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Graham Walker

National Group Head, Specialized Disputes

Vancouver
[email protected]
604.640.4045

Expertise

Mary-Ellen Collins

Practice Assistant - Team Leader

Vancouver
[email protected]
604.622.5945
604.640.4242

Graham practises transportation law (with a focus on shipping law, rail and trucking), environmental law, insurance claim defense and general commercial litigation.

He has acted as counsel on numerous marine casualties, terminal and cargo claims, environmental prosecutions and civil disputes involving environmental issues. For example:

  • land development impacts
  • air pollution
  • migrating pollution
  • fisheries issues
  • transport of dangerous goods
  • agricultural issues
  • heritage issues
  • First Nations issues
  • mining issues
  • forestry issues
  • administrative matters

Graham is the Group Head of the Specialized Disputes group and the National Business Leader of the Insurance & Tort Liability Group.

Testimonials

Chambers Canada 2023

"Vancouver shipping lawyer Graham Walker brings to bear his expertise in a range of marine issues such as pollution, cargo damage cases and marine casualty incidents."

Experience

  • 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, financing, 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, First Nations 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 judiciary, the bar, clients and businesses.
  • Also active in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Director, Canadian Maritime Law Association
  • Member, American Bar Association, Environmental Litigation Subsection
  • Member, Plimsoll Club

Community Involvement

  • Coach, West Vancouver Field Hockey Club
  • Coach, Handsworth Senior Secondary Field Hockey
  • Member, West Vancouver Yacht Club

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Insurance Law and Railroad Law) and since 2015 (Environmental Law, Maritime Law, Transportation Law).
  • Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2016) editions of Chambers Canada — Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Transportation: Shipping- Nationwide).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2023) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (and since 2011) (Transportation (Road & Rail); Shipping & Maritime Law).
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and since 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 Shipping."
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2022) of Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure
  • Recognized in the 2021 edition of Doyle's Guide : Leading Transport Lawyers – Canada

Bar Admission & Education

  • British Columbia, 1994
  • LLB, University of British Columbia, 1993
  • BA, University of Victoria, 1989