I am one of the founding partners of Gehlen Dabbs Cash LLP. My practice focuses on litigation aspects of commercial and insolvency law, including bankruptcy and receivership, commercial tenancy disputes, security recovery and related matters. I have appeared before all levels of court in commercial and insolvency-related litigation.
When we opened our doors in 1998, almost all lawyers advising on insolvency matters practised at large law firms. We wanted to provide insolvency expertise outside the “big firm” milieu, emphasizing practical and responsive solutions to our clients’ problems. Since then our practice has grown but our focus remains the same.
I also act for numerous housing co-operatives and related management and advisory organizations, advising on various issues, including rules and occupancy agreements and membership terminations and related litigation, as well as governance and financing.
Representative Experience
- Appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of a bankruptcy trustee, resulting in a precedent-setting victory affecting a wide range of commercial and insolvency law
- Representing a wide range of significant creditors, including financial institutions, heavy equipment financiers, and franchisees in numerous complex reorganizations commenced by debtors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
- Acting for licensed insolvency trustees appointed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
- Acting for commercial landlords in numerous proceedings involving claims against tenants and guarantors
- Acting for over 125 housing co-ops and related management and advisory organizations, including Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, in a wide range of legal services
- Acted as legal counsel in the development and implementation of First Avenue Athletes Village Housing Co-operative, located at the former Athletes Village for the 2010 games
Professional Activities
- Member, Insolvency Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Insolvency Discussion Group of Vancouver
- Past Adjunct Professor of Law in Insolvency Law, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia
- Guest Instructor for the Personal Property Security Act course, British Columbia Law Society Professional Legal Training Course
- Author, Editorial Board Member and Lecturer for numerous professional legal education courses and publications for Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, including Chairperson for the Bankruptcy and Insolvency course
- Instructor and Workshop Leader for numerous workshops and seminars dealing with co-operative housing for Co-operative Housing Federation of BC
- Chairperson for Annual and Semi-Annual General Meetings of the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC
Lectures / Publications / seminars
- “General Overview of Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law”, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Basics for Lawyers (Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2022)
- British Columbia Creditors’ Remedies (Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society, 2001 to 2022)
- “Bankruptcy and Insolvency – Recent Statutory Amendments and The Wage Earner’s Protection Program Act” (2009 and 2010) (Toronto: Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals, May, 2009 and May, 2010)
- “Bankruptcy and Insolvency”, Business Basics 2009 (Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society, September 10, 2009)
- “Landlord and Tenant – Legal Issues in Bankruptcy and Insolvency Proceedings and a Landlord’s Remedies”, Bankruptcy and Insolvency(Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society, May 29, 2009)
- “Midmarket Commercial Technical Update” (2008) (Toronto: Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals,
May, 2008) - “Discharges from Bankruptcy”, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Update 2006(Vancouver: Continuing Legal Education Society, November 3, 2006)
- “Commercial Landlord and Tenant – Overview of Canada’s Receivership, Bankruptcy and Insolvency System” (Eau Claire, WI: Lorman Education Services, 2006)
- “Landlord and Tenant – Legal Issues in Insolvency Proceedings” (2005) (Toronto: Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals, May 19, 2005)
