Graham Walker  

Graham Walker is the Managing Partner of BLG's Vancouver office and the Regional Leader of both the Maritime and Insurance and Tort Law Groups. Graham practises transportation law (with a focus on Maritime law, rail and trucking), environmental law, insurance and tort law, and general commercial litigation.  He has acted as counsel on numerous marine casualty, terminal and cargo claims, environmental prosecutions and civil disputes involving environmental issues, including land development impacts, air pollution, migrating pollution, fisheries issues, transport of dangerous goods, agricultural issues, heritage issues, First Nations issues, mining issues, forestry issues and administrative matters. 

• Counsel on a myriad of marine and transportation matters, including marine pollution, casualties, commercial disputes, cargo claims, bills of lading and contracts of affreightment disputes, collision, allision/grounding claims, derailments, ship arrest and sale, cargo arrest, Mareva injunctions, dangerous goods, immigration, coasting permits and cabotage, purchase/sale of vessels, financings, terminal services agreements, warehouse leases, charterparties.
• Lead counsel in the CN v. ABC Recycling case, the first decision in BC to consider what are reasonably incurred costs of remediation under BC`s Environmental Management Act.
• Counsel on many insurance claims, environmental prosecutions and civil disputes involving environmental issues, including land development impacts, migrating pollution, fisheries issues, transport of dangerous goods, agricultural issues, heritage issues, Aboriginal issues, mining issues, forestry issues and administrative matters.
• Vast experience drafting and negotiating terminal service agreements (for both terminals and shippers).
• Broad experience drafting and negotiating environmental management and remediation cost agreements and access agreements.
• Insurance and Tort practice focuses on issues of particular import to the transportation, environmental, and construction industries, and includes advice on coverage issues, product liability and warranty issues.
• General practice has included appearances before municipal councils, administrative tribunals, and provincial, superior, appellate and federal courts and educational seminars for the bar, clients and businesses.
• Also active in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

• Co-Author, "The 12th Annual BLG Environmental Law Update," BLG Publication, 2016.
• Co-Author, "Key Policy & Legislative Updates," BLG's Mari-Times Newsletter: Canadian Maritime Law from Coast-to-Coast, December 2015.
• Speaker/Co-Author, "West Coast Tanker Traffic: The Canadian Regulatory Regime," BLG Environmental Law Client Seminar, October 2015.
• Author, various articles, Western Mariner.
• Co-Author, "Wave of Regulatory Charges results in Small Fines in Tragic Case," Western Mariner, November 2013.
• Co-Author, "Bankruptcy Proceedings May Trump Maritime Liens," Western Mariner, March 2012.
• Contributing Author, "Products Liability," Business Disputes Textbook, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLE BC).
• Contributing Author, "Transportation of Dangerous Goods," Due Diligence Deskbook, CLE BC.
• Contributing Author, "Maritime Law," Annual Review of Law and Practice, CLE BC, 2011 and 2012.
• Speaker, "International Carriage of Goods — A Canadian Perspective," International Bar Association Conference, October 2010.

• Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2018 edition (and since 2014) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Environmental Law, Maritime Law, Transportation Law).
• Recognized in the 2017 and 2016 editions of Chambers Global — The Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Transportation: Shipping).
• Recognized in the 2017, 2016 and 2015 editions of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Local Litigation Star: British Columbia" and a "Litigation Star: Insurance and Maritime."
• Recognized in the 2017 edition (and since 2011) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Shipping & Maritime Law).