Top Okanagan Lawyers

32 may 2013 okanaganlife.com

Blakely & CompanyWhat are some of the elements that make a “top” lawyer? Knowledge, com-mitment, attention to detail, leader-ship, extensive skill sets, and depth of experience. These are the words that spring to mind. But how about some other characteristics such as passion, commitment to community, tenac-ity, creativity and dedication. Blakely & Company has these and more.

Blakely & Company is a leader in the community. Whether it’s through assisting local organizations with small or large legal issues, or serv-ing as president of the Vernon Estate Planning Council, Don Blakely has

continually demonstrated passionate commitment to his community and his profession. Recently the Community Recognition Award of Excellence was bestowed on Don Blakely by his mayor and city council. The nomination by former mayor Gerry Oglow was heart-felt, and quite moving, touching on difficult times in the community. This recognition followed closely on the on the heels of an Award of Excellence for Exemplary Service from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat. These and many other accolades earned over the years are concrete proof of the characteristics that make a “top” law-yer. Don Blakely is as passionate about his clients as he is his community.

Don is a solicitor. He laughingly says, “Most people don’t know what a solicitor is so I just tell them that I’m a “paper” lawyer. A long time ago I completely gave up court work to focus my skills, training and practice solely on the paper side of law. This means that I have more than the usual amount of experience in certain areas such as estate planning, corporate work, senior’s issues, etc.” This depth of focused knowledge and experience enables Don to produce finely tuned and well-crafted solutions for his clients.

Don’s term as a founder and presi-dent of the Vernon Estate Planning Council has given him an opportunity to pass on his experience to other pro-fessionals in the North Okanagan. Don launched this season’s presentations with his own seminar on Discretionary Trusts for Disabled Persons. Don also participates with other professionals in providing free community seminars on estate planning and other legal topics.

Don says, “I think that free presenta-tions to the public have a double benefit. They provide an education and a better understanding of legal issues for the citizens of our community. They also provide a good base from which clients can make informed decisions when they consult me on more complex matters. Helping them out makes my job easier.”

Don also mentors other lawyers—some of whom do not share his special-ties or may be just starting out. “By lend-ing them my assistance and experience I help improve the standard of practice

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Get to know the people behind the legal expertise

Don Blakely has been honoured for his 25-plus years of dedication to search and rescue with the Armstrong Community Recognition Award of Excellence and the National Search and Rescue Secretariat Award of Excellence for Exemplary Service.

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Commercial Real Estate

Kimmitt Wrzesniewski is pleased to assist our clients in all aspects of their real estate development from land assemblies and subdivision matters right through to real estate sales. We assist our clients with financing, real estate acquisitions and bare land and strata developments.

We advise both landlords and tenants on all aspects of leasing activities, including ground leases, and the leasing of retail and office space.

Residential Real Estate

Kimmitt Wrzesniewski understands that your house purchase or sale is a very important transaction. We work with our clients throughout this process addressing matters such as contract reviews and title concerns. We are able to assist you with the preparation and registration of your mortgage or the transfer of your property.

Corporate Law

From buying or selling a business to winding up your company, our lawyers are here to help. We assist our corporate clients with the incorporation of their business, the preparation of shareholder agreements and joint venture agreements.

Wills, Trusts & Estates

Whether you require a simple will or a complex Family Trust we are here to assist you. We have extensive experience in probating Wills and related estate matters. We are also able to make Committee applications to the Supreme Court of British Columbia to have the courts appoint a guardian for a person unable to manage their affairs.

Personal Injury

The lawyers at Kimmitt Wrzesniewski assist clients in all areas of personal injury law including motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall injuries and medical malpractice. The lawyers at Kimmitt Wrzesniewski have the knowledge and expertise to tackle complex injury matters including brain damage and head injury cases. All personal injury cases are taken on a contingency basis – meaning we do not get paid until you get paid! Please call us to discuss your claim.

WE GET RESULTS.

#202 – 1433 St. Paul Street, KelownaP. 250.763.6441 [email protected] • www.kimmitt.ca

Joanna Wrzesniewski, BSc, LLB


Sarah Bowes, LLB

Sarah Bowes, LLB

special promotional section

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okanagan

Commercial Real Estate

Kimmitt Wrzesniewski is pleased to assist our clients in all aspects of their real estate development from land assemblies and subdivision matters right through to real estate sales. We assist our clients with financing, real estate acquisitions and bare land and strata developments.

