CLEBC - Courses On Demand

15th Biennial Family Law Conference 2025

Course Date: July 3, 2025

Full Course Materials

Total: 10h 22min

Total Ethics: 5h 51min

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Nadia Myerthall — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Morag M.J. MacLeod, KC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver

View from the Bench (9:10 – 9:50)

The Honourable Chief Justice Ron A. Skolrood — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Spousal Support: Entitlement, Exceptions, Retroactive (9:50 – 10:45)

entitlement: Stobo? Zandbergen?
SSAG exceptions: don't forget them!
retroactive spousal support: after Colucci

Professor Rollie Thompson, KC — Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax and Counsel, Epstein Cole LLP, Toronto

BREAK (10:45 – 11:00)

How to Critically Review a Business Valuation Report (11:00 – 12:00)

type of report/assurance level
mathematical accuracy
validity of assumptions
reasonableness of multipliers
other considerations

Kiu Ghanavizchian, CPA, CA, CBV, MBA — Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc., Vancouver

NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (12:00 – 1:00)

Matrimonial Real Property Rights on First Nation Lands (1:00 – 1:50) (virtual presentation)

First Nation law making authority: inherent rights, self-government agreements, and federal law
implementation of matrimonial real property laws
the future: expansion of First Nation lands and governance relevant to matrimonial real property laws

Andrew Beynon — Director, Land Code Governance, First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, Sutton West, ON

Family Law Arbitration—A Process Guide (1:50 – 2:50)

crafting the arbitration agreement
getting the best out of the process
enforcement tips
critical case law
paralegal laments

Joe Broadhurst — Broadhurst & Kooy LLP, Vancouver
Morag M.J. MacLeod, KC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Fiona K. Robin — Basran Robin Allen & Desilets, Vancouver

BREAK (2:50 – 3:05)

Following the Trails: Going Forward Post-Mills v. O'Connor (3:05 – 3:55)

introduction
- what is tracing
- relevant provisions under the Family Law Act, SBC 2011, c. 25
before Mills v. O'Connor, 2025 BCCA 34
- overview of the three tracing methods
Mills v. O'Connor—overview
- background
- trial decision
- BC Court of Appeal decision
going forward post-Mills
- the default approach
- illustrative examples
tips on gathering evidence and presenting evidence to the court

Jessie Ramsay — Baker Newby LLP, Chilliwack

Closing Remarks (3:55 – 4:00)

Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Morag M.J. MacLeod, KC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver

Friday, July 4, 2025

Welcome (9:00 – 9:10)

Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Morag M.J. MacLeod, KC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver

Civility—View from the Bench and Bar (9:10 – 10:00)

view from the bench on civility in chambers
view from the bar on civility, collegiality, and dealing with self or unrepresented litigants
view from the bar on managing prejudice when dealing with self-representing litigants, applying Brown v. Brown, 2020 BCCA 53

Associate Judge Kimberley A. Robertson — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver

Evidence in Intimate Partner Violence ("IPV") Cases (10:00 – 10:55)

credibility basics, including Browne v. Dunn, collateral matters
IPV preconceptions, myths and stereotypes, and evidence
what's next?, more "law," judicial notice, tort of family violence

Professor Rollie Thompson, KC — Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax and Counsel, Epstein Cole LLP, Toronto

BREAK (10:55 – 11:10)

Case Law Update (11:10 – 12:05)

new case law developments that have shaped family law in BC over the past two years

Erin L. Brook — Brook Law, Nanaimo
Heidi A. Taylor — FH & P Lawyers LLP, Kelowna

NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (12:05 – 1:05)

Prioritizing Lawyer Well-being (1:05 – 1:55)

unique challenges family law practitioners face, including vicarious trauma and burnout
lawyer well-being dimensions
practical strategies to improve lawyer well-being

Michael Kahn, JD, MEd — Lawyers Assistance Program of BC, Vancouver

Artificial Intelligence ("AI") (1:55 – 2:50)

what AI is and isn't and why lawyers need to understand it
ethical and professional considerations when incorporating generative AI into your practice
latest and greatest from the world of AI—what lawyers are using now and what they might be considering using in the future
emerging issues in generative AI and professional responsibility

Ryan J. Black — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Cary Ann Moore — Legislative Counsel, Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Nadia Rowe — Practice Advisor, Law Society of BC, Vancouver

BREAK (2:50 – 3:05)

Family Law Agreements: Giving Advice in the Current Jurisprudential Environment (3:05 – 3:55)

is there any certainty at all, how do we give advice about the long term
Bradley v. Callahan: what does it all mean
drafting to account for Healey, O'Conner, and Schrader

Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (3:55 – 4:00)

Todd R. Bell — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton, KC — Farris LLP, Vancouver
Morag M.J. MacLeod, KC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver