Areas of Practice

These and other serious violent offences carry maximum penalties of life in prison. They also carry long minimum prison terms. Clearly, only an experienced criminal defence lawyer should undertake to defend such serious charges.

The police use their most senior investigators. The prosecutors are some of the best and the brightest. Can you afford anything less?

The investigation leading up to an arrest can take weeks or months. If you have been, or even think you might be, charged with a serious violent offence, you need legal advice now. The police will often conduct covert surveillance, use wiretaps, and execute search warrants in the course of their investigation. You have rights. Make sure that you understand them and act to protect them.

Confessions and Other Statements

One of the most powerful tools in the prosecution of a serious violent offence such as murder is the confession. It is also the one tool over which you have complete control. Prompt legal advice will give you the knowledge and the tools to deal with the aggressive and persistent police tactics they use in their attempts to gain a confession.

If you have already spoken to the police, I can explain the consequences of this to you and bring applications to the Court to argue that any statement should not be used against you.

Bail

Bail may be available for even those charged with the most serious offences, even murder. A bail application in cases such as these is one that must be meticulously planned and executed. I can assist you and your loved ones in putting together the plan which has the greatest chance of success. Do not rush to Court without help.

Call or email now for your free initial consultation.

Sexual assault is one of the most serious and devastating accusations an individual can face. Conviction may lead to a lengthy prison sentence, sex offender registration, restrictions on where you can live, work, or travel. With this much at stake, you cannot afford anything less than the best possible defence.

I have been vigourously defending sexual assault and related cases with discretion and understanding since 1995. The types of cases I most commonly defend are:

• Sexual assault
• Date rape
• Historical sexual assault
• Indecent assault
• Sexual exploitation
• Invitation to sexual touching
• Indecent exposure/indecent acts
• Child sexual abuse
• Internet luring

These cases are governed by a number of procedural and evidentiary rules which are unique to sexual offence trials.

Some of these involve applications to have the statement of an accuser introduced without the accuser testifying; or to have the accuser testify via video. There are also procedures which the prosecution may use to try to limit the areas in which the defence may cross-examine the accuser or to prevent the defence from obtaining access to information about the accuser. It also may be possible to obtain a ban on publication of the names of those involved.

The defence of sexual offences is an evidentiary and procedural minefield which demands a lawyer knowledgeable and experienced in this particular area. Many of these offences also now carry mandatory minimum jail sentences.

Book your free initial consultation today so that we can begin to safeguard your future and restore your reputation.

Drug offences in Canada have some of the most severe penalties, including maximum sentences of up to life in prison.

They also have many severe minimum jail sentences. Those charged with certain types of drug offences often face the possibility of forfeiting cash, cars, or homes. If you are facing these serious charges, you need an experienced criminal defence lawyer.

Protect Your Rights

In any case, involving drugs, it is crucial to retain counsel as early as possible in order to protect your rights. Most police departments in the Greater Vancouver Area have dedicated drug squads who are given special training. They will use that to gather as much evidence against you as they can. They will try to get you to confess, to inform on others, and to consent to the search of your property without a search warrant. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to refuse to assist the police. And you have the right to refuse to consent to a search of your property.

In the defence of drug cases, including;

• Drug trafficking in hard drugs such as cocaine, crystal meth, and heroin
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking
• Production and possession of marijuana.

it is possible to challenge the admissibility of the drugs themselves. This application may have the effect of destroying the case against you. But it is an application which is likely extremely complex and involves a skilled cross-examination of the investigators. It is one which requires a skilled criminal defence lawyer.

Some of the documents and evidence central to your case may be available shortly after arrest or detention and before a charge is formally laid. We can start preparing your defence now.

Call or email today to arrange your free initial consultation.

Assault or Uttering Threats charges are the most common of the violent offences seen in the Courts. They are investigated promptly and will typically involve the police attending immediately upon receiving the 911 call. This means that the evidence that is gathered in the early stages is central to the case.

As well, the evidence that is not present may be crucial to the defence. I can explain the significance of evidence and the holes in the case against you. I can also assist you in gathering the evidence which may form the bedrock of your defence.

Do not try to get through this initial period alone. It is vital to get legal advice now in order to begin preparing your defence. It may also be possible to begin working toward resolving the matter without the imposition of a criminal record before a charge is even formally laid.

Domestic Assault

A charge of assault or uttering threats often has an immediate and devastating effect on those charged. Particularly in allegations of domestic violence, the police or the Court impose bail conditions which can tear a family apart. These commonly include a ban on contacting family members, including one’s own children, and being banned from going back to your own home.

These conditions are not set in stone however, and with the right advice and representation, some of these conditions may be eased or removed entirely.

Spousal Assault charges are given scheduling priority within the Court system. Do not waste the opportunity to move your case forward by waiting to get advice. Contact me today so that we may begin working toward getting your life back

Theft charges may vary in from the simplest shoplifting charge to very sophisticated fraud or theft from employer charges, commonly known as “white collar crime”. If you are under investigation or charged with a theft or fraud offence, you need to get experienced legal advice.

