Christopher Elrick

Christopher Elrick
Biography
Chris Elrick is an experienced advocate focusing on commercial disputes, arbitration, and public law.
In his commercial practice, Chris litigates and arbitrates complex business and contractual disputes, oppressions claims brought under the Business Corporations Act, breach of fiduciary claims, and real property disputes. Chris also advises parties on the enforcement and recognition of letters rogatory, foreign judgments, and arbitral awards.
In the realm of public law, Chris advises proponents in the natural resources, industrial waste, and energy sectors, and both defends and challenges administrative decisions before regulators and the courts. He also advises developers and landowners on matters relating to the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Chris maintains a busy trial and chambers practice and has appeared before all levels of court in BC, the Federal Court, and administrative tribunals, including the Environmental Appeal Board and the Agricultural Land Commission. Chris has also appeared as counsel in international arbitrations in Chapter 11 disputes arising under NAFTA and is familiar with the major institutional rules governing these proceedings.
Chris regularly speaks at conferences, is a contributor to Arbitration Matters and recently completed a four-year term on the board of Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners.
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
Chris has acted in the following matters:
- Singh v Sandhu, 2024 BCSC 2412 - Counsel to a digital media company, Chris obtained an injunction requiring a former director to turn over company property and stop passing off his businesses as being affiliated with the company.
- Spera (Lynn Creek) Holdings Ltd. v North Vancouver (District), 2024 BCSC 1395 - Counsel to a property owner who sought relief under the Expropriation Act. The court awarded damages, finding that the municipality did not pay market value for the taken lands.
- Stanford v CPA Professional Liability Plan Inc. et al., 2023 BCSC 2158 - Acting for a national law firm, Chris obtained an order striking out the plaintiff's claim as an abuse of process and secured an award of special costs.
- Wang v Tianco Investment Group Inc., 2023 BCSC 751 - Chris successfully defended a developer in this action where the plaintiff, who bought a pre-sale unit in a multi-residential development, sought the return of his deposit. The court held that the plaintiff had repudiated the contract of purchase and sale, and that the developer was entitled to retain the deposit.
- Manterra Technologies Inc. v Verathon Medical (Canada) ULC, 2021 BCSC 2453 - As counsel to a medical device company, defending an action alleging breach of confidence and breach of contract, Chris obtained an order that the plaintiff had waived privilege over communications with its solicitor.
- Read v Rimex Supply Ltd., 2021 BCSC 2157 - Chris was counsel to the defendant in this wrongful dismissal action. The defendant dismissed the plaintiff when it learned he had an undisclosed interest in a business that he directed work to in his position as the defendant's director of manufacturing. Despite an adverse Employment Standards Branch decision, Chris secured the dismissal of a summary trial application as the court declined to apply the doctrine of issue estoppel.
- Galvin v Provincial Agricultural Land Commission, 2021 BCSC 1755 - Counsel to the petitioners, a family that owns farmland on Vancouver Island, in a judicial review challenging a decision of the Agricultural Land Commission. The court set aside the decision as unreasonable and remitted the matter back to the Commission for reconsideration.
- Club Exploria, LLC v Moore, 2021 BCSC 816 - Successfully represented the petitioner, a defendant in a putative class action, in having letters rogatory from the United States Federal Court enforced.
- Ten Hoeve v Beukens, 2020 BCSC 1194 - Counsel to minority shareholders of a company that owns a dairy farm, Chris obtained an order to liquidate and dissolve the company.
- Bilcon of Delaware et. al. v. Government of Canada, Award on Jurisdiction and Liability, PCA Case No. 2009-04, 17 March 2015 - Counsel to an American investor in a successful NAFTA Chapter 11 arbitration, where the Tribunal found that Canada breached its NAFTA obligations by failing to provide fair and equitable treatment to Bilcon. The Tribunal concluded that the environmental assessment imposed on the investor was arbitrary and undermined Bilcon's legitimate expectations.
Education
Education
- J.D., Dalhousie University, 2008
- B.A., University of British Columbia, 2005
Admissions
Admissions
- British Columbia 2009
Speaking engagements
Speaking engagements
- “Losing NAFTA Chapter 11,” Canadian Bar Association - International Law Section Meeting, December 2018.
- “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” Pre-Conditions to Arbitration and the Jurisdiction of the Tribunal, YCAP Spring Symposium, May 2022.
Memberships and activities
Memberships and activities
- Canadian Bar Association
- Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners
- Contributor, Arbitration Matters
Languages
Languages
- English