John Smith

Practice Areas

Corporate Commercial Law; Corporate Finance & Securities; Mergers & Acquisitions; Mining.

Career

John’s corporate commercial practice has covered substantial transactions and projects. He now focuses primarily on ongoing advisory work to business clients ranging from large corporations to family businesses to fiduciaries. A significant portion of John's current work relates to advising on business succession strategies for larger organizations. John has had significant experience in directing major litigation for clients.

John has advised clients operating in a range of industries, including bulk terminal operations, retail operations, mining, forestry, and transportation, and in the private investment and energy sectors, as well as extensive involvement in advising a municipal government. John has also been involved in privatization and P3 projects.

After studying law at the University of Oxford, John taught law for six years before joining Lawson Lundell in 1981. John was the firm's Managing Partner from 2007-2009, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee from 2004-2006, and served as Chair of the firm’s Conflicts and Ethics Committee from 2000-2006 and 2010-2021.

Professional Memberships

Adjunct Professor, Allard School of Law at UBC, 2012-Present

Member, Host Committee, International Bar Association Conference, Vancouver, 2010

Member of the Independence and Self-Governance Committee, Law Society of British Columbia, 2006

Member of the Ethics Committee, Law Society of British Columbia, 2002 - 2005