Current Board of Directors

If you would like to learn more information about our board of directors, please click on the read more button.
Jonathan Desbarats
Jonathan Desbarats works primarily in criminal defence and has acted in a number of high profile, large and complex criminal prosecutions.
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Colin Ferguson
Colin Ferguson founded Ferguson Family Law in January 2021 after spending several years at a downtown Vancouver family law firm, and a boutique law firm in New Westminster. 
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Richard Fowler KC
Richard Fowler is a partner at the law firm of Fowler and Blok, Vancouver where he practises criminal defence law. He was called to the Bar in 1995 and has appeared in all level of courts in Canada
Guillaume Garih
​My name is Guillaume Garih, I was called to the B.C. bar in 2014. I was one of the "founding members" of ALL, back in 2018 and served on the Criminal Committee.


Cara Hunt
​Cara Hunt is a criminal defence lawyer practicing in the Cowichan Valley. She also represents children in some circumstances in their family or criminal proceedings on ad-hoc appointments by the Attorney General. 

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​Stephanie Hodgson
Stephanie Hodgson started her BC legal career as in-house counsel and following stints as a small-firm lawyer and then opening Parents Legal Centre (Victoria) as Managing Lawyer in 2019
Julia Hung
Julia obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia where she double majored in Philosophy and Psychology. She then obtained her Juris Doctor from the UBC Allard School of Law. 
Chris Johnson KC
Chris Johnson KC was born and grew up in Vancouver. He has practiced criminal law for over 35 years, since 1987. His successful career has included appearances at all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa.
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Joanna Kelly
The child of immigrant parents, I was born and raised in northern rural British Columbia (where I did  nothing of benefit to society).   After graduation, I obtained an honours degree in History from Queen’s University (2000), a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Calgary (2002), and an LL.B. from the University of British Columbia (2005).
Tim Klaassen
I look forward to contributing as a member of the A.L.L. Board of Directors, please let me introduce myself. For 28 years, since November 1995, I have been a member of the Law Society of BC and of the Canadian Bar Association of BC. 
James Michi
Jay Michi is a partner at Jensen law, Kamloops where he practises criminal defence law. He has successfully conducted countless trials and appeared as lead counsel at every level of court in the Province of British Columbia. 
Andrew Nelson
Andrew Nelson is a partner at the law firm Johnson Doyle Nelson & Anderson, Vancouver where he practises criminal defence law. Mr. Nelson has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as before administrative tribunals.
Philippa Newman
​I was called to the bar of England and Wales in November 1995. I practiced at the London Bar for 3 years and worked in the City. In 2000, I opened and managed an adult group home for adults with learning disabilities.

​In April 2007, I immigrated to Canada with my husband. Before I left the Fort St. John Airport...
Lee Rankin
I was born and educated in Vancouver and I have lived in Burnaby for the past 47 years. I was a member of Burnaby city council for 22 years. I was first elected in 1983, and re-elected ...
Chantal Paquette
​Chantal is a dedicated criminal defence counsel based in Vancouver, with a robust legal career that began in 2016. As the chair of the A.L.L. Criminal Tariff Committee and a director of the Criminal Defence Advocacy Society (CDAS), Chantal plays a vital role in shaping of criminal defence practices in the region.
Jane Rukaria
​Jane grew up in a rural village in Kenya, on the slopes of Mount Kenya, where elephants and other big game roamed freely. At the age of nine, events in her life shaped her determination to work in a field where she could give a voice to those who could not otherwise be heard.
​Michelle Silongan
Michelle Silongan primarily practices criminal defence, and has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia. She has been a director at ALL since 2019 and is the chair of the Membership and Communications committee.

A.L.L. staff

Wayne Robertson KC
Executive Director
Wayne has been the Executive Director of A.L.L. since May, 2020. Wayne obtained his BA from Carleton University in 1974, a BSW degree from the University of Calgary in 1977, his law degree from the University of Alberta in 1981, and was called to the bar in B.C. in 1983. He was awarded his KC (then QC), in 2009.
Allison Scow
Administrative Assistant
Allison has been the Administrative Assistant to Wayne Robertson KC, Executive Director of A.L.L. since February 2024.
Allison is a recent graduate from the University of Capilano and completed the Legal Administrative Assistant program in December 2023.