We advise both landlords and tenants on all aspects of leasing activities, including ground leases, and the leasing of retail and office space.

Residential Real Estate

Kimmitt Wrzesniewski understands that your house purchase or sale is a very important transaction. We work with our clients throughout this process addressing matters such as contract reviews and title concerns. We are able to assist you with the preparation and registration of your mortgage or the transfer of your property.

Corporate Law

From buying or selling a business to winding up your company, our lawyers are here to help. We assist our corporate clients with the incorporation of their business, the preparation of shareholder agreements and joint venture agreements.

Wills, Trusts & Estates

Whether you require a simple will or a complex Family Trust we are here to assist you. We have extensive experience in probating Wills and related estate matters. We are also able to make Committee applications to the Supreme Court of British Columbia to have the courts appoint a guardian for a person unable to manage their affairs.

Personal Injury

The lawyers at Kimmitt Wrzesniewski assist clients in all areas of personal injury law including motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall injuries and medical malpractice. The lawyers at Kimmitt Wrzesniewski have the knowledge and expertise to tackle complex injury matters including brain damage and head injury cases. All personal injury cases are taken on a contingency basis – meaning we do not get paid until you get paid! Please call us to discuss your claim.

WE GET RESULTS.

#202 – 1433 St. Paul Street, KelownaP. 250.763.6441 [email protected] • www.kimmitt.ca



Sarah Bowes, LLB

Sarah Bowes, LLB

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Steve Schwartz Barrister

Steve Schwartz has been practic-ing law in Kelowna since 1997. Steve maintains a busy civil litigation practice, specializing in the areas of commercial and business litigation, construction disputes, estate litigation and fore-closure law. Steve has also recently completed the mediator’s training through British Columbia’s Continuing Legal Education Society, and is now developing a mediation practice.

Steve is a long-time Kelowna resident, having moved to the area at the age of nine. “Kelowna has cer-tainly been my home for quite some time” he says, “although I have been fortunate to live in some other great places as well. I spent some time in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and also a couple of years in Saudi Arabia. These experiences certainly opened my mind to other cultures and perspectives, which has helped in the development of my law practice.”

Steve has remained active in his community, having served on several boards, including the Downtown Kelowna Association,

Topokanagan Lawyers

in the community. Not only is this good for the clients, but it also tends to make things easier and, therefore, cheaper when all the professionals involved in a complex file are working from a common understanding of the problems and the potential solutions.”

Don is also consulted by other lawyers for advice from time to time, even on files where he is not involved. Don says, “Lending the benefit of my experience is my way of ‘paying it for-ward.’ I have always been extremely grateful to those experienced lawyers who helped me out back when I first started practicing law 28 years ago.”

Don’s corporate motto is: “We are Different, We Celebrate that Difference, and We Try Hard to Be What You are Looking For.”

Call 250.546.3188 or 1.888.838.9982 (toll free) or visit www.blakelylaw.ca.

the OUC Alumni Association, Kelowna and District Safety Council, and oth-ers. His firm has been a long-time benefactor for awards and bursaries for students in School District No. 23.

When he is not in court, Steve is probably doing something involving music. “I have found no better way to unwind than to plug in my guitar and strum along to some good tunes.” Steve’s musical taste is eclectic, to say the least.

“You’re as likely to see me in a small blues club or country festival as you are at an Iron Maiden concert. I love it all.”

Steve can be reached at his office at 250.860.4700 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Visit online at www.schwartzcolaw.com.

Steve Schwartz unwinds with his guitar.

“I have found no better way to unwind than to plug in my guitar and strum along to some good tunes.”

“Lending the benefit of my experience is my way of ‘paying it forward.’ ”

Don Blakely.