Depending on the case, the evidence presented against you may include store detectives’ statements, surveillance videos, forensic accounting reports, banking records, the opinions of expert witnesses. More complex cases may involve search warrants relating to both physical places and computer records.

I have the knowledge and experience to assist you in making sense of the case against you. I can guide you through the process and ensure that all your rights and freedoms are protected.

Theft and Fraud cases often require challenges to the admissibility of certain pieces of evidence which may be central to the case against you. I will explain these issues to you as we prepare a strategy.

It may not be necessary to take every case to trial. I pride myself on taking a flexible approach to handle theft and fraud cases and ensuring that you are aware of all of the options available. I am frequently able to resolve matters without going to trial and without the imposition of a criminal record.

The consequences of a criminal record for theft or fraud may dramatically impede your ability to obtain or maintain employment, and as such, it is vital to get the advice you need as early as possible.

Contact my office today for a no charge initial consultation.

Dangerous Driving, including Dangerous Driving Causing Death or Bodily Harm, are the types of charges which concern all of us who drive. We all know of the case where a moment’s inattention or distraction lead to catastrophic consequences. However not every accident is a crime.

Good people get into car accidents. People who have never had any contact with the police. People who have certainly never been the subject of a serious police investigation.

Motor Vehicle incidents leading to property damage or physical harm are treated seriously by the police. They will attempt to interview you right at the scene if they can. They will try to get you to incriminate yourself. They will do this when you are likely shaken and scared and at your most vulnerable.

You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to speak to a lawyer.

Take the time to get proper legal advice before you take any steps including dealing with your insurance company. A conviction for a Motor Vehicle related Criminal Code offence will result in a breach of your insurance and could lead to disastrous financial consequences. This is in addition to any criminal penalties.

Your side of the story can come out. Make sure it comes out completely and correctly without succumbing to the pressures exerted by the police and the insurance company.

Your freedom, financial future, and ability to drive may all depend on the decisions you make at the earliest stages of your case.

Call or email now for your free initial consultation.

The list of restricted and prohibited weapons in the Criminal Code is extensive. So are the regulations regarding the storage, transport and use of weapons.

The penalties for many offences, especially those relating to firearms, are very severe and are often mandatory minimum jail sentences of one or more years. If you are charged with, or under investigation for, a weapons or firearms offence, you need the prompt advice of an experienced defence lawyer.

I have defended hundreds of cases involving allegations of violence and/or the possession of weapons including:

• Murder or attempted murder
• Possession of prohibited firearms
• ​Discharge of a firearm
• ​Assault with a weapon
• Applications for firearms prohibition.

As many of these offences carry significant mandatory jail sentences, it is important to get advice early. The police often attempt to seize evidence, either with or without a search warrant and you must safeguard your rights as much as possible. Even if the investigation is complete, you have the Right to be Free From Unreasonable Search and Seizure and I can help you safeguard your rights by challenging the admissibility of improperly obtained evidence.

Early action also allows for timely discussions with the prosecution. If your case is the right one, it may be possible to resolve matters early without the imposition of the very severe mandatory jail sentences.

If you are a hunter or gun enthusiast, it may be possible to preserve your right to own and possess firearms. It may be possible to secure the release of your seized firearms.

I take an individualized approach to every case and explore every possible avenue to ensure that my clients get the very best result possible for their situation.

Impaired driving and related offences are some of the most complex and time consuming to defend. This is not a charge which you should face alone. The police investigation and prosecution is very technical and requires a highly skilled defence lawyer to ensure that you are protected as much as possible.

From the moment you are detained, your rights must be respected by the police. This continues throughout the investigation and trial. You have the right to speak to a lawyer, with some limited exceptions, from the moment you are detained.

Prompt legal advice can assist you in making the right decision when faced with police demands, either for breath or blood sample or for a potentially incriminating statement.

Impaired Driving Causing Death or Bodily Harm

Clearly, the stakes are enormous for one charged with impaired driving causing death or bodily harm. In addition to long prison terms, you may be in breach of your insurance and face the prospect of a huge civil claim.

Prompt action may reduce the likelihood of these consequences. The right criminal defence lawyer can challenge the technical, scientific and expert evidence which may form the backbone of the case against you.

Immediate Roadside Prohibition

Many instances of suspected impaired driving in British Columbia are not prosecuted criminally but rather dealt with through the Immediate Roadside Prohibition regime under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Prompt action is critical as failure to act will almost certainly result in the imposition of significant penalties and consequences which will include fines, mandatory license suspensions, and other long term restrictions on your ability to drive.

I have been protecting people’s freedoms and the right to drive since 1999. I have the skill and experience you need if faced with an impaired driving charge. Call or email now for your free initial consultation.