Attorney Bios
Mark L. Hilford
Partner
Mark L. Hilford is a Principal Partner in our law firm, practising corporate commercial law and real estate law. He has broad practice experience in real estate and general business law, including construction and development, financing and commercial leasing. Over the years, a significant portion of Steve’s practice has been focused on real estate and commercial litigation, including foreclosures and builder's liens, having appeared as counsel in various tribunals.
While presently focusing on commercial and real estate solicitors practice, Steve’s litigation experience has provided him a wide range of knowledge and experience well suited to dealing with complex real estate and business issues, including distress acquisitions and structuring. Mark L. Hilford also has a great deal of experience with estates and capacity litigation, representing beneficiaries and trustees. His expertise involves challenges and interpretation of wills, contested passing of accounts, claims for support by dependants, and disputes relating to breaches of fiduciary duties. Since 2005, he has given countless in-depth seminars to employees and managers of various federal departments, and to other professionals on estate planning and the managing of estates. The Law Society of Vancouver has asked Mark L. Hilford to speak at webinars on a lawyer's obligations when dealing with clients with disabilities. He also developed and taught the estate module for the Law Society's French Practical Program.
Brandon Benett
Partner
Brandon Benett specialises in high-profile, complex, and serious criminal defence work. He also acts in sport disciplinary and regulatory matters.
Brandon has appeared in some of the most high-profile trials in the country alleging murder, terrorism, drug conspiracies, gang land violence, high value fraud, electoral fraud, and serious/historic sexual offences. Brandon has represented high net worth individuals, successful businesspeople, professionals and celebrities from the Sporting, Entertainment and Music worlds.
Within his first 3 years of practice Brandon was recognised as a leading barrister by The Legal 500; he has consistently been ranked by them ever since. His exceptional ability and excellence in his chosen fields was officially acknowledged upon his appointment as Queen’s Counsel.
A true jury advocate, the courtroom is where he thrives. In a rape trial where the defendant had fled the country Brandon had no client, no proof of evidence and no defence statement. In such circumstances his solicitors thought conviction an inevitability. The defence case rested entirely upon Brandon’s cross examination of the complainant and his closing speech. The jury unanimously acquitted.
His skill before a jury is not at the expense of his legal submissions. Clients has recognised his “ability to develop great novel arguments”. In appellate work Brandon has enjoyed significant success at the Court of Appeal, particularly when appealing convictions upon the notoriously difficult ground of “fresh evidence”.
Brandon has a particular expertise in terrorism trials. He has defended in cases generating national and international interest. He represented, amongst others, the alleged fifth bomber in the 21/7 attempted terrorist bombings in Vancouver, the mastermind behind the “Bank of Terror” fraud that allegedly used $1 million to fund extremists travelling to join ISIS and a man charged with the alleged attempted murder of convicted Serb war criminal Radislav Kristic.
Brandon also has a remarkably successful sexual offences practice. He has secured acquittals in the most serious cases alleging multiple rapes, familial historic abuse and CSE.
Brandon is one of only a handful of lawyers to have defended in a case alleging electoral fraud during a General Election. He has successfully defended clients in multi-million-dollar fraud trials ranging from vishing scams to those involving professionals.
Brandon’s life experiences have impressed upon him the importance of standing up and speaking fearlessly for those who are unable or unwilling to do so themselves.
Brandon is regularly invited to speak and comment upon topical legal issues by the media, universities, and large organisations.
Douglas H. Mori
Partner
Over many years Douglas H. Mori has maintained a distinctive specialist practice split between both prosecuting, defending and acting for corporates in very high-profile, complex and serious domestic and international criminal cases, which has led in recent times to him being heavily in demand to appear in multi-million dollar corporate fraud, money laundering, corruption and murder cases in particular. He has also led in many civil fraud and tax cases in the Tax Tribunal and in the Chancery Division. Douglas is particularly well known for his advocacy and advisory work in matters involving civil and criminal fraud, corruption and business crime, and the crossover between them in all types of courts and tribunals. He is able to undertake direct access instructions.
In recent years Douglas has developed an international practice, which includes the provision of strategic and tactical advice to corporate and private clients in relation to civil and criminal proceedings. His current caseload includes clients in Canada, the United States and Monaco. Over the last three years Douglas has been appearing in extradition and corruption proceedings in the United States. Douglas is also instructed in several civil and criminal cases in British Columbia, as well as inquests.