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okanaganlife.com may 2013 35

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Providing support for those who are buying or selling property

Advising business owners through legal matters

Planning for the future and the preservation of valuable assets

Ph: 250-763-0200 Tf: 800-483-0291 F: 250-762-8848 Landmark II Suite 700, 1708 Dolphin Ave., Kelownawww.thomasbutlerllp.com

DaviD M. Towill | Kelly Cairns | JaMes D. raMsay | GreG leClair

William “Bill” Clarke Courtyard Law

Born in Alberta, Bill Clarke came to Kelowna with his mother at age nine. Bill graduated with the first class of the UBC Okanagan history department, attended the University of Alberta Law School and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1996. As he tells his clients, “Where you have come from will often dictate where you are going.” This sense of community prompted him to purchase one of Kelowna’s oldest prop-erties, former home of the BC political dynasty of W.A.C. Bennett and his son Bill. The Bernard Avenue restoration, now home to Courtyard Law Offices, was awarded the Central Okanagan Heritage Society Heritage Award 2012.

“I am so much happier working in the heritage house than in a traditional office space where you feel confined, cloistered or even trapped by the ster-ile walls that surround you,” says Bill, who maintains that this relaxed feel-ing extends to the people who come to him for legal advice in family law.

Joining him at Courtyard Law are family law practitioners Tracey Brice-Nicolson; Russell Tretiak, QC, with over 30 years of trial experience and an association with the Quay Law Centre LLP, the largest group of family lawyers in British Columbia; Mark Ishack, focus-ing on the area of family law litigation; and Anukiran Klar, who has fluency in the languages of Punjabi and Hindi.

Bill’s community involvement reads like a renaissance man with a sleep disorder, including CBC Radio/Television com-mentator, children’s charity fundraiser, musician, legal volunteer, rescue diver, curling skip and dragon boat captain. Among his honours are the Legal Services Society Award of Recognition for quality of legal service and the President’s Medal, Canadian Bar Association BC Branch.

Call 250-762-2252 or visit www.courtyardlaw.com.

P. 250-762-2252 F. 250-762-2246862 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6P5

www.courtyardlaw.com | www.QuayLawCentre.com**Not an Association or Partnership

Tracey Brice-NicholsonB.A. (Hons.) LL.B.

William T. ClarkeB.A. LL.B.

Russell S. TretiakQ.C. B.A. LL.B.

Anukiran KlarB.A. LL.B

Mark IshackB.Eng., LL.B.

Associated with Quay Law CentreBC’s Largest Group of Family Lawyers

• Custody & Access• Child & Spousal Support• Property Division• Wills & Estates

• Separation Agreements• Adoption• Mediation and Collaborative Law• Cohabitation Agreements

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Topokanagan Lawyers

The oldest law firm in the North Okanagan, Kidston and Company traces its origins to 1904. With that kind of continuity our clients know they are getting quality ser-vice based on a deep knowledge and understanding of the community. Our legal team handles a full range of services including personal injury, car accident claims, estate litigation, real estate, estate planning and business. Our lawyers and staff take pride in building relationships with our clients as well as our community. We give back by volunteering and fundrais-ing for such organizations as the Upper Room Mission and Vernon Jubilee Hospital. When you need skilled and personalized legal help, call on people who know the North Okanagan, Kidston and Company at 250.545.0711 or www.kidston.ca.

Kidston and Company LLPKidston and Company LLP lawyers chill out. From left to right: Kyle Watts, Robert Ross, Dustin Griffin and David helm.

&schwartz companylitigation counsel | mediation services

A creative and thoughtful approach.

f: 250.860.4799kelowna bc v1y 1p7 p: 250.860.4700 schwartzcolaw.com204, 1630 pandosy street

Steve Schwartz, LLB.

Commercial LitigationShareholders’ remediesContract disputesResidential and commercial foreclosure proceedingsCollection of debts and realization of security

Estate LitigationRepresenting executors, trustees and benefi ciaries in estate litigationWill challengesPower of attorney disputes

Mediation Services Alternative dispute resolution servicesMediation of civil claims

Real Estate and Construction Litigation Residential and commercial real estate disputesCourse of construction litigation, including Builders’ Lien claimsCommercial tenancy disputes


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okanaganlife.com may 2013 37

Kimmitt Wrzesniewski

The team at Kimmitt Wrzesniewski includes lawyers Joanna Wrzesniewski and Sarah Bowes, along with eight professional staff. We provide legal services related to residential and commercial real estate transactions; mortgages and lending matters; wills, estates and trusts; business and corporate matters, uncontested family matters; and civil litigation.

