11th Biennial Family Law Conference 2017

Course Chairs
James A.W. Schuman, QC — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Jeffrey A. Rose, QC — Jeffrey A. Rose, QC, Vancouver
Stephanie L. Fabbro — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs

James A.W. Schuman, QC, is a well-known senior member of the Vancouver family bar, where he has practiced for over 49 years. He is a graduate of UBC law school and was called to the BC bar in 1968. Jim is a frequent contributor to and participant in CLEBC family law courses and materials.

Jim has a long history of contribution to the local family law CBA section and has worked extensively for CLEBC on family law topics. He has been a key figure in developing, organizing, and presenting CLEBC’s Family Law Biennial Conference since the inception of the event in 1985. Jim’s volunteer activities include non-legal interests such as executive/committee involvement for the Richmond Winter Club, the YMCA, the Municipality of Richmond, and provincial, national, and international curling competitions.


Jeffrey A. Rose, QC was called to the BC bar in 1984 and articled with Ed Mortimer, QC. They formed the Vancouver firm Mortimer & Rose in 1989 where Jeff has since practiced primarily in the area of family law. Jeff was awarded a QC designation in 2006.

As a dedicated and long-time supporter of CLEBC, Jeff has volunteered as chair and presenter at courses and as an editorial board member for practice manuals. Jeff was recognized by CLEBC with the Leader in Learning Award in 2011.


Stephanie Fabbro received her LLB from Dalhousie Law School and was called to both the Nova Scotia and BC bars in 1999. In December 2008 she co-founded Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver, a boutique family law firm with 8 lawyers. Stephanie practices exclusively in the area of family law and is committed to assisting families resolve disputes in non-adversarial settings. She is a lawyer, educator, certified Family Law Arbitrator, Family Law Mediator, Parenting Coordinator, and collaborative lawyer. Stephanie works extensively with families in high conflict as a Parenting Coordinator and a Mediator.

Stephanie is the past chair of the CBA (BC) Family Law section. She is a board member of the BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society and a member of the BC Collaborative Roster Society and the Family Law Arbitrators Group. Stephanie has presented for CLEBC, UBC Faculty of Law, Collaborative Divorce Vancouver, and PLTC at the Law Society of BC.


Nikki L. Charlton specializes exclusively in the area of family law. She has extensive experience drafting complex cohabitation, marriage, and separation agreements, and appears regularly in the Supreme Court of BC as well as the Court of Appeal. Nikki provides services from either a collaborative or litigation approach depending on the individual needs of her clients. She is an accredited Family Law mediator, arbitrator, and parenting coordinator.

Nikki was educated at the University of Victoria where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with distinction. She studied law at UBC Law School and was called to the BC Bar in 2004. Nikki was named “Lexpert’s Rising Star Top 40 Under 40” in 2015.

Nikki is a contributor to continuing education seminars for other lawyers, and presents regularly at conferences on various complex issues affecting couples going through separation and divorce within BC.

Faculty
The Honourable Madam Justice Grace Choi — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
The Honourable Madam Justice J. Miriam Gropper — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
The Honourable Judge Edna M. Ritchie — Provincial Court of BC, Abbotsford
The Honourable I. Bruce Josephson — Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of BC and Associate Counsel, Hira Rowan LLP, Vancouver
Paul R. Albi, QC — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Nicole Aubé, PhD, RPsych — Vancouver
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Trudi Brown, QC — Brown Henderson Melbye, Victoria
Nikki L. Charlton — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver
David C. Dundee — Paul & Company, Kamloops
Stephanie L. Fabbro — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver
Kiu Ghanavizchian, CPA, CA, CBV, MBA — Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc., Vancouver
Anna Laing — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver
Morag M.J. MacLeod, QC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Dinyar Marzban, QC — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Kay Melbye — Brown Henderson Melbye, Victoria
Mary E. Mouat, QC — Lawyer & Mediator, Quadra Legal Centre, Victoria
Jeffrey A. Rose, QC — Jeffrey A. Rose, QC, Vancouver
James A.W. Schuman, QC — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Matthew J. Sullivan, PhD — Palo Alto, California
Professor Rollie Thompson, QC — Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax 

