Legal Experience

2019 – Counsel for court appointed receiver of various companies with land holdings in BC, Alberta, and USA
2019 –Counsel for law firm in British Columbia that was seeking to restructure its debts
2019 – Counsel for court appointed liquidator of companies with land holdings in BC
2019 –Counsel for Bankruptcy Trustee and Receiver of flooring retainers in B.C. and Ontario
2018 Counsel for owner of air flight and airplane academy
2018 – Counsel for resource company seeking to restructure its obligations
2017, lead British Columbia counsel for purchaser of eleven entities that were in the business of providing private education services in British Columbia and Ontario. The matter involved regulators in British Columbia and Ontario and some unionized work places.
2016 – counsel for secured creditor with respect to sale of ski hill. The matter involved crown lands, British Columbia regulators, and Aboriginal claims to the land.
2016 – counsel for petitioner in CCAA proceedings of golf course and inn
2016 – counsel for a road building company in a restructuring involving bonded and non-bonded projects.
2016, counsel for Trustee in Bankruptcy with respect to a secured claim and a proprietary claim filed by third parties with respect to real property in the name of the bankrupt.
2016, counsel for various tax debtors with respect to the restricting of their financial affairs by way of proposals made pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
2016, counsel for Trustee in Bankruptcy with respect to a Wills Variation proceeding.
2016, counsel for various Trustees in Bankruptcy regarding matters arising in connection with the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
2015, counsel for contracting party with respect to CCAA proceedings of Armtec Infrastructure Inc.
2014-2015, counsel for the Petitioner in a CCAA proceeding involving golf course and Inn
2014-2015, counsel for secured creditor with respect to Mount Baldy Ski Resort.
2014-2015, counsel for receiver of Mount Baldy Ski Resort.
2012-2013, counsel for Receiver over three Canadian limited partnerships which raised funds for real estate investments in the USA. Total funds raised by these entities exceeded $300 million.
2012-2013, counsel for Proposal Trustee of a construction company with several ongoing multi-million dollar construction projects. Bonita developed a unique legal process for the adjudication of all trust claims and lien claims.
2012-2013, counsel for court officer with respect to a molybdenum mine.
2012-2013, counsel for Receiver of a gold mining company.
2011 through 2013, counsel for secured creditor in the CCAA proceedings of Blackburn Developments Ltd.
2011, counsel for secured creditor in the CCAA proceedings of William Switzer Associates Ltd.
2011, counsel for purchaser of assets in the CCAA proceedings of William Switzer Associates Ltd.
2011, counsel for 6382 Pulp & Paper Partnership in respect of a proposal made under Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act of Canada
2003-2010 counsel for the court-appointed Receiver-Manager of the general partner of four limited partnerships that were involved in the ownership and development of several residential, multi-unit complexes situated in the United States, The realization of the assets has involved insolvency proceedings in British Columbia and the United States.
2009-2010 counsel for approximately 500 unionized and non-unionized employees with respect to unpaid wage claims in representative proceedings against former directors of an insolvent entity.
2009-2010 acted as lead counsel for purchaser of pulp mill during CCAA proceeding.
2007-2008, in the matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and HSPP General Partner Ltd. and Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Limited Partnership — lead insolvency counsel for Howe Sound Paper Limited Partnership and HSPP General Partner Ltd in the restructuring of approximately US$238 million in unsecured debt that was completed pursuant to the provisions of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
2008, in the matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Tahera Diamond Corporation and Benachee Resources Inc. —lead counsel for one of the parties of a joint venture which is one of the largest unsecured creditors.
2008, in the matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Asset-Based Commercial Paper proceeding —provided advice to a regulatory body.
2007-2008, in the matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Pope & Talbot Ltd. —acted for a supplier. This is a cross-border restructuring matter involving proceedings in British Columbia and United States of America.
2002-2008, in the matter of the bankruptcy of Tarsem Singh Gill- lead counsel for Deloitte & Touche Inc., the Trustee in Bankruptcy of Tarsem Singh Gill. This is a complex bankruptcy arising out of the misuse of funds by disbarred lawyer Martin Wirick. It is one of the largest fraud cases in British Columbia history. The bankruptcy involves over 350 properties, and approximately $65 million in potential claims.
1999-2001, in the matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and United Used & Auto Truck Parts Ltd. —counsel for one of the senior secured creditors.
1997-1998, in the matter of the Proposal of J.S. McMillan Fisheries Ltd. — acted as one of the counsel for the lead lender in a secured creditor syndicate.
1990-1991, in the matter of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and Quintette Coal Ltd. — acted as one of the counsel for a significant stakeholder of Quintette Coal Ltd.

Professional Background

Jeffrey Hand was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1990. Jeffrey has a depth of experience in resolving a range of commercial disputes, with particular emphasis on construction related claims and professional liability matters. He has defended design professionals, real estate professionals, insurance agents/brokers, land appraisers, and financial planners.

Jeffrey is both a Chartered Mediator and Chartered Arbitrator and since 2007 is regularly asked to mediate or arbitrate a wide range of disputes in the areas of:

property damage
bodily injury
work place injuries
liability insurance
shareholder disputes
marine and transportation claims
product liability matters

Jeffrey sits as an Adjudicator on a number of Administrative tribunals and has appeared at all levels of Court in the Province of British Columbia.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, University of Manitoba: 1986
Bachelor of Laws, University of Manitoba: 1989
Called to the British Columbia Bar: 1990

Rankings + Recognitions

Chartered Mediator, ADR Institute of Canada
Chartered Arbitrator, ADR Institute of Canada
Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators
Who’s Who Legal Commercial Mediators list for both Canada and International

Memberships

Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators
Chartered Arbitrator and Mediator, Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada
Chair, Safety Standards Appeal Board of British Columbia
Member, Board of Governors for the International Academy of Mediators
Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, England
Arbitrator, Canadian Arbitration Association
Arbitrator, ADR BC
Mediate BC, Civil Roster Mediator
Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law
Past Chair, Construction Law Subsection (B.C. Branch) of the Canadian Bar Association
Past adjuducator for the Property Assessment Appeal Board of British Columbia
Chair, Safety Standards Appeal Board
Environmental Appeal Board
Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal
Forest Appeals Commission

Experience

Counsel on the first asbestos property damage case to be tried in Canada
Counsel on an International Arbitration between Multi-Nationals involved in the construction of an offshore petroleum project
Chartered Arbitrator, Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada
Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, England
Arbitrator, International Panel of Construction ADR Specialists, Construction Dispute Resolution Services
Arbitrator, BC Arbitration and Mediation Institute Arbitrator Roster
Guest Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia
Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law
Past Chair, Construction Law Subsection (B.C. Branch) of the Canadian Bar Association.
Member, BC Construction Round Table
Member, Defence Research Institute
Speaker at courses on Construction and Insurance Law

Publications

Editors Note Fall 2016, Letter of the Law
Insurance Coverage Denied for Pollution Damage
Applying for Insurance? Full Disclosure Needed for Coverage
Insurance Agents Have Duty to Explain Policy to Clients
Resolving Construction Disputes Without the Courtroom
Home Inspector Liable for House Defects
Courts Consider Arbitration Clauses
Architects Win Appeal
BC Court Restricts Appeal from Arbitrators Award
Courts in Conflict over Builders Insurance Coverage
Claim Against Home Inspector Succeeds

Presentations

Guest Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia
Panelist, “Taking Mediation to the Next Level,” International Academy of Mediators training session in Zurich, Switzerland

Our Practice

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