Caitlin Ohama-Darcus,

Caitlin is a general civil and commercial litigator with Lawson Lundell in Vancouver, bringing to her practice a unique breadth and depth of experience in resolving complex commercial disputes, class actions, public law and regulatory matters, and appeals.

Caitlin’s approach to law and litigation is defined by three elements — intellectual rigour, compelling advocacy, and warmth of personality — along with a sincere commitment to understanding and representing her clients’ interests. Caitlin has proven talent and versatility in handling a broad range of litigation matters — from high-stakes corporate and real estate disputes, to highly sensitive claims involving allegations of sexual misconduct.

Caitlin has experience before all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, and the Supreme Court of Canada on leave applications.

For her work as an advocate, Caitlin has been recognized as a Rising Star in British Columbia Dispute Resolution by Legal 500 (2022 and 2023), in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ for Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2022, 2023 and 2024), and as part of the Excellence Award-winning Commercial Litigation Team of the Year in 2020 at the Canadian Law Awards. Caitlin is also the honoured recipient of a Wesbrook Scholar Award from the University of British Columbia (2015), and an Outstanding Young Alum Award from the Peter A. Allard School of Law Alumni Association (2024).

In addition to her litigation practice, Caitlin is a dedicated mentor to law students and new lawyers, a co-author of the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia’s Civil Appeal Handbook, and an adjunct professor at the UBC Faculty of Law.

• Adjunct Professor, UBC Faculty of Law (teaching Topics in Private Law: Advanced Contract Law; and Topics in Social Justice: Social Justice through Group Litigation)
• Access Pro Bono Society of British Columbia, Referral and Appeal Counsel
• Moot Coach for the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Law, Willms & Shier Environmental Law Moot Team
• CBABC Appellate Advocacy Section, past Executive Member
• Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, Member
• Law Society of British Columbia, Member
• York House School Legacy Society, Member

• Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch in Canada” in Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2022-2024
• Legal 500 "Rising Star" in Dispute Resolution (BC), 2020

• Concord Pacific Acquisitions Inc. v. Oei: counsel in a contract dispute involving a claim in excess of $350 million concerning the development of certain waterfront land in BC, heard by the BC Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada (refusing leave to appeal);
• Ocean Wise Conservation Association v. Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation: counsel for the Vancouver Aquarium in a challenge to a municipal bylaw concerning the display of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) in Vancouver parks;
• British Columbia (Director of Civil Forfeiture) v. PacNet Services Ltd.: counsel for PacNet Services Ltd. and related companies and individuals, defending proceedings brought under the Civil Forfeiture Act, SBC 2005, c 29, as well as separate proceedings under the International Business Activity Act, SBC 2004, c 49;
• Skeena Resources Ltd. v. Richard Mill: counsel in a dispute over mineral rights under the Mineral Tenure Act, RSBC 1996, c 292, heard initially by the Chief Gold Commissioner of BC;
• GMC Properties Inc. v. Rampart Estates Ltd.: counsel in a commercial dispute over an agreement for the purchase and sale of land, including specific contractual language regarding investigation and reporting on environmental contamination;
• Stonechild v. Canada and related Indigenous child welfare class actions: part of the counsel team and consortium of firms advancing more than six related federal and provincial class actions involving off-reserve Indigenous children and families in Canada’s provincial child welfare systems;
• Vallance v. DHL Express (Canada), Ltd.: counsel on an application for certification of a proposed national class action involving customs clearance fees;
• Hirschfield v. Canada: counsel on a motion for certification of a proposed national class action involving the administration and management of pension benefits under the Pension Act, RSC, 1985, c P-6;
• Zheng v. Bank of China (Canada) Vancouver Richmond Branch: pro bono appellate counsel in a claim for damages by a bank customer in relation to third-party fraud;
• Klassen obo White Rock Pride Society v. Star of the Sea Parish: pro bono counsel for the White Rock Pride Society in a BC Human Rights Tribunal complaint brought against a local parish and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, culminating in an historic negotiated resolution in 2022.