Farris LLP

We've been around since 1903, but we're just getting started.

At Farris, our heritage has produced a culture of success and imprinted our values and expectations on the people who work here.



Our reputation is based on our ability to continually deliver results and on the lawyers who join our firm?Farris offers both opportunity and freedom to carve out a meaningful career. Clients can expect results when they join forces with Farris.

Our success is demonstrated not by what we say about ourselves, but what history says about Farris.
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Since 1903

1903

Future Senator J.W. de Beque Farris, a true pioneer, arrives in BC and begins to carve out his career as Vancouver's first city prosecutor, a part-time job paying $75 a month. Seeing the possibility to deliver success and excellence in legal services, he begins his practice of law with another pioneer, Cecil Killam, forming the firm Farris & Killam.
Delivering results Today
100 Over a century later

original thinking continues to deliver results for our clients.

1920s

Royden Stultz returns from World War I. Over the course of his career, Stultz will become an extremely active and skilled solicitor in Vancouver. Upon returning from World War I and finishing his legal studies, Gordon Sloan joins the firm.

The personal sacrifices of these brave young men toward the greater good of mankind is etched in the foundation of Farris. They are a part of our culture and a testament to the character of the people that have worked here and continue to work here.
Our Foundation

Today, Farris is among the leading law firm community contributors in British Columbia. In addition to financial contributions, Farris lawyers and employees often participate in charitable events providing both leadership and support.
1937

J.W. de Beque Farris is appointed to the Senate of Canada. Prior to his appointment, the Senator focused on Privy Council and Supreme Court of Canada constitutional cases standing in the top ranks of counsel. It was said that Senator Farris appeared before the Privy Council more than any other lawyer in Canada.

His wife, Evlyn Fenwick, was also recognized as an influential advocate who focused her efforts on the rights of women, children and workers. She was also the founder of the University Women's Club of Vancouver and a significant force in establishing the University of British Columbia.
1958

Peter Butler joins the firm, quickly becoming an extraordinary force in the litigation bar and the wider community in which his colorful personality and skillful advocacy became well known.
1960s

Frank Murphy influences the growth of the firm and the Province of British Columbia over the next two decades. Peter Butler and Jack Giles both establish themselves as top counsel and generate debate about whether Butler or Giles was the better litigator. The consensus reached is that while Butler may have been better in trial court, nobody approached Giles' standard in the appellate courts. These litigators influenced the legal work of their time and shaped the future work of our firm and our lawyers.
1970s

Frank Murphy leads the firm through a period of growth as British Columbia continues to prosper, building a solid client base of the various businesses and industries central to the growth of the Province.
Over 80%

of the firm's partners are acknowledged as leaders in their respective practice areas and amongst the best at what they do. Over 25% of the partnership is made up of women with senior and junior women holding leadership positions.
2006

To carry on Senator Farris' and Evyln Farris' support of UBC, the Partners of Farris donated $1 million to the UBC Faculty of law. At this time, it was the largest gift ever made by a BC law firm.
2005 - 2008

Farris LLP expands its practice throughout British Columbia with offices in Victoria and Kelowna.
2018

The firm continues its philanthropic efforts in the legal community by donating $100,000 to the Allard School of Law at UBC to establish its most recent award in honour of Jack Giles, Q.C.

1978

After joining the firm in 1972, Elizabeth (Betty) Harrison is the first woman to join the Farris Partnership. Harrison will go on to receive distinction for her work in mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies, corporate governance issues and restructurings. She is designated as Queen's Counsel and remains among the most prominent lawyers in Canada.
36%

of the lawyers working at the firm are women.
2019

Ranked as one of the top lawyers in the Province, the accolades continue into 2019 when Elizabeth is recognized as one of BC's most influential women in business law.

Practice Areas	No. of Attorneys
Construction	4
Corporate	62
Corporate - General	49
Environmental and Land Use	12
Family Law	11
Finance - Banking	9
Immigration	2
International Trade	5
IP	5
Litigation - Construction	8
Litigation - General (consumer)	7
Litigation - Securities Litigation	2
Real Estate	21
Tax	4
Transportation	1
Trusts and Estates	18