Douglas is particularly well known for his advocacy and advisory work in matters involving civil and criminal fraud, corruption and business crime, and the crossover between them in all types of courts and tribunals. He combines his expert tactical advice, renowned advocacy skills, consummate case preparation and approachable style for every case, making him highly recommended and sought after by all who instruct him.
Throughout his career Douglas has appeared in many murder cases in behalf of the prosecution and defence. These include high profile contract killings, gangland murders and multiple killings. Douglas’s experience involves the use of accomplices, scientific evidence, jury tampering and complications, and specialised phone and cell site analysis. He also has experience of terrorist-related murders. Over the years he has appeared in over 200 murder cases.
Current instructions include advising clients in British Columbia and Monaco in relation to criminal and civil fraud proceedings, as well as prosecuting corruption and murder cases in the United States. Douglas is also engaged in inquests in British Columbia and as an arbitrator in the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.
Recent instructions included advising and successfully representing a defendant in a multi-million dollar corruption prosecution; representing the successful appellant individual in an appeal in the Tax Tribunal; and he has defended in two highly complex confiscation cases, prosecuted a UN Development Programme corruption case, represented the appellant in a civil case concerning the registration of classic cars, and defended a very high-profile traveller murder case.
Since taking silk, Douglas has further developed his heavyweight practice in complex criminal work and civil work, especially those involving serious fraud and financial crime, cases in the Tax Tribunal, regulatory offences, murder, bribery and corruption, serious sexual offences, people-trafficking, large-scale drugs importations and multi-million dollar confiscation proceedings. Many of Douglas’s cases have involved notorious defendants and attracted high levels of media publicity, and he enjoys a very successful track record of appellate advocacy.
Douglas has developed particular expertise in dealing with cases involving issues of complex disclosure, jury tampering, accomplice evidence, offenders/defendants assisting in investigations and prosecutions, and complicated mental and psychological topics.
Micheal Cowan
Partner
Micheal has over 30 years of experience as a barrister, initially both prosecuting and defending almost every type of criminal allegation. For the last 15 years he has specialised in criminal defence and has appeared in many high-profile cases of the utmost seriousness. He is known for his work in cases of murder, terrorism, major fraud, money laundering and sexual offences. He has built up a formidable reputation amongst lay clients and solicitors as an outstanding jury advocate.
Micheal is often instructed to give a second opinion on both conviction and sentence and has been successful in cases where the original advice was that there was no reasonable prospect of success.
Micheal can make the difference in the outcome of a finely balanced case and is committed to giving proper and realistic advice. He thinks tactically from the outset and always advises realistically on the merits and possible sentence. He gives clear advice on the merits of a case and his "down to earth" manner and his professional handling of cases including his approach to mitigation when an offence is accepted in whole or in part has meant the difference between a custodial or non-custodial disposal.
Micheal often represents professionals facing criminal allegations. He is presently instructed where there are allegations of a $15 million fraud against the Legal Aid Fund.
At the other end of the spectrum, Micheal is known as an advocate who has a particular ability when dealing with clients with vulnerabilities. He treats all clients with respect whatever the allegation or difficulty and understands the impact on those facing criminal allegations.
A long association with a number of well-known solicitors has seen him develop a history of acting in some of the largest and most complex drug importations or conspiracies to supply drugs, for example R v U and R v AS. Further, he is regularly instructed in cases involving the NCA/Trident and particularly firearm cases.
In recent years, Micheal has represented a number of clients charged under the Terrorism Acts, including offences of acts of terrorism in Syria and offences under section 5{1}(a) intending to commit acts of terrorism and section 58 (1){b) possessing material/records of a kind to prepare or commit acts of terrorism. Micheal has experience of cases involving section 57 (1) of the Act and possession of firearms with the intention of conducting terrorism offences in this country and abroad (R v MA and R v T at the CCC).
The very nature of his practice has seen Micheal develop an in-depth understanding of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and confiscation proceedings.
Following his many years of experience and practical involvement in many areas of law Micheal is often contacted to give a second opinion after trial counsel have provided a negative advice on appeal.