Litigation

The lawyers of Ng Ariss Fong are experienced in advising and representing litigants before administrative tribunals, employment boards, arbitrators, the Federal Court, the BC Supreme Court and the BC Court of Appeal. Ng Ariss Fong also provides consulting services to firms bringing appeals and interventions to the Supreme Court of Canada.

We are committed to providing pragmatic advice, finding creative solutions, negotiating advantageous settlements, and where litigation cannot or should not be avoided, assertively representing clients' interests.

Civil Litigation

Our services extend to many areas of civil litigation, including the following:

  • Commercial Tenancies and Leases

    • Commercial tenancies are defined by commercial leases, which are often complex and nuanced. We act for both commercial landlords and tenants to interpret and enforce their lease rights.

  • Construction Law

    • Construction claims are generally complex and involve multiple parties.  Our experience in this area includes acting for owners in large-scale law suites as well as defending professionals.

  • Corporate Disputes

    • Shareholder and partnership disputes can involve highly contentious oppression actions or wind-ups, breaches of duties, bad faith, and the tracing of wrongful profits. We have acted for shareholders and partners in litigating and negotiating these difficult disputes.

  • Defamation

    • Defamation law has substantially expanded with the increasing popularity of social internet networking, personal websites, and blogging.  Our services extend to acting for plaintiffs and defendants. We have a special interest in defamation cases involving professionals, boards, and committees.

  • Employment Law

    • We work with both employees and employers in negotiating and litigating dismissals. See also our related services in litigating human rights matters.  

  • Negligence

    • Negligence law defines when one person owes another a duty to act with care, and this area of law includes carrying out one's duties with skill and prudence. We have a particular interest in professional negligence, negligence by the Crown, and abuse of office.

  • Fiduciary Duties

    • Special legal rules apply to trusted advisers and caretakers, including duties of loyalty. The law imposes "fiduciary" duties on people occupying positions of trust, including directors, partners, agents, brokers, legal and financial advisers, and many others. We wrote Fiduciary Duties in Canada to guide other lawyers in this area.

    Administrative Law

    Our services extend to many areas of administrative law, including the following:

  • Judicial reviews, board reviews, appeals, public commissions/inquiries

    • We represent applicants, appellants, and respondents before a range of tribunals including the recently created B.C. Health Professions Review Board.  See "Suite210", our firm's law blog for commentary on administrative and professional regulatory cases, and on decisions of the Health Professions Review Board.  Also see "Professional Governance and Discipline", one of our focus areas, to read about our list of services for regulators and professionals.

    Our firm also represents participants in public commissions. For 2010 and 2011 Ng Ariss Fong in conjunction with Songbird Law Corporation represented Heiltsuk Tribal Council in the Cohen Commission on the Inquiry into the Decline of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon. In 2010, we represented Community Legal Assistance Society in the Public Commission on Legal Aid.

    Ng Ariss Fong contributed to the writing of the BC Continuing Legal Education's upcoming publication, "BC Administrative Law Practice Manual".

  • Aboriginal law

    • We are privileged to have the honour of assisting First Nations with their representation and governance needs. Our firm has assisted First Nations in challenging government and assessing the merits of judicial reviews. In 2012 our legal work includes assisting Heiltsuk Tribal Council in its intervention before the Joint Review Panel of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project.

  • Environmental law

    • Ng Ariss Fong is a supporter of West Coast Environmental Law, and has conducted environmental work with the assistance of West Coast's Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund. Areas of interest include water law, environmental assessments, agricultural land use law, and aboriginal rights intersecting with the environment.

  • Human Rights Law

    • We represent complainants and respondents in all areas of discrimination under the BC Human Rights Code. Our firm has a specific interest in cases involving race, gender, or sexual orientation discrimination, and welcome inquiries for reduced fee or pro bono services in those areas.

    For information on the firm's litigation services, contact Lisa C. Fong.