Apna Law LLP

James GILL

James Gill

Email: jgill@apnalaw.ca

 James was born and raised in East Vancouver. Before graduating from the inaugural law class at Thompson Rivers University, he completed a Bachelor of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University with a focus on Accounting and International Business. While at Simon Fraser University, James worked as an Employment Standards Officer; a role in which he enforced and promoted statutory employment rights for vulnerable, and often immigrant, workers throughout the province in various industries including farm labour. While in law school, he co-founded the South Asian Law Students Association and the Articling and Summer Information Committee. He also served as the Vice President of the Society of Law Students.

James first entered the legal industry as a summer student in 2013 before returning as an articled student in 2014. Following the completion of his articles, he continued to work with a premier downtown insurance defence firm as an associate, before founding Apna Law with Jasroop Grewal. He currently practices general civil litigation with a focus on personal injury, defamation and business dispute claims. James is also committed to devoting a portion of his practice to helping the under served and disadvantaged by representing refugees in their claims for asylum in Canada. He has represented clients in both the Provincial Court of British Columbia and the Supreme Court of British Columbia and has appeared before both a judge and jury. 

In addition, James is a qualified mediator and has experience in resolving disputes through this process.

Education

  • Pepperdine University, Caruso School of Law, Mediating the Litigated Case (Completed 2022)

  • Thompson Rivers University, Juris Doctor, (2014)

  • Simon Fraser University, Bachelor of Business Administration, (2011)

  • Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, Business Studies, (2010)

Publications, Speaking Engagements and Community Involvement

  • Permissibility of Colour and Racial Profiling, University of Western Ontario Journal of Legal Studies, (2015) 5:3 online: UWO J Leg Stud 1 (Author)

  • "The Right of Transgender Athletes to Compete", 2014 Body of Law Conference. (Presenter)

  • Supervising Lawyer for UBC Law's Law Students Advice Program Manual Revision, Small Claims Chapter

  • Supervising Lawyer for TRU Law's Advanced Legal Research Class

  • Volunteer with Access Pro Bono

  • Former board member, South Asian Family Association

Professional Affiliations

  • Mediate BC Associate Roster

  • Law Society of British Columbia

  • Canadian Bar Association

Other Interests

Outside of the practice of law, James is a proud food and sports enthusiast. His favourite foods include most forms of chocolate and all things deep-fried. He particularly enjoys attempting to snowboard during the winters, and playing basketball and mountain biking during summers.

Representative cases

  • Deng v Malhotra, 2022 BCSC 101

  • Kang v Sahota, 2021 BCSC 624

  • Bagri v Heran, 2020 BCSC 2002

  • A. A. 04323 - Refugee Claim - Hearing

  • Bideshi v McCandless, 2020 BCSC 1853

  • Henbury v Egilson, 2019 BCSC 215

  • Singh v Chand, 2019 BCSC 932

  • Level One Construction Ltd. v Burnham, 2018 BCSC 1354 (appl’d)

  • Norris v Burgess (jury trial, 2016)

  • Vetrici (Provincial Court trial & appeal to Supreme Court)

  • T. Braich (jury trial, 2014)

  • Davies v. Elston, 2014 BCSC 2435

*Practicing through a professional law corporation.