Citizenship and Immigration At Johns, Southward we assist our clients, both individuals or businesses, in the highly technical area of immigrating to Canada. Our expertise helps prevent unnecessary delays and reduces this often stressful process. Our lawyers help our clients with securing and maintaining permanent Canadian residency or acquiring temporary residency status. We can also assist you with citizenship, visas and passports. For companies whose business crosses borders, we can help you navigate the numerous guidelines and restrictions. Whether a person is looking to study in Canada or move here permanently we know how to smooth the waters for you.
Commercial and Civil Litigation Whether you are suing someone or are being sued, our lawyers are the biggest advantage you can take into court with you. Our experienced team of litigators has represented a wide range of clients at all levels of the BC courts and regularly appear before provincial and federal courts and tribunals. Our lawyers work closely with our clients to ensure that they know where their case stands and what the next step is. We work to ensure our clients' best interests are protected. Our litigators have only one job - getting the best result for you in or out of court.
Our expertise in construction law covers areas such as project development, financing and contracts. At Johns, Southward we assist with builder's liens and draft contracts for owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. We are well prepared to represent clients who are involved in disputes arising before, during or after construction. At Johns, Southward we firmly believe in preventing disputes before they occur and encourage our clients to obtain proper advice prior to commencing any construction project so as to limit their risks down the road. This advice ranges from assisting with standard commercial and governmental forms to drafting complex multi-stage agreements.
The expertise of our corporate lawyers includes a wide spectrum of corporate issues such as incorporation of companies, partnerships, joint ventures, shareholders agreements, amalgamations, and transition of corporations into the new business corporations act of British Columbia. We assist our clients in determining which type of entity is best suited for their business, including dealing with our client's tax accountants in regard to tax planning and their business operations. We also assist our clients in reviewing their corporate financing, as well as all other types of commercial agreements.
The criminal justice system can be an extremely complicated and intimidating process and sometimes mistakes happen. If a client is charged with a criminal offence, our lawyers ensure that their rights and interests are protected. Our criminal lawyers have a comprehensive knowledge of the entire criminal process including jury trials and appellate work. At Johns Southward we believe in taking a pro-active approach to criminal litigation and seek to obtain the best result possible for our clients as quickly as possible.
At Johns, Southward our expertise in employment law includes providing advice, strategy and direction on a wide variety of employment issues. We advise our clients on matters such as employment standards, labour contracts, pay equity, maternity and benefit plans, workers compensation claims, occupational health and safety of working conditions, wrongful dismissal, discrimination in hiring, and other human rights claims. We represent and assist our clients in collective bargaining, labour negotiations, arbitration, and litigation.
Our expertise and experience extends to all facets of estate administration from the routine to the complicated. Our lawyers will help executors and administrators through unfamiliar probate procedures in a fashion which minimizes both time and expense. Where disputes arise our lawyers are also experienced with all aspects of estate litigation and will work with you to protect your interests.
The expertise of our family law lawyers includes a wide spectrum of family related issues such as marriage and divorce, child custody, support and cohabitation. Whether it is assistance in drafting a pre-nuptial agreement or the disposition of marital property, our lawyers guide you in a sensitive and effective manner. If you are having difficulty with custody and access of children, child or spousal support issues, or restraining orders, our experienced family law team can help. A wide range of options are available including mediation, collaborative law, settlement negotiation, or litigation.
Mediation is not about giving up your rights. It is about working together with another party to negotiate a settlement that is acceptable and satisfying for everyone involved. The mediation process can be an efficient, effective and empowering experience for all the parties. Our lawyers can attend the mediation with our clients, as well as provide assistance and guidance throughout the process. At Johns, Southward we have lawyers that are trained and certified as mediators. We have represented a variety of clients in mediation ranging from small claims matters to large scale leaky condos with many parties. We have also been called upon by other lawyers to help mediate disputes.
Our lawyers help our clients with disputes involving local government. We advise our clients with respect to zoning complaints, taxation issues, permits and licensing as well as assisting with development variances. People are most likely to come into direct conflict with government at the municipal government level. We recognize this and have been instrumental in resolving a wide variety of disputes on behalf of our clients. Whether it is dealing with zoning, taxes or by-law compliance our lawyers are express in resolving disputes with municipalities.
If you are injured due to the negligence of others, whether in a car accident or otherwise, you need efficient and competent representation. If you are hurt because of someone else's actions we will ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. At Johns, Southward we have successfully resolved a wide variety of accident claims in BC and in places as far away as Australia. Our experts have won multi-million dollar awards for our clients. We also have experience in defending accident claims. This gives us a unique perspective when assisting our clients. Whether one of them is hurt or is responsible for someone else's injury we have the expertise to help our clients mediate a settlement or take the case to trial or beyond.
Real Estate (Conveyancing) At Johns, Southward our lawyers assist our clients with purchases and sales of real estate, for both residential and commercial property, and facilitate mortgages. Our experts know that easements, right of ways, and rights of first refusal can complicate the enjoyment of a home or business and our lawyers help our clients maximize their rights. Our experts will ensure that our clients understand both their rights and obligations in owning property.
Our lawyers assist with legal matters arising in all areas of sports and recreation. We provide advice for individual players, teams, administrators or sports leagues and sport governing bodies. We assist our clients involved in the sports industry with dispute management, negotiation and contract drafting. Additionally, we assist promoters and event planners with issues of risk management and liability. At Johns, Southward we have represented athletes and coaches with respect to selection, eligibility and discipline matters and have made the difference between watching the Olympics and going to the Olympics.
Our lawyers guide our clients in all stages of will preparation and execution. We ensure that the intentions of our clients for the distribution of property, welfare of dependent children, financial care of loved ones, and any planned giving to charities are clearly documented. We know how important it is to you that your wishes are carried out and work with you to ensure that they will be.
Our lawyers also help in creating trusts to ensure the financial security of loved ones that may not be in a position to handle their own finances. We also assist in setting up trusts to ensure property is distributed to successive generations.
