Owen J. James
Partner
Owen's Assistant
Biography
Owen James practices commercial litigation. He has a particular focus on complex corporate-commercial litigation, environmental litigation and real estate litigation.
He has appeared as counsel at the trial and appellate levels, including at the Supreme Court of Canada, and has also acted for clients in arbitration and before a variety of administrative tribunals. Prior to practice, Owen served as a judicial law clerk to several justices of the British Columbia Supreme Court.
Owen regularly contributes to the Continuing Legal Education Society and has written for the Annual Review of Law and Practice and Provincial Court Small Claims Handbook, on which he serves on the Editorial Board. He has written on a range of topics for The International Who’s Who of Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers, CCH Tax Topics, Canadian Property Management and Annual Review of Insolvency Law, and has also presented on topics relating to his practice.
Recognition
- Benchmark: Future Litigation Star – Canada – 2018
- Benchmark: Future Litigation Star – Canada – 2019
- Benchmark: 40 & Under Hot List – Canada – 2019
Education
- LLB, University of British Columbia (2005)
- BA, Simon Fraser University (2001)
Associations
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia
- Member, Vancouver Bar Association
- Member, Environmental Managers Association of British Columbia
- Member, Urban Development Institute
Bar Admissions
- British Columbia, 2007
Notable Cases
Tembec Enterprises v. British Columbia, Decision No. 2008-FOR-011(a)
Succeeded in defence of a forestry company in administrative proceedings under the Forest range and Practices Act.
Century Services Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2010 SCC 60
Succeeded in appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada for a secured lender in a case involving priority of unremitted GST proceeds in a failed restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
Dawydiuk v. I.C.B.C., 2009 BCSC 1259 var’d 2010 BCCA 353
Succeeded in defence of an employer in respect of a claim for wrongful dismissal brought by a former employee.
Succeeded in defence of a lottery retailer charged under the Gaming Control Act.
British Columbia v. Hyland and Haptom, 2008 BCPC 126
Succeeded in defence of an individual in a forfeiture application in respect of property under the Criminal Code.
Vancouver (City) v. Robinson, 2013 BCSC 1224
Succeeded at trial and on the subsequent appeal for a plaintiff in an action for damages in nuisance against the City of Vancouver.
Unlu v. Air Canada 2015 BCSC 1453 aff’d 2017 BCCA 316.
Succeeded at trial and on the subsequent appeal for a defendant airline in certification proceedings under the Class Proceedings Act.
View all Owen's casesNews
Craig Dennis, Q.C., Owen James and Eric Aitken succeeded for the plaintiff in obtaining a multi-million dollar damages award
The award related to a fraudulent investment scheme carried out by the defendants. The underlying litigation involved claims based in fraud, conversion and breach of trust. The award concluded... Read more
January 2, 2020Owen James and Emily Kirkpatrick recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot List
McEwan Partners are pleased to announce that Owen James and Emily Kirkpatrick are both named as Future Stars in the 2019 edition of Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot... Read more
August 13, 2019