Litigation Foundations: Perspective of a Litigated Case 2025

Course Chairs
Gurminder Sandhu, KC — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey
Thomas L. Spraggs — Spraggs & Co. Law Corporation, Coquitlam

About the Course Chairs
Since being called to the bar in 2000, Gurminder Sandhu has focused his practice on trial work in general civil litigation, family law, and insurance matters. He has been counsel on prominent and lengthy trials. Gurminder is widely respected by colleagues and members of the judiciary for his knowledge of the law, his professionalism, and his integrity. In recognition of his experience, in 2021 he was appointed by the Minister of Justice to the BC Federal Judicial Advisory Committee where he served for two years, after serving on the Provincial Judicial Advisory Committee for 10 years.

Gurminder has been a Bencher since 2022. He sits as a motions adjudicator on the Law Society of British Columbia Tribunal.

Gurminder shares his knowledge in ways that help build the profession. He regularly speaks at events. He has contributed to CLEBC and for the LSBC's PLTC curriculum, and he has written policy submissions to government on behalf of the Canadian Bar Association.

Thomas Spraggs (Tom) is the proprietor of Spraggs Law, where he is a senior litigator and arbitrator. Tom holds a Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, and Master of Business Administration, alongside an ICD.D designation.

Elected as a Bencher for Westminster County in 2020, Tom currently serves on the Lawyer Development Task Force, the Discipline Committee, and the Executive Committee. He frequently contributes to CLEBC and is passionate about learning and professional development.

Outside the courtroom, you will likely find Tom at a swimming pool where he trains with the Hyacks in the Master's Swim Club.

Opening Remarks
Regional Administrative Judge Rita S. Bowry — Fraser Region, Provincial Court of BC, Surrey

Faculty
Justice Lisa J. Hamilton — Supreme Court of BC, New Westminster
Justice Terence Schultes — Supreme Court of BC, New Westminster
Justice Neena Sharma — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Stephen D. Ballard, KC — Cowley & Co., Surrey
Tamara Dewar — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey
Christopher Drinovz — Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey
Adnan Habib — Baker Newby LLP, Abbottsford
Jessie Legaree — RDM Lawyers LLP, Abbottsford
Jaspreet Malik — South Fraser Law Group, Surrey
Manpreet K. Mand — Mand Law & Mediation, Surrey 
Greg Palm — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey 
Marko Pokrajac — BTM Lawyers LLP, Port Moody
Kendelle L. Pollitt — Pier Law & Mediation, White Rock
Matthew Somers — Somers Poulin Hall LLP, New Westminster
Mike Stewart — ATAC Law Corporation, Burnaby
Perminder Tung — Lindsay Kenney LLP, Langley 
Fiona Wong — Overholt Law LLP, Vancouver
Edward G. Wong — Edward G. Wong Law Corporation, Vancouver
Jim Wu — Forte Workplace Law, Surrey

Course Materials Contributors
Amandeep Cheema — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey
Jenson K. Leung — Kane Shannon & Weiler LLP, Surrey
Brittney Menzel — White & Company Family Law, Penticton
Nyusha Samiei — Jiwa Law Corporation, Vancouver
Gurjit Kaur Tiwana — Invictus Law LLP, Langley

Click here for full faculty bios