Day 1

Welcome and Introduction

James A.W. Schuman, QC — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Jeffrey A. Rose, QC — Jeffrey A. Rose, QC, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

Opening Comments

The Honourable Madam Justice Grace Choi — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

The Revised User's Guide to the SSAG

• the latest SSAG appeal decisions: BC and beyond the Rockies
• location, location, location: using the SSAG ranges
• how the Revised User’s Guide can help you
• exceptions, exceptions, exceptions
• post-separation income increases and reductions
• re-partnering, self-sufficiency, retirement and other changes

Professor Rollie Thompson, QC — Schulich School, of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax

Networking Break

You Used the SSAG, You Got the Order, Now What?

• review vs. variation
• material change and termination
• reinstating spousal support
• how to breach an agreement
• sunset/dusk clauses
• lump sum and periodic payments — how to fix — reapportionment

Trudi Brown, QC — Brown Henderson Melbye, Victoria
Kay Melbye — Brown Henderson Melbye, Victoria

Networking Lunch (Provided)

How to Engage/Oversee Financial Experts

• valuations (including historical)
• joint reports – process for engagement and protocol
• how to oppose; use of critiques; shadow experts
• Guidelines Income reports (legal vs financial issues)

Paul R. Albi, QC — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Kiu Ghanavizchian, CPA, CA, CBV, MBA — Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc., Vancouver

Ethics/Collegiality

• dealing with difficult parties and counsel
• being a role model

 The Honourable Judge Edna M. Ritchie — Provincial Court of BC, Abbotsford
Dinyar Marzban, QC — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

View from the Bench

• tips on being a good counsel
• new and old advocacy skills
• evidence — the sufficiency and propriety of the affidavit material

The Honourable Madam Justice J. Miriam Gropper — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
The Honourable I. Bruce Josephson —Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of BC and Associate Counsel, Hira Rowan LLP, Vancouver

 
Day 2

Welcome and Introduction

James A. W. Schuman, QC — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Jeffrey A. Rose, QC — Jeffrey A. Rose, QC, Vancouver
Nikki L. Charlton — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

Interim Advances/Property/Excluded Property

• s. 89 interim distributions
• excluded property: where are we post V.J.F.?
• trust and contingent matters – is timing everything?

Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver
Anna Laing — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Child Support: Nuances, Tips (and Traps)

• stepparents
• death and taxes (well, child support)
• retroactive reduction vs. cancellation or reduction of arrears
• reviews of child support
• incomes over $150,000: Is this a room without a roof?
  

Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
David C. Dundee — Paul & Company, Kamloops

Networking Lunch

Alienation and Estrangement Remedies

• development of our understanding
• legal and psychological interventions
• intractable cases

Matthew J. Sullivan, Ph.D. – Palo Alto, California

s. 211 — How to Prepare Your Client 

• what you need to know:
  • purpose of the assessment
  • professional requirement/college guidelines
  • process and steps involved
  • content: generic vs. idiosyncratic (how psychologists differ)
• what you need to say to your cilent: the dos
• what you should not say to your client: the don'ts
• danger zones to avoid

Nicole Aubé, PhD, RPsych — Vancouver
Matthew J. Sullivan, PhD — Palo Alto, California

Networking Break

FLA Section 8 — All Roads Don't Lead to Trial 

• sections 8 and 37—clients' duty to best interests of the child
• consent dispute resolution—mediation, med/arb, arbitration, parenting coordination
• non-trial court assistance—JCCs, JSCs, Summary Trial
• best interest of the child cost/benefit analysis

Morag M.J. MacLeod, QC — Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Mary E. Mouat, QC — Lawyer & Mediator, Quadra Legal Centre, Victoria