Arvay Finlay LLP

05/08/2025

Today the Court of Appeal released an important decision upholding human rights protections for families facing discriminatory practices by the family policing system. Arvay Finlay was pleased to represent West Coast LEAF, who intervened to highlight the importance of considering the broader colonial and social context.

Breaking news: Today, the BC Court of Appeal released a ruling in R.R. v Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS) upholding human rights protections for families facing discriminatory practices by the family policing system.

This pivotal decision restores a BC Human Rights Tribunal ruling that found that R.R., an Afro-Indigenous mother, was discriminated against while her children were in VACFSS’ care.

West Coast LEAF intervened in the case to argue that the broader colonial and social context must be considered by the Tribunal in addressing discrimination in the family policing system. This ruling affirms the need for greater accountability and oversight in a system that continues to inflict colonial harm and anti-Indigenous racism on families.

🔗 Read the press release: westcoastleaf.org/rr-v-vacfss-decision

10/23/2024

Arvay Finlay is honoured to have been selected by the Globe & Mail as one of Canada’s best law firms of 2025!

10/23/2024

Arvay Finlay is honoured to have been selected as one of Canada’s best law firms in 2025 by the Globe & Mail.

The Globe and Mail partnered with Statista to determine which law firms in Canada are held in the highest esteem by their colleagues

07/20/2024

Congratulations to the British Columbians who earned the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and in particular to members of the Arvay Finlay Family, Andrew Petter and Maureen Maloney! Brava!

https://ltgov.bc.ca/king-charles-iii-coronation-medal/ #:~:text=The%20Coronation%20Medal%2C%20a%20Canadian,Canada%20and%20their%20home%20province.

The Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, was launched by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, recognizing those who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province. The Honoura...

06/17/2024

Pleased to be working with Dying With Dignity Canada on this important issue.

/CNW/ - Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC), the national human-rights charity committed to protecting end-of-life rights, and Arvay Finlay, the legacy firm of...

05/28/2024

Proud of Julia and their work on this issue. Arvay Finlay has a long history of important work in this area ... and the fight continues!

The battle over one tent village in a portside Vancouver park turned it into the city’s only fully legal tent community. What that means for the thousands of Canadians living in encampments nationwide.

03/08/2024

Learn more about our managing partner's journey and approach to the law in this UBC Law Alumni Profile:

As a child, Robin Gage (LLB ’01) wasn’t entirely sure what a lawyer did, but she knew she wanted to be one. Today, Robin’s legal practice is driven by a passion for equality and social justice. As Managing Partner at Arvay Finlay, she focuses on areas of public law including environmental, Abo...

03/02/2024

The B.C. Court of Appeal has rejected the province's attempt to appeal a pause on a law restricting illicit substance use in many public spaces. The pause was imposed during a legal challenge of that law.

11/17/2023

Arvay Finlay is honoured to have once again been recognized by the Globe and Mail as one of Canada’s best law firms for 2024, with an area of distinction in Administrative and Public Law.

10/31/2023

Arvay Finlay is pleased to be representing West Coast LEAF at this important hearing.

Today, we’re at the BC Supreme Court, where a critical decision by the Human Rights Tribunal is under review. The outcome has the power to impact how families seek remedies for discriminatory practices by child welfare agencies.

Last November, Indigenous mother R.R. won her case against VACFSS, with the Human Rights Tribunal ruling that the child welfare agency discriminated against her. Now, VACFSS is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to address human rights violations, which could claw back access to justice for parents engaged with the family policing system.

Read our press release: westcoastleaf.org/release-bc-supreme-court-to-review-rr-v-vacfss

09/15/2023

Congratulations to Insite on 20 years of life-saving and world-changing work. Arvay Finlay is proud to have been a part of this important journey.

North America's first supervised injection site in Vancouver is celebrating 20 years in the Downtown Eastside.

06/18/2023

Arvay Finlay is proud to be co-counsel to the plaintiffs on this historic settlement.

A tentative agreement between Ontario, Canada and the 21 Anishinaabe First Nations living in Robinson-Huron Treaty territory could be finalized by the end of the year.