Course Chairs
Sharon Sutherland — True North Dispute Management, Delta
Mark Meredith — Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver
About the Course Chairs
Sharon Sutherland of True North Dispute Management, Delta, is a mediator and lawyer with expertise in conflict resolution training and program design. She is currently acting as Director of Strategic Innovation for Mediate BC.
She received her Master in Laws in ADR from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto in 1997 before taking on the role of co-Program Manager for the BC Court Mediation Program (1998-2003). From 2000-14, Sharon was a full-time faculty member at UBC Faculty of Law where, in addition to a range of substantive legal courses, she taught an intensive clinical mediation program and supervised the Faculty's Judicial Externship program. From 2006-10, Sharon worked with Mediate BC to develop a province-wide Child Protection Mediation Practicum aimed at increasing the number of child protection mediators in under-serviced parts of BC. From 2014-16, Sharon worked as a Knowledge Engineer in the development of the Civil Resolution Tribunal, focusing on both strata and small claims streams. Sharon is Vice President of CoRe Conflict Resolution Society, President of the Vancouver Fringe Festival Society, and a member of Pig’n’Potato Games (a collaborative game design group).
In 2011, Sharon was honoured with the Susanna Jani Prize for Excellence in Mediation.
Mark Meredith is a tax partner with Clark Wilson LLP, a highly respected Vancouver business law firm with Vancouver legal roots of more than 100 years. He has practiced tax law for over 30 years, advising a diverse range of clients including individuals, business owners, accountants, other lawyers, and public and private business organizations. Mark believes in taking a collegial and collaborative approach with colleagues and clients, and also with other parties to a transaction or dispute. He is always seeking a cooperative solution that addresses the often complex needs of all stakeholders involved.
Mark's tax planning practice encompasses a broad range of client situations, ranging from the simple establishment and financing of a Canadian business, through complex partnerships and joint ventures, to cross-border financing and mergers and acquisitions. Mark develops tailored and results-oriented strategies that legitimately minimize his clients' exposure to tax while allowing them to focus on their business goals. By crafting thoughtful plans with his clients' long-term objectives in mind, he creates opportunities for positive outcomes while simultaneously reducing potential risks.
Mark also maintains an active tax dispute management practice. Disputes with Canadian tax authorities can be costly, stressful and time-consuming for business owners. Mark believes that early intervention is crucial when it comes to both forestalling and resolving issues with Canadian tax authorities. With this in mind, he provides tactical, proactive advice from the initial audit response level to appeals and through to the court process.
Faculty
Dr. Lara Aknin — Associate Professor, Distinguished University Professor, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby
John-Paul E. Boyd — John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers, Calgary
Kari D. Boyle — BC Family Justice Innovation Lab, North Vancouver
Jereme Brooks — RONIN Consulting and Mediation Services, Langley
Walter Brynjolfson — Communication & Engagement Coordinator, MediateBC, Vancouver
Julie Daum — Mediator, Fraser Lake
Brandon D. Hastings — Founder, The Justice Hack, New Westminster
Shahnaz Jamal — Jamal Law Group, Vancouver
Ann Lee — Manager, Roster Program, MediateBC, Vancouver
Karim Lalji — Chairman & CEO, Microbion, Vancouver
Sherry MacLennan — Director, Public Legal Information and Applications, Legal Services Society, Vancouver
Emily H. Martin — Ignite Seattle & PignPotato, Kirkland
Darsey Meredith — Delta
Shelina Neallani — West Vancouver
Amanda Semenoff — Mediator, New Westminster
Adrienne S. Smith — Adrienne Smith Law, Vancouver
Ashley Syer — Syer Law, Vancouver
Jennifer Wilhoit — TEALarbor Stories, Bainbridge Island, WA
Robyn Wishart — Wishart Brain and Spine Law, Vancouver
Hayley Woodin — Co-chair, The Justice Hack, Vancouver
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