We understand that your house purchase or sale is a very important transaction. We work with our clients throughout this process addressing matters such as contract reviews and title concerns, and can assist you with the preparation and registration of your mortgage or the transfer of your proper-ty. We are also pleased to assist clients in all aspects of commercial real estate, from land assemblies and subdivision matters right through to real estate sales (financing, real estate acquisi-tions and bare land and strata develop-ments), and to advise both landlords and tenants on all aspects of leasing activities, including ground leases, and the leasing of retail and office space.

Whether you require a simple will or a complex family trust, we are here to assist you. We have extensive expe-rience in probating wills and related estate matters, and are also able to make committee applications to the Supreme Court of British Columbia to have the courts appoint a guardian for a person unable to manage their affairs.

From buying or selling a business to winding up your company, our law-yers are here to help. We assist our corporate clients with the incorporation of their business, and the preparation of shareholder agreements and joint venture agreements. We work closely with your accountant to address yearly corporate management issues such as drafting dividend resolutions, corporate rollovers and corporate restructurings.

Seniors - Real Estate - Families - Companies Farms - Wills and Probate - Powers of Attorney

Business - Representation Agreements - Estate Planning

Box 357, 201-2595 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Armstrong, B.C. V0E 1B0Phone 250-546-3188 or 1-888-838-9982 www.blakelylaw.ca

Seniors - Real Estate - Families - Companies Farms - Wills and Probate - Powers of Attorney

* Law Corporation

We know how important it is to do it right...so we do it right!

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Our very busy personal injury practice includes motor vehicle accident claims, slip and fall claims and other personal injury mat-ters. We have the knowledge and expertise to tackle complex injury matters including brain damage and head injury cases, and are pleased to offer the initial consul-tation on personal injury matters free of charge. All personal injury cases are taken on a contingency basis—meaning we do not get paid until you get paid. We get results. Please call us to discuss your claim.

Our law firm has been part of Kelowna since its establish-ment in 1981 by R. Patrick Kimmitt. We very much look for-ward to assisting you with your legal needs. Call 250.763.6441 or visit www.kimmitt.ca.

PatentsTrade-MarksWills & EstatesBusiness Law

250 469-9628

Suite 303 - 1630 Pandosy Street Kelowna, BC V1Y 1P7

www.okimawlaw.com

corporationLawyers, Patent & Trade-Mark Agents

We are committed to providing high quality and cost effective legal, patent and trade-mark services.

Vernon OfficeP. 250.545.0711 TF. 800.262.2678200, 3005-30th St. V1T 2M1

Lumby OfficeP. 250.547.2101F. 250.547.92342095 Shuswap Ave. V0E 2G0

• Injury Claims

• Car Accidents

• Estate Litigation

• Business Law

• Real Estate

• Wills

Lawyers Committed to Quality Service Since 1904

www.kidston.ca

Kidston and Company LLP provides skilled and personalized legal services to the Okanagan community.

Topokanagan Lawyers

Okimaw Law Corporation is a dif-ferent kind of law firm. Serving the Okanagan since 2007, Okimaw Law Corporation is committed to provid-ing the highest quality service, care and advice by restricting our practice to the areas we know and do best.

A lawyer, engineer, patent and trade-mark agent, Richard practices exclusively in intellectual property and technology law. Rick previously practiced in Toronto and Vancouver before settling in Kelowna. He is dedicated to delivering unparal-leled IP. Rick’s clients consider him an indispensable strategic partner and integral to their success.

Kristen Okimaw, who was raised in Kelowna, practices primar-ily in the area of estate planning

Okimaw Law Corporation

and estate administration. Kristen clients are grateful to have Kristen act for them in providing comfort and clarity in often difficult times.

Together, Kristen and Rick keep active in the autism commu-nity, chasing after their young chil-dren and enjoying the Okanagan lifestyle. Call 250.469.9628 or visit www.okimawlaw.com.


Richard okimaw. Kristen okimaw.

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Top Okanagan Lawyers

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