CBA.ORG / BC Executive Committee 2008/2009

Miriam A Maisonville
President
Miriam Maisonville was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 1986 and the Bar in Alberta in 1991. A graduate of the University of British Columbia law school in 1985, Miriam practices with the Ministry of the Attorney General, Appeals and Special Prosecutions, conducting fraud prosecutions and appeals. A member of the Bilingual Prosecutors group, she also conducts French language prosecutions. Miriam practised civil litigation and conducted criminal defence work prior to joining the Ministry in 1994. She is a past Chair of the Vancouver Criminal Section, and a past President of the Association des Juristes d’Expression Française de la Colombie-Britannique.

F Kenneth Walton
Past President
This year Ken Walton serves on the Executive as Past President. Ken graduated law school from the University of Saskatchewan in 1972. He was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1973 and the B.C. Bar in 1975. His practice life has been spent in Victoria B.C. since 1974. Presently, his work is in ICBC claims, wills and estates, CPP and WCB claims and general civil litigation. Ken has been an active Rotary Club member for years and is a past Assistant Governor as well as a past President of Kinsmen, K-40 and Rotary and a past member of many boards.

James Bond
Vice President
James is a Partner in the Vancouver office of Lang Michener LLP. James’ practice is concentrated in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, franchise and distribution, privacy, technology, and intellectual property law. James holds a BV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, has been ranked for the last four years as a “Leading Lawyer” in Canada by the legal publication, LEXPERT, and has been named one of “Canada’s Best Lawyers” for 2008. James is an active volunteer, and is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Vancouver Bar Association.

Stephen G McPhee
Secretary-Treasurer
Stephen began his legal career in South Africa where he was called to the Bar in 1997. His law degree was earned at the University of Stellenbosch, situated in the heart of the South African wine lands, which makes his successful academic performance there even more impressive. He immigrated to Canada in 1997, obtained his Canadian legal accreditation in 2000, and was called to the Bar in B.C. in 2002. Stephen is a partner with Ramsay Lampman Rhodes in Nanaimo and practises general, commercial and civil litigation, personal injury and family law. He has a special interest in ADR.

Michael Dunn
Officer
Michael R. Dunn (B.C. Bar 1993; ON 2005) is an enthusiastic volunteer. From 2002 until 2006, Michael R. Dunn was the Chair of the Membership Committee, member of the National Membership Committee of the CBA, member of the CBABC Legislation and Law Reform Committee, and member of the CBABC Law Week Committee. He is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, and member of National Council. In 1993, he founded the Vancouver Law Firm of Dunn & Company where he specializes in complex civil litigation.

Marina Morgan
Officer
Marina Morgan has her own firm in West Vancouver, practising primarily criminal law, as well as civil litigation, mainly in commercial matters. Called to the Bar in 1985, she prosecuted in the Vancouver Region, and did complex litigation at a Vancouver firm before starting her own practice. She has been an active member of various CBA Sections and initiatives. A regular guest instructor on advocacy related, ethical and criminal matters for various professional groups, including CLE, PLTC and UBC, she also has varied board and committee experience.

Susan Wishart
Officer
Sue Wishart is a partner in the firm of McKimm & Wishart in Victoria where she practises criminal defence law. Prior to graduating from UVic Law School in 1994 Sue obtained a Masters of Science degree from Queen’s University. Sue was the Chair of the Criminal Justice Section (Victoria) from 2004 to 2008 and participates annually in the CBA/UVic mentoring program. She is also on the Executive of the Victoria Bar Association and is a sessional instructor with UVic Faculty of Law, teaching Advocacy.

Kerry L Simmons
Young Lawyers Officer
Kerry practises at Cook Roberts LLP where she assists clients with family law and civil litigation disputes. Called to the Bar in 2000, Kerry has been a member of Provincial Council as a Section Chair from 2001-2007 and as an Elected Member for Victoria County since 2007. Among her professional and community service, she is a member of Camosun College’s Legal Office Assistant Program Advisory Committee and is appointed to the Inquiry Committee of the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia.

Jennifer Spencer
Equality and Diversity Representative
Jennifer Spencer is an associate at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP where she practises commercial litigation and aboriginal law. A graduate of UVic Law School, she has been a member of Provincial Council as a Section Chair since 2005. Jennifer coaches the UBC Law Kawaskimhon Moot team, is a member of the Advocates Club and volunteers with the YWCA High School Girls Mentorship Program and Pro Bono Law B.C.’s civil chambers duty counsel project. Her focus as the Provincial Executive’s Equality and Diversity Representative is the contribution of women and minorities to the profession.