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Alison M. Latimer, KC is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer whose practice includes civil, criminal and administrative law. She is called to the bar in both British Columbia and the Yukon. 

 

Alison has appeared as counsel on a number of landmark constitutional cases including cases establishing a right to physician assisted dying and limiting the use of solitary confinement in federal prisons. Alison has argued cases at all levels of court in British Columbia, Alberta, the Federal Courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada, a court she has appeared at more than a dozen times. Alison also regularly advises and represents clients in areas of administrative law, acting both for tribunals and for individuals and entities appearing before administrative tribunals. In 2019, Alison was appointed as associate commission counsel to the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia.

 

In 2021, Alison was honoured with the designation of Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel). In 2020, she was awarded the Liberty Award for Excellence in Legal Advocacy for her work advancing civil liberties and human rights in Canada. Between 2019 and 2024, Alison has been repeatedly recognized by a number of legal directories and guides as a Litigation Star, as one of the Top 50 women in Canada for participating in some of the most impactful litigation matters in recent history, as a leading litigator in the areas of administrative, regulatory & public law, corporate and commercial litigation, and appellate practice. Alison is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. She is an advocacy advisor to the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, and an honorary lifetime member of the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association.

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Alison studied law at the University of Victoria where she acts from time to time as an Adjunct Professor. She frequently presents at conferences and publishes on issues pertaining to her practice. Some recent contributions include:

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  • Panelist, Evolving Approaches to Constitutional Interpretation in Canada, (2023) uOttawa Public Law Centre, the University of Alberta, and the York Research Chair in Pluralism and Public Law at Osgoode Hall Law School.

  • Co-chair, Administrative Law Conference, 2022 and 2023, CLEBC.

  • Co-author, "A Plumber with Words: Seeking Constitutional Responsibility and an End to the Little Sisters Problem", (Forthcoming 2021) 104 S.C.L.R. (2d). Available here.

  • Panelist, "Living Constitutional Justice: A Panel in Memory of Joseph J. Arvay, OC, QC", (2021) Osgoode Constitutional Cases Conference. Panel discussion available here.

  • Faculty, “Emerging Issues in Civil Forfeiture Litigation”, (2019) CLEBC Anti-Money Laundering Conference.

  • Author, “Solitary Confinement: A Test Case Litigation Story” (2019), 90 S.C.L.R. (2d) 393.

  • Author, “Constitutional Conversations” (2019), 88 S.C.L.R. 2(d) 231. Available here.

  • Faculty, “Judicial Review and Religious Organizations”, (2018) CLEBC Administrative Law Conference.

  • Faculty, “Groia v. Law Society: Civility & Proportionality, Advocacy & the Charter (...But Mostly Standard of Review)”, (2018) Trial Lawyers Association of BC, Cutting Edge Topics for Trial Lawyers Conference.

  • Panelist, "Human Rights and Corrections", (2018) Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies Conference.

  • Panelist, "The Scope of Charter Rights and Redress", (2018) Osgoode 2017 Constitutional Cases Conference.

  • Panelist, "Challenging Solitary Confinement", (2018) Asper Centre Public Interest Litigation Conference.

  • Faculty, "The Line Between Zealous Advocacy and Misconduct", (2017) CLEBC Litigation Misconduct Conference.

  • Faculty, "Year in Review: British Columbia Administrative Law Decisions of Note", (2017) CLEBC Administrative Law Conference.

  • Co-author, "The Constitutional Infirmity of the Laws Prohibiting Criminal Negligence" (2016), 63 C.L.Q. 325. Available here.

  • Podcast Guest, "Punishment Unlimited? The Use and Abuse of Solitary Confinement in Canada" (2015), McGill L.J. Podcast. Available here. 

  • Co-author, "Proportionality and the Public Law" (2015), Can. J. Admin. L. & Prac. 23. Available here.

  • Co-author, "Why we need a constitutional challenge on judicial appointments", The Globe and Mail (6 August 2015). Available here.

  • Author, “A Positive Future for Section 7? Children and Charter Change” (2014), 67 S.C.L.R. (2d) 537. Available here. 

  • Co-Author, “Stare Decisis and Constitutional Supremacy: Will Our Charter Past Become an Obstacle to Our Charter Future?” (2012), 58 S.C.L.R. (2d) 61. Available here. 

  • Co-Author, “Cost Strategies for Litigants: The Significance of R. v. Caron” (2011), 54 S.C.L.R. 427. Available here.

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