J. Gary Fitzpatrick, Q.C.
- Mediator
- Phone. 604.687.8033
- Mobile. 604.351.1083
- coordinator@fitzpatrickmediation.com
- gary@fitzpatrickmediation.com
Profile
Gary is a full-time mediation specialist and is founder of Fitzpatrick & Co. Since 1986, Gary has mediated several thousand business disputes and complex multi-party actions. His work as a mediator has covered an extensive range of disputes and involved governments at the federal, provincial and municipal levels as well as companies, first nations, individuals, partnerships, unions and strata councils. While Gary mediates many two and three party disputes, he has significant experience as a mediator and co-mediator of complex multi-party disputes, as a construction referee on large infrastructure projects and as a facilitator.
Prior to dedicating his practice to mediation, Gary practiced law in Vancouver for 23 years, both within government and in private practice as a litigation partner with the Vancouver law firm Davis & Co. His legal practice focused on construction, environmental, banking, insurance, employment and securities law. Gary trained as a mediator in 1986 and began acting as a mediator in conjunction with his litigation practice. In 1989 he founded Fitzpatrick & Co. and in 1993 he dedicated himself to a full time mediation practice.
Gary has encouraged the promotion and development of mediation as a lecturer, consultant, mentor and trainer for variety of professional organizations, businesses and government groups. He continues to be a frequent lecturer and mediation trainer and regularly presents a 2 day course in Multi-Party Mediation for Continuing Legal Education. In 2004, Gary was recognized by the ADR Institute of Canada with its Award of Excellence for his contribution to the development of ADR in British Columbia. In 2011, Gary was named to the inaugural edition of the International Who’s Who of Commercial Mediation and continues to be recognized in ongoing editions.
Selected Mediation Experience
- Co-mediator as one of a group of three mediators – one who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The mediators successfully conducted a two-day mediation involving 20 parties, combining elements of a judicial settlement conference and a typical multi-party mediation.
- Co-mediator in Alberta of a construction dispute involving 40 parties, including five Plaintiff counsel and 35 defence counsel, which was carried out over eight consecutive days.
- Referee on a large construction infrastructure project in the Lower Mainland of BC.
- Mediator of a Public Private Partnership (P3) involving a highway improvement project, the private sector, the Ministry of Transportation and a municipality.
- Mediator of environmental disputes involving the Waste Management Act and clean-up of contaminated sites.
- Mediator of disputes involving various First Nations and land use including school districts, Ministry of Indian Affairs, and major forest industry companies.
- Mediator of medical malpractice disputes and healthcare dispute involving operating room privileges.
- Mediator of workplace, employment, wrongful dismissal, labour management disputes – some involving harassment, sexual harassment, and non-competition clauses.
- Mediator of business partnership disputes involving separation and dissolution of businesses.
- Mediator of shareholder, banking and receivership disputes.
- Mediator of Wills and Estates disputes; one dispute involved three living generations and distribution of the estate.
- Mediator of professional Negligence disputes involving alleged negligence by lawyers, engineers, architects, real estate agents, and surveyors.
- Mediator of securities disputes involving investor claims for mishandling or misappropriation of investor's funds.
- Mediator of major personal injury disputes.
Education and Bar Admission
- B.S. Business, University of Idaho, 1966. Attended on football scholarship from Canada.
- Doctor of Jurisprudence, J. D. (Law) University of Idaho – 1969.
- Called to the Bar in British Columbia in 1970.
- Mediation Education and Training: Continuing Legal Education of B.C; American Arbitration Association; Centre for Conflict Resolution Boulder Colorado; Justice Institute of BC; American Academy of Attorney Mediators; Wosk Centre for Dialogue Vancouver; International Academy of Mediators Dialogue at Harvard.
Rosters in Dispute Resolution
- Mediation Panel – 1986 to present: British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre.
- Arbitration Panel – 1994 to present: British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre.
- Chartered Arbitrator – 1999 to present: Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada.
- Roster Member – 2000 to present: Mediate BC.
Directorships and Professional Activities
- Recognized by The International Who's Who of Commercial Mediation, published in London, England.
- Director – 1999-2001: British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute.
- Vice President – 2001: British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute.
- President – 2001-2003: British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute.
- Director – 2004-2009: BC Mediation Roster Society (now Mediate BC).
- Trainer – 2005: New Zealand, Government Program for Weather Tight Homes Resolution.
- Trainer – 1986 to present: Justice Institute of BC; Continuing Legal Education of BC; Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC); Supreme and Provincial Courts of BC; British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre; numerous business and corporate groups.
- Chair: Mediation committee of the ADR Task Force on Leaky Condos.
- Member: ADR Working Group; Justice Review Task Force BC.
- Appointed Queens Council.
- Member: Law Society of British Columbia.
- Member: Canadian Bar Association. | Back to Mediators page
