A Legal Conference for Local Government Elected Officials & Staff

February 5th & 6th, 2015 Thursday 9 AM – 4:30 PM • Friday 9 AM – 12:15 PM Victoria Conference Centre 720 Douglas St, Victoria, B.C.

MEET THE SUITS 2 (MS2) is the second legal conference for local government elected officials and staff. Its relaxed setting is an excellent opportunity to learn and share empowering ideas. Given our recent municipal elections, the theme for this year’s conference is “Good Governance.”

WHAT YOU GET:• Insightful knowledge from over twelve expert lawyers and communication specialists on a wide range of

local government issues;

• Referencematerialfrompresentations;

• Answerstoyourlegalquestions;and

• WarmthfromahotEmpress“BengalIndian”lunchonThursdayanddailyrefreshments.

HOW TO REGISTER:Early Bird Rate of $275* until January 16thRegular Rate (January 17th onwards): $350*Contact Sarah Innes at office@govlaw.ca or 1 (877) 897-3630 to reserve your spot.**

HOTEL BOOKING:TheVictoria Marriott Hotel (across the street) is providing a special rate for MS2

ConferenceAttendeesofonly$100 per night (plus taxes).Thereisalimitednumber

of rooms, so call the Marriott @ 1-877-515-2148usingthebookingcode“MS2.”

“Best deal ever for 2 days of legal advice from expert local government lawyers!”

PRESENTED BY:

Dominion GovLaw LLP provides a full range of legal services and advice to governments, with a special emphasis on educating and empowering public servants.

Toll Free: 1 (877) 897-3630 | F: (250) 590-8831 E: office@govlaw.ca | www.GovLaw.ca

300-116 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5G3

204-4430 Chatterton Way, Victoria, B.C. V8X 5J2

Dominion GovLaw LLP

Dominion GovLaw LLP Dominion GovLaw LLP GovLaw LLP

*Plus GST & PST ** No refunds after January 30th, 2015

MS2 Speakers, Topics and Bios

ROBERT PETERSON Dominion GovLaw LLP

“Chain of Command!”: The Proper Function and Role of Staff and Elected OfficialsRobertPetersonisoneofthestrongestlocalgovernmentlawyersinbothBritishColumbiaandOntario.Roberthas expertise in corporate governance, conflict of interest, employmentlaw,environmentallitigation,andbylawenforcement.

TODD PUGH Executive Director,

CivicInfo BC

“Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics, and Election Data!”: Trends from the 2014 Local ElectionsToddPughistheExecutiveDirectorofCivicInfoBC(CivicInfoBC.ca),andasessionalinstructorwithCapilanoUniversity’slocalgovernmentadministrationprogram.ToddholdsaB.A.inpoliticalscienceandhistoryfromUBC,andaMastersdegreeinpublicadministrationfromUVic.

GEOF SIMAIR Geofrey D. Simair Law Corporation

“Prosecute This!”: Cost-Effective Solutions for Bylaw ComplianceGeof Simair is a litigator and criminal defence lawyer with over18years’experienceinalllevelsofcourt(Provincial,Supreme,CourtofAppeal).Geofhasconductedbylawprosecutions and provided legal advice to local government for over 10 years.

LORENA STAPLES, Q.C. Lorena P.D. Staples

Law Corporation

“Gotcha!” How Everyone is Looking at Lapses of Conflict and ConfidentialityLori Staples, Q.C. is the eminent senior solicitor for local governmentinCanada!Shehasbeenpracticingmunicipallaw since 1964. She has extensive experience as a legal advisor to local governments, as a chief administrative officer, a departmentheadandasamemberofaprovincialmunicipaltribunal.

PAM JEFCOAT Valkyrie Law Group LLP

“Blame it on Rio!”: Avoiding Development Conges-tion Through Good Community Planning

PamJefcoathaspracticedcommercialrealestateandmunicipallawfor13yearsandhasaMastersDegreeinPublicAdministration.PamprovidesadviceonawidevarietyoflocalgovernmentandFirstNationsmatters,includingliability,access to information, constitutional jurisdiction and all aspects of real estate development.

KATHLEEN M. BIRNEY Cox Taylor

“Your Error, My Advantage!”: Your Adversary’s Guide to the Mistakes Local Governments MakeKathleenBirneyisarespectedadversaryoflocalgovernmentlawyers in land use litigation, survey, expropriation and administrativetribunalwork.SheisacolleagueoftheinfamousJohnAlexander.

NEIL CARFRA Carfra Lawton LLP

“Pay Up!”: The Biggest Liabilities and How to Minimize the RiskNeilCarfraisaseniorinsurancedefencelawyerinB.C.Neil’spracticeincludesprofessionalnegligence,buildingandconstructionliabilities,andclaimsformunicipalities,schoolsand hospitals.

