Law Society appointments to the transitional board of Legal Professions BC

On July 17, the BC Supreme Court declined to grant the Law Society of BC injunctive relief to suspend the transitional provisions of the Legal Professions Act until the constitutional challenge could be heard. As a result, the transitional provisions of the Act will proceed while the litigation is ongoing.

In accordance with s. 223(1)(a) of the Act, the Benchers of the Law Society have appointed four members to the transitional board of Legal Professions BC. These carefully considered appointments bring strong and diverse legal expertise, depth of knowledge of the Act and the events leading up to its creation, and proven experience in governance. 

The four appointees are:

Brian Dybwad
Brian was first elected a Law Society Bencher in 2022. He was called to the Bar in 2010 and has worked in the areas of criminal defence, family law and child protection, and as Director’s Counsel for the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program. Brian has dedicated his career to the protection of vulnerable people, both as the Manager of Family Law Services for Legal Aid BC and as a Fellow for CanAge, Canada’s national seniors’ advocacy organization. He is passionate about issues of diversity, lawyers’ mental health, reconciliation and good governance. He is a member and Hereditary Chief of the Tsetsaut Gitxsan Nation.

Lindsay LeBlanc, KC
Lindsay was first elected a Law Society Bencher in 2022 and is the Second Vice-President for 2024. Lindsay was called to the Bar in 2006 and is a partner at Cox Taylor in Victoria, BC. Her practice is a mix of solicitor work and litigation, primarily in property, administrative and commercial law. Lindsay has extensive governance experience and is an active volunteer in the legal community. Lindsay is presently a member of the Supreme Court of BC Rules Committee, Director of University of Victoria (UVic) Properties Boards, Director of the Community Legal Clinic Society of BC and the Okanagan Thompson Legal Clinic, and an Indigenous Advisor on the Law Foundation of BC Indigenous Advisory Circle. Lindsay’s former board experience includes Chair of the Law Foundation of BC, Governor of UVic, Director of the BC Scholarship Society and a member of a number of CBA committees. Lindsay is Métis and a member of the North Cariboo Métis Association.

Bruce LeRose, KC
Bruce is a Life Bencher of the Law Society and served as its President in 2012. He was called to the Bar in 1983 and practices in West Kootenay as a general practitioner with concentration on real estate and corporate and commercial solicitor's work and personal injury and civil litigation barrister’s work. He was made a Queen Counsel in 2006 and received the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Attorney General for British Columbia in 2013 for meritorious services to the Legal Profession.

Scott Morishita
Scott was president of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch for the 2023-24 term. Scott was called to the Bar in 2007 and is associate counsel at Rice Harbut Elliott LLP. Scott has worked for more than 15 years as a trial lawyer and has represented a diverse range of clients, including individuals, insurance companies and local governments. Scott is a strong advocate for lawyers’ mental health and well-being and has donated his time to many legal organizations, including the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Pro Bono Law Students Canada and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia). Scott is Japanese Canadian and a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.