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
- Acting as counsel in employment, pension, life and disability cases. Has appeared in class action cases involving group employee dismissals, pension plan windups and pension surplus cases.
- Appearing in insurance regulatory hearings before the BC Utilities Commission as well as acting for insurers in matters involving National and Provincial insurance regulators.
- Representing industrial and commercial property owners in appeals before the Property Assessment Appeal Board and the courts.
- Serving 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
- “Protecting your Business With a Restrictive Covenant”, Canadian Underwriter Magazine, April 2009
- “Judicial Review/Commissioner’s Rates Appeals” prepared and presented at the Industrial Seminar in June 2009 organized by BC Chapter of the Canadian Property Tax Association.·
- “Assessment & Taxation of P3s (occupation issues)” prepared and presented at a Continuing Legal Education seminar on Real Property Assessment, April 2005.
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
- Canadian Property Tax Association, Member
- B.C. Life & Casualty Company, Board Member
