PROFILE

Prior to practicing law, Gary completed his Masters Degree in Marine Biology which included thesis research in the area of sub-tidal population dynamics. At the same time, he operated his own company doing contract research and working as a commercial diver.

For more than 25 years, Gary has been practicing maritime law as a litigator and solicitor. He has been counsel on several major marine casualty cases and his practice encompasses all areas of maritime law, including collision, salvage, marine pollution, port state control, personal injury, class actions, vessel construction, aquaculture, tenure of sub tidal lands, charterparty disputes and marine insurance. 

Gary also has significant experience in the area of non-marine insurance, fire and property loss.

Gary has previously advised the Government of Vietnam on their legislative regime for marine transportation and environmental management (1993–2000) and was an invited Speaker/Advisor to the Technical Working Group (Shipping, Navigation and Communication) of the Initiative for Resolving Conflicts in the South China Sea (Jakarta 1995; Brunei 1996). 

Gary has been recognized by his peers as a leading practitioner in the field of Maritime Law and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in Canada, Who’s Who Legal Canada, and Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

• Called to the Bar of British Columbia, 1986
• Law Society of British Columbia, Member
• Canadian Bar Association, Member, Past Chair of  Maritime Law Section (BC)
• Canadian Maritime Law Association, Member, Past Chair  Maritime Security Sub Committee
• Vancouver Maritime Museum, Trustee, 2006-2010
• West Vancouver Yacht Club, Honorary Solicitor (2000-2010); Vice Commodore (2011), Commodore (2012)
• Past Chair of the Maritime Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) and has taught Fisheries Law as an adjunct professor for several years at the University of British Columbia Law School.
• Trustee of the Vancouver Maritime Museum and Honorary Solicitor of the West Vancouver Yacht Club (2000–2010), Vice Commodore (2011), and Commodore (2012).

• Frequent contributor to Harbour & Shipping and BC Shipping magazines
• Exxon Valdez: Punitive Damages under US Law, December 2008
• Compensation for Emotional or Psychological Harm, January/February 2010
• Marine Environmental Regulation in Canadian Arctic Waters, Maritime Arctic 2010 Conference, The Nautical Institute, Victoria, May 2010
• Advanced Marine Liability Coverage and Claims course,  Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia, Vancouver, April 2010
• TULA Meeting, Vancouver, March 2010
• Claims for Psychological Injury, Focus on Concussion -  Psychological/Psychiatric, Vancouver, January 2011
• Maritime Law Seminar for Federal Court and Court of  Appeal Judges, National Judicial Institute, Ottawa, April 2011
• Regular contributor to the publication BC Shipping and writes and speaks frequently to industry groups on areas of maritime law.   

Other Interests:  Mucking around on boats and old roadsters.