Ms. Slater is a partner in the Vancouver office of Davis LLP where she maintains a broad family law practice including all matters relating to division of property, trusts, common-law relationships, child and spousal support, child custody and access, and drafting of marriage, cohabitation and separation agreements. Her family law practice has particular emphasis on complex financial and commercial matters including:
· corporate matters and shareholder remedies
· professional practices
· business valuation
· trusts
· forensic accounting and investigation
· taxation
· pensions
In addition to her family law practice, Ms. Slater has also advised clients on commercial matters including shareholder disputes, solicitor negligence and construction claims, and with respect to representation agreements and related issues.
Ms. Slater has appeared in the British Columbia Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Provincial Court and drafted written submissions to the Supreme Court of Canada. Her practice is solution-oriented and where possible supportive of alternative methods of dispute resolution. She has received mediation training from the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia.
Ms. Slater has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and was a judicial law clerk at the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
Professional Experience
Ms. Slater has acted as lead and co-counsel on the following matrimonial matters which are representative of her family law practice.
· A traditional 20 year marriage involving numerous real estate development companies and significant real estate holdings, including inherited and gifted assets. Issues included valuation of interests and significant child and spousal support claims.
· A 12 year marriage where the parties held significant corporate and trust interests and investments. Significant child and spousal support claims existed as one party was a high income earner.
· A lengthy and traditional marriage where the parties had complex corporate interests involving shareholder disputes and litigation, and substantial additional assets were acquired by inheritance and gifts received during the marriage.
· A 10 year marriage involving a successful family owned business operating in British Columbia and overseas and extensive family loans and gifts, and a professional practice
· Division of assets following a short marriage, including public and private shareholdings and stock options of significant value including assets brought into the marriage by the owning spouse
Directorships, Memberships & Professional Activities
· Member, Canadian Bar Association
· Member, Vancouver Family Law and Legal Research Sections of the Canadian Bar Association
Publications & Seminars
· Contributing Author, British Columbia Family Practice Manual, 4th edition
· Contributing Author, British Columbia Family Practice Manual, 2004 and 2005 updates
· Contributing Author, Annotated Family Practice, 2009-2010
· "Courts Impute Income to Payors", The Lawyers Weekly, July 3, 2009 Vol. 29, No. 9
· Contributing Author, Annotated Family Practice, 2010-2011
Media Commentary
Canadian Lawyer, "My Parents' Keeper", March 2011
Volunteer Work
Pro bono family law legal services through Access to Justice