LUI CARVELLO Carvello Law Group

“Show Me the Money!”: The Legal Approaches to Financing Growth and ChangeLui Carvello represents local government clients as a senior solicitorandhasanextensivebackgroundinplanninglaw.Lui concentrates his practice on planning, development and environmental law matters.

PHILIP COOPER Communications

Manager, City of Nanaimo

“For Your Eyes Only!”: Breaching In-Camera ConfidencePhilipCooperisaleadingcommunicationmanagementgeneralistinthepublicsector.HecurrentlyservesastheCommunicationsManagerfortheCityofNanaimo.PhiliphasheldsimilarcommunicationrolesworkinginboththeAlbertanoilsandsregionandfortheProvinceofBritishColumbia.

JOHN R. BASEY, Q.C. Dominion GovLaw LLP

“Shakespeare was Right!”: Using In-house and Outside Legal Counsel EffectivelyJackBasey,Q.C.isoneoftheforemostleadersinlocalgovernment today having served over 35 years as in-house counselforlocalgovernmentsinBritishColumbia,Alberta,andOntario.Jack’sprimaryfocusisonlanduseplanning,corporate governance and First Nation issues.

GREETINGS NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS!

MS2 is where you learn to govern for the next 4 years!

ELENA MERRITT Dominion GovLaw LLP

“Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?”: 3 Mediation Scenarios for Local GovernmentsElenaMerrittisaninnovativesolicitorworkingtowardscertificationasamediator.Elenaadviseslocalgovernmentclients on a complete range of solicitor’s issues and provides practical recommendations for long-term solutions.

RINA THAKAR Valkyrie Law Group LLP

“Blame it on Rio!”: Avoiding Development Congestion Through Good Community Planning

RinaThakarhaspracticedincorporateandmunicipallaw for 14 years, and has a Masters degree in International FinanceLawfromtheLondonSchoolofEconomics.Rinahasexperienceinpreparingandadvisingonbylawsandlegalagreements in a variety of areas including district energy projects, partnering agreements, servicing agreements, land managementandFOI.

TROY DESOUZADominion GovLaw LLP

“Political Justice!”: How to Accomplish Public Policy Goals Through the Legal SystemTroyDeSouzaisoneofthemostrecognizednamesinlocalgovernment litigation and a highly sought after speaker and educator.Hisfocusisoncivilinjunctions,bylawenforcementandpublicpolicy.Troyprovidesmunicipalclientswithlegal-political insight, sound judgment and practical solutions.

MS2 Conference ScheduleThursday, February 5th, 2015

COLWOOD ROOM SIDNEY ROOM

9:00 am – 10:00 am “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?” 3 Mediation Scenarios for Local GovernmentsElenaMerrittandJackBasey,Q.C., DominionGovLawLLP

10:00 am – 10:15 am Coffee Break – Refreshments provided

Prosecute This! Cost Effective Solutions for Bylaw ComplianceGeofSimair,GeofreyD.SimairLawCorporation

10:15 am – 11:15 am Blame it on Rio! Avoiding Development Congestion Through Good Community PlanningRinaThakarandPamJefcoat ValkyrieLawGroupLLP

Political Justice: How to Accomplish Public Policy Goals Through the Legal SystemTroyDeSouza,DominionGovLawLLP

11:15 am – 12:15 pm

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Hot Empress “Bengal Indian” LunchwillbeservedintheSidneyRoom

2:30 pm – 3:30 pmGotcha! How Everyone is Looking at Lapses of Conflict and ConfidentialityLoriStaples,Q.C.,LorenaP.D.StaplesLawCorporation

Your Error, My Advantage: Your Adversary’s Guide to the Mistakes Local Governments MakeKathleenM.BirneyB.A.,CoxTaylor

Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics, and Election Data: Trends from the 2014 Local ElectionsToddPugh,ExecutiveDirectoratCivicInfoBC

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Coffee Break – Refreshments provided

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Pay Up! The Biggest Liabilities and How to Minimize the RiskNeilCarfra,CarfraLawtonLLP

“For Your Eyes Only” Breaching In-Camera ConfidencePhilCooper,CommunicationsManager, City of Nanaimo

Friday, February 6th, 2015

COLWOOD ROOM

9:00 am – 10:00 am “Show Me The Money” The Legal Approaches to Financing Growth and ChangeLui Carvello, Carvello Law Group

10:15 am – 11:15 am

10:00 am – 10:15 am Coffee Break – Refreshments provided

Chain of Command: The Proper Function and Roll of Staff and Elected OfficialsRobertPeterson,DominionGovLawLLP

“Shakespeare Was Right!” Using In-house and Outside Legal Counsel EffectivelyJackBasey,Q.C.,DominionGovLawLLP

11:15 am – 12:15 pm