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Farris LLP: Vancouver's Law Firm

About Farris

Law students benefit from Farris’ broad range of practice areas, the calibre and diversity of our clients, and the sophisticated nature of our cases and transactions.

Farris is a leading BC law firm with offices in Vancouver, Kelowna, and Victoria, British Columbia. For over 100 years, Farris has provided innovative and practical solutions, timely and efficient service, and a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in all areas of the law to a diverse client base which includes some of the largest public institutions and private corporations. We balance a strong regional and national presence with an expanding international practice that includes U.S., European, and Asia-Pacific based clients. We provide services of the highest calibre in every area of law – a goal to which the members of our firm are committed to at every level.

Our Lawyers

Our lawyers comprise barristers and solicitors almost equally. Our solicitors are among a small number in Vancouver, BC who practise at the most senior and sophisticated levels of corporate finance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. We regularly act, advise upon, and structure some of the largest acquisitions, developments, and commercial projects in British Columbia.

Our litigation lawyers are regularly retained to appear at all levels of court in British Columbia, the Federal Courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada; and before administrative, labour, and other tribunals in the context of both domestic and international arbitration.

Many of our lawyers are recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as top practitioners in their fields and many are also ranked among the top 500 leading lawyers in Canada.

Statistics
Lawyers 86  
Partners 44 Male 36 Female 8
Associates 42 Male 26 Female 16
Students  
Articling 8 - 10  
Summer 5 - 6  
Staff 130  

Our Practice

We offer a complete range of legal services including corporate and commercial; securities; banking; real estate; technology; biotechnology; litigation and labour law. At Farris, we are committed to providing our clients with the highest calibre of legal service. Please see Practice Areas for a comprehensive list of our practice areas and lawyers.

Our Culture

Farris is a different kind of law firm. Our culture is best described by the qualities we believe make us unique.

Tradition…

The success of our firm has only one measure: the success of the clients we serve.

At Farris, we have long been guided by a tradition of doing the best that we can for our clients by doing good work. This tradition continues to serve as our foundation - and our inspiration.

Innovation…

Today, doing good work for our clients means advancing our position as knowledgeable, multi-disciplinary service providers with global competence. Our lawyers continue to demonstrate their qualities as innovative strategists, well able to manage the complexities of emerging industries, advancing technology, and variable, international economies to maximum advantage.

Our People…

Our lawyers, students, and staff share a common goal – excellence in all that we do. We expect nothing less than each other’s best efforts at all times, and vigorously foster an environment that encourages the individual and supports the team. The unique qualities that each individual brings to the collective effort are fundamental to the continued success of our firm and its clients, and we proudly acknowledge their contributions to our past… and to our future.

Our Structure…

Our capacity to manoeuvre quickly at the global level reflects an equally efficient internal structure. Our law firm is not managed by committees, which enables us to better focus on our clients and our work. That means no committee meetings; no billable hour budgets; no firm retreats; no written partnership agreement, and few partner meetings. And, our unique Partner admission policy – encouraging our Associates to approach us when they believe they are ready for partnership – further reveals an environment that is unencumbered by formalities, cultivates service excellence, and rewards innovative thinking.

Diverse Clients in BC and Around the World

Your ability to gain needed exposure to a broad, challenging range of transactions and cases is determined by two factors: our work and our clients. The comprehensive and sophisticated nature of our practice areas and recent transactions illustrates our capacity to help you acquire the skills that will prepare you for the practice of law.

But perhaps the best indicator of our capacity to present you with stimulating, meaningful experiences is revealed in the calibre and diversity of the clients we proudly serve. The stature of our clients reflects our past and predicts our future – presenting unique opportunities to the students we regard as a principal source of our firm’s growth.

Social and Team Activities

Throughout the year, articling and summer students have the opportunity to attend numerous firm events. These events include: the Farris Summer Social, the Lawyers’ Summer Picnic, the Associates’ Dinner, the Farris Holiday Luncheon, and the Lawyers’ Dinner in December.

Sports enthusiasts may join the Farris hockey or basketball teams; race at the BC Law Firm Ski Championship; or take part in the Annual Farris Golf Tournament.

Farris is also actively involved in the community. We are proud to support various charities through participation in their fundraising events. We encourage our students to join our corporate teams and to participate in some of the fun events around Vancouver such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Bowling for Big Brothers, the Vancouver Sun Run, and the PMC Sierra Fun Run.

Location

As one of the world’s premier travel destinations, and host city for the 2010 Olympics, Vancouver, BC presents visitors and residents with limitless opportunities for entertainment, recreation, and adventure. Farris’ convenient location in the downtown core is only one block from the Law Courts, and central to the library, law resources, and the regional and head offices of many of our BC-based clients.