Christopher Bakker

Full Profile

Before joining Clyde & Co’s Vancouver office, Chris was active within the aviation industry of British Columbia as both a commercial pilot and a business operator/co-owner of a part 603 aviation company operating throughout Canada. He currently continues to advise both G/A and commercial operators on regulatory and operational matters.

Chris specializes in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and he is primarily engaged in the defence of liability insurers, directors’ and officers’ liability, heavy industry and resources insurers. He is also engaged in prosecuting and defending matters involving the forestry, exploration and natural resource sector within British Columbia, as well as those involving the commercial aviation and air cargo industries. In fact, Chris has successfully defended insurers in respect of helicopter airframe losses in Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Langley (Canada), and of forestry and mining equipment losses throughout British Columbia.

Chris regularly appears as legal counsel before the British Columbia Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and various tribunal and regulatory boards.

Admissions

• British Columbia Bar, 2011
   

Education

• JD, University of British Columbia, 2010

• BA, Simon Fraser University, 1992
   

Professional Associations

• Canadian Bar Association

• British Columbia Bar Association

Experience

• Automotive industry: Provides effective solutions across the automotive sector, including: corporate advice, litigation, and transactions.

• Aviation: Defends insurers and reinsurers in respect of hull and liability claims, and advises on regulatory matters. 

• Commercial and civil litigation: Appears before all levels of courts and administrative tribunals in British Columbia, bringing to each case a practical and thorough knowledge of litigation, negotiation, mediation and arbitration strategies, tactics and procedures.

• Construction law: Deals with commercial litigation relating to residential, commercial and industrial construction; contract preparation and the resolution of all types of construction related disputes whether by way of litigation, mediation or arbitration.

• Creditors’ remedies/secured transactions: Provides solutions in securing loans, creditor’s remedies, complex insolvency, and collection problems for both secured and unsecured creditors.

• Directors and officers liability: Provides practical legal advice concerning evolving corporate governance standards and how best to avoid legal pitfalls when addressing the long-term strategies of the companies served. Frequently retained to represent D&O liability insurers and their insured companies, directors and officers in the defence of claims brought by shareholders, co-directors, employees and other stakeholders concerning breach of fiduciary duty and breach of trust, oppression, derivative actions, strata governance, human rights complaints and matters concerning statutory compliance.

• Insurance: Provides advice to national and international insurance organizations in respect of the defence of aviation matters, professionals, directors and officers, product liability claims, subrogated actions and coverage. Acts as council to all participants in construction projects and their insurers, providing advice under all manner of policies, including professional liability, CGL, wrap-up, builder’s risk, D&O and property policies.

• Strata governance and litigation: Advise and help with all aspects of strata property law including governance, opinions on the Strata Property Act, bylaws and rules.