2023 Criminal Law Conference

Making Tough Calls and Managing Difficult People
CRIMINAL LAW CONFERENCE
Chaired by Kevin Filkow & Rebecca McConchie

Friday 29 September 2023
In-Person (Vancouver) AND Virtual via Zoom 
8:55 am - 5:00 pm
6 CPD credits, including one hour of ethics embedded

Register for IN PERSON participation | Register for VIRTUAL participation
Save 10% with Early Bird rates until 8 September

About This Course:
TLABC’s annual Criminal Law Conference digs into what counsel can do when faced with difficult legal and ethical quandaries created by someone in the justice system acting improperly. From dealing with abrasive judges to improper Crown closing arguments to clients urging unethical conduct, criminal lawyers have to handle tense situations quickly and calmly.

Experienced panelists at the conference will guide attendees through how to identify when a situation has gone from borderline to bad and how to navigate out of it in a way that protects you and your client. 

Attend in-person for networking opportunities with the esteemed faculty!

Program:
Handling Improper Crown Conduct
DAVID FERGUSON, David Ferguson Criminal Defence, Vancouver
PETER SANKOFF, Sankoff Criminal Law, Edmonton
This panel will discuss scenarios where Crown counsel’s conduct seems 
unethical or unfair, how to know when Crown advocacy crosses the line 
from vigorous to improper, and what defence counsel can and should do 
about it. 

Righting Wrongs Post-Conviction
AMANDA CARLING, BC First Nations Justice Council, Westbank
TONY PAISANA, Peck and Company Barristers, Vancouver
MARILYN SANDFORD KC, Ritchie Sandford McGowan, Vancouver
This panel will examine what we know about modern-day wrongful 
convictions in Canada and methods through which counsel can seek to 
rectify miscarriages of justice post-conviction.

Managing Difficult Clients
JOANNA KELLY, Jones & Company Law Office, Kelowna
SCOTT WRIGHT, Pender Litigation, Vancouver
This panel will provide their perspective on effective, ethical methods for 
dealing with difficult clients, such as clients who push counsel to engage 
in unethical behaviour and those with unreasonable demands and
expectations.

Issues Arising from Questionable Judicial Conduct
JOVEN NARWAL, Narwal Litigation LLP, Vancouver
KEVIN WESTELL, Pender Litigation, Vancouver
This panel will review scenarios involving problematic behaviour from the 
bench, and will give counsel guidance on how to handle questionable 
conduct from the person deciding their client’s fate

First Nations Court: A Primer for Practitioners
JUDGE RAYMOND PHILLIPS, Provincial Court of BC, Kamloops Courthouse
EMILY DELANEY, Criminal Lawyer, Surrey
This panel will discuss what First Nations Court is, how it operates, its 
goals in light of the justice system’s historical and ongoing wrongs 
against Indigenous Peoples, and effective advocacy in First Nations Court. 

Handling Conflicts Between Defence Counsel
JONATHAN DESBARATS, Desbarats Law Corporation, Vancouver
MARVIN STERN, Stern Shapray Criminal Lawyers, Surrey
This panel will examine scenarios that lead to conflicts between defence 
counsel and how to avoid or address such conflicts.

Responding to Problematic Conduct by Witnesses
MATTHEW NATHANSON, MN Law, Vancouver
DANIEL SONG KC, Pringle Law, Vancouver
This panel will discuss what to do when a witness appears to engage in 
conduct that runs contrary to their role, such as using the court process 
for personal gain, ignoring rules of evidence and procedure, and refusing 
to answer questions while under cross-examination. 

Managing Requests and Commentary from the Media
ERIC GOTTARDI KC, Peck and Company Barristers, Vancouver
CAITLIN SHANE, Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver
This panel will provide defence counsel with insight into the 
circumstances in which defence counsel can speak to the media, how to 
do so ethically and effectively, and the role criminal lawyers have in 
correcting misinformation about the justice system.

Forcing Law Enforcement to Follow the Rules
DANIELLE CHING MCNAMEE, Smith Law Group, Kamloops
KRISTY NEURAUTER, Myers Karp Patey Neurauter, Vancouver
This panel will discuss ways in which to handle unresponsive, abusive, 
and otherwise inappropriate behaviour from law enforcement, including 
police officers, bail/probation supervisors, and correctional officers.

Update on TLABC's Interventions in Criminal Appeals

The conference will conclude with an in-person PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION (hosted)

Register for IN PERSON participation | Register for VIRTUAL participation
Save 10% with Early Bird rates until 8 September