PRACTICE PROFILE
John Elwick is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation, Insurance, and Labour & Employment Law Practice. His practice in the general commercial litigation area is primarily focused on employment, pension and benefits and insurance law. His employment law practice involves advising both employers and employees on employment law issues and acting as counsel in employment law litigation. In his pension and benefits practice, Mr. Elwick acts for trust companies, third party administrators, employers and employees on various pension matters. His insurance practice is primarily directed to acting as local counsel for several national insurance companies in life and disability claims as well as undertaking regulatory work for insurance companies. Mr. Elwick also has an administrative law specialty in property tax assessment representing owners of commercial and industrial properties in tax appeals before administrative boards and the courts.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- He has acted for a custodial trustee in a class action involving the winding up of a pension plan and has appeared as counsel in pension surplus cases. Is currently acting as defence counsel in a further pension class action.
- Recently involved in insurance regulatory hearings before the BC Utilities Commission.
- Currently representing several industrial and commercial property owners in appeals before the Property Assessment Appeal Board.
- Serves in a general counsel capacity for two of British Columbia’s largest non-profit societies, coordinating legal work and advising in such areas as contract preparation, litigation and board governance.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES
- Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education of B.C.
- Lecturer, Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
- Canadian Bar Association, Member
- British Columbia Branch of the CBA ("BCCBA") , Member
- Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association - Legal Section, Member
- Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Member
- B.C. Life & Casualty Company, Board Member
