Legal Milestones, Decades of Hard Won Legal Experience.

Continued law practice through Donald J. Sorochan Law Corporation.

Retired from Miller Thomson LLP

Scott v. The Attorney General of Canada: lead counsel in pro bono action by six Canadian veterans of the Afghan War on behalf of a class of all veterans raising constitutional challenges to the government removal
of disability benefits. The action continues.

Represented a Canadian Financial Institution and an institutional holder of commercial paper in legal and regulatory aspects of the restructuring process of Third Party Asset Backed Commercial Paper in Canada. As a result of this process, the negative effects in Canada from the world-wide ABCP market failure was relatively inconsequential.

Appeared as counsel to a party (one of David Milgaardʼs former counsel) on the Inquiry into the Wrongful Conviction of David Milgaard, who spent 23 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit

Independent Counsel to the Government of Yukon on the Forensic Audit of the City of Dawson, responsible for legal aspects of the preparation of the report of the Forensic Auditor, the response processes and the tabling of the report in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

Successfully represented the directors of a Vancouver-based investment dealer in the longest hearing of the British Columbia Securities Commission (124 days between early 2002 and late 2004): Re. Pacific International Securities Inc., et. al. 2001 BCSECCOM 720

Acted as counsel to a financial institution in criminal, regulatory and civil aspects of litigation related to YBM Magnex International. Participated as counsel in the pre-trial conference resulting in the settlement of all class actions in Canada and the United States.

Appointed as Special Prosecutor to conduct all prosecutions and related proceedings resulting from the police investigation of the Nanaimo Commonwealth Holding Society and former cabinet minister, David Stupich.

Served as independent Counsel for the R.C.M.P. Public Complaints Commission. Conducted several heartings of the Commission

Appointed Queenʼs Counsel, British Columbia

Called to the Bar of Yukon

Appointed Special Prosecutor of police officer charged with assault of prisoner. Conducted trial and appeals after conviction.

Represented accused in appeal to Supreme Court of Canada re application of Charter s. 11 (b) to pre-charge delay:” R. v. Kalanj and Pion, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1594

Counsel representing a major heavy construction and metal fabrication contractor in litigation relating to the construction of facilities for Expo 86. This litigation settled prior to trial.

Commission Counsel, Inquiry into Social Housing in British Columbia.

Counsel representing contractor in construction contract dispute related to the construction of hydro transmission line: BG Checo International Ltd. v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, at trial, 1994 CanLII 441 (BC SC), on appeal to the BCCA, 1990 CanLII 819 and the Supreme Court of Canada, [1993] 1 SCR 12.

Counsel representing contractor in construction contract dispute related to the construction of a railway tunnel. Scarmar Constructions Ltd. v. British Columbia Railway Co. After lengthy pre-trial process and interlocutory appeals, this litigation settled on the eve of trial through the use of mediation/settlement procedures.

Commission Counsel to federal Inquiry into Habitual Criminals in Canada.
Stuart M Leggatt; Canada. Inquiry into Habitual Criminals in Canada.

Counsel representing contractor in construction contract dispute related to the construction of a major transmission line. Peter Kiewit Sons Company of Canada Ltd. v. British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority, Settled case.

Counsel to inmates on Royal Commission on the Incarceration of Female Offenders.

Acted as Independent Counsel to the British Columbia Police Commission throughout its existence.

Appeared as counsel in Federal Court of Canada Trial Division, Walter Cabott Construction Ltd. v. The Queen, (1974), 44 D.L.R. (3d) 82. and Court of Appeal, (1975) 21 BLR 42 on “implied terms” precedent establishing construction case.

Appeared as counsel on pioneering Bill of Rights challenge in the BC Court of Appeal, (1973) 22 CCC (ns) 271 and the Supreme Court of Canada: R. v. Burnshine, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 693
Resulted in repeal of sections of federal Prisons and Reformatories Act prejudicial to young offenders. https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/5397/ index.do

Appeared as counsel in the BC Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada: Assessor for Port Alberni v. MacMillan Bloedel et al., [1974] S.C.R. 83
https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/5169/ index.do

Counsel to the UBC Alma Mater Society and UBC advancing claim related to defective laminated beams in the Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre.

Called to the Bar of British Columbia. Associate at Swinton & Company, Vancouver.

Articled Student Swinton & Company, Vancouver.

Graduated, Faculty of Law University of British Columbia – LLB.