel in respect of contract disputes in a wide variety of business sectors.
  • Counsel in environmental litigation including in respect of contaminated properties and compliance with environmental statutes.
  • Counsel in disputes in respect of common law monopolies, including the use of aerodrome facilities and in respect of transportation tariffs.
  • Counsel for application for plans of arrangement for public components section to de-list from securities market.

Disputes with Government

  • Counsel for women ski jumpers seeking inclusion in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games through an action against VANOC under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
  • Counsel to a group of citizens seeking equitable access to a Greater Vancouver park facility.
  • Counsel to an American client resisting the imposition of charges by the Canadian government under the Softwood Lumber Export Charge Act.
  • Counsel in appeals of environmental permits before the BC Environmental Appeal Board.
  • Member of counsel team in matter before the Competition Bureau in price fixing defences and contested merger cases.

Investigations and Compliance

  • Conducted investigations of alleged corrupt payments by company officials and contractors in foreign jurisdictions.
  • Provided advice in respect of due diligence for corruption issues for major corporate transactions.
  • Created anti-corruption policies and provided anti-corruption training programs.
  • Created FINTRAC compliance policies.
  • Investigated and litigated major and minor fraud cases.
  • Investigated and litigated cases related to the laundering of fraudulently obtained funds.
  • Advised on sanctions, export controls and other obligations imposed by Canada under the United Nations Act, the Special Economic Measures Act, Export and Import Permits Act, the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act and their associated regulations.

International Law and Trade

  • Member of counsel team that advises companies on their investment treaty rights and strategies for effectively using these rights.
  • Junior counsel to two Canadian forestry companies taking action against the Government of the United States of America under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement in relation to the conduct of the United States during the softwood lumber dispute. This was the first Chapter 11 case to go through the Article 1126 consolidation procedures, and the first case to test the relationship between the Treaty’s AD-CVD and investment chapter.
  • Junior counsel to an American courier company in its arbitration against the Government of Canada under NAFTA’s Chapter 11, alleging that advantages provided to the courier owned by Canada Post were discriminating.
  • Counsel and junior counsel in a number of matters, actions and motions regarding private international law.
  • Counsel advising on NAFTA, WTO and arbitration provisions in numerous transactions including the implications of the WTO and NAFTA procurement provisions on PPP project investments.
  • Member of counsel team advising a client with respect to its rights under the international treaties governing water flow in the Kootenay and Columbia River systems.
  • Counsel providing advice in respect of international law issues related to foreign investment, including the mitigation of political risk, the effect of international sanctions, and compliance with anti-corruption legislation.
  • Advising on issues arising under the Softwood Lumber Agreement in commercial transactions, investments and policy proposals.
Languages
  • English
Education
  • LL.B., Dalhousie University Law School, 2003
  • B.A., University of British Columbia, 1999

Awards

  • Recipient of the Lexpert Zenith Platinum Award 2010 - Gender Change Agent

Additional Activities

  • Pro-bono representation of clients through the Multiple Sclerosis Society
  • Participant in the Pro-Bono BC chambers duty counsel project.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Past Chair of the International Law Subsection of the CBA BC Branch
  • Member of the Executive of the National CBA International Law Section
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, CBA-BC Subsection on Constitutional Law
  • Member, Law Society of British Columbia
  • Member, Vancouver Bar Association

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