Professional Background

Dan Barber is a Partner in the Insurance, Construction and Infrastructure,  and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP.

He is a practical litigator who strives to solve his clients’ legal problems effectively and efficiently. He specializes in the areas of insurance defence, professional liability, construction, and collections.

In his insurance work, Dan represents insureds in claims made by third parties and also represents insurers in first party coverage claims, bad faith claims, and recovery matters.

Outside of his insurance work, Dan assists his clients to successfully navigate through complex litigation including:

  • litigated and pre-litigation construction claims
  • all manners of collections work, including garnishment and execution against both real and personal property
  • leasing disputes

Dan has appeared as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia and regularly represents clients at chambers, trials, mediations and arbitrations.

He began his articles with the firm in 2009. Since then, he has crafted an accomplished practice in Insurance Law, Construction Law, and Commercial Litigation. He has remained heavily involved with the firm, captaining the Singleton Reynolds softball and ski teams.

Education

  • Called to the British Columbia Bar, 2010
  • Juris Doctor, University of British Columbia, 2009
  • Bachelor of Arts, Honours, University of Ottawa, 2006

Memberships

  • Past Chair, Insurance Law Section of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Member-at-Large, Insurance Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Member-at-Large, Insurance Law Section of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Board Member, Alumni Association, Peter A. Allard School of Law
  • Member, Vancouver Regional Construction Association U40 Network
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Vancouver Bar Association
  • Past “Member-at-large”, Vancouver Bar Association

Community + Volunteering

  • Clinician, Access Pro Bono
  • Volunteer Lawyer, Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
  • Captain, Singleton Reynolds Softball and Ski teams
  • Former Reviewer, Dial-a-Law

Representative Experience:

  • Defended a professional liability claim against an engineer in the context of a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in British Columbia.
  • Defended a building subcontractor against claims of negligence arising from the fire loss of a multi-unit strata complex.
  • Defended municipalities and commercial owners against claims of negligent design, on multiple occasions achieving resolution without any payment by his clients.
  • Represented insurers in coverage matters and in matters involving allegations of the breach of the duty of good faith.
  • Represented professional surveyors against claims of economic loss arising from allegations of negligent surveying of a multi-unit strata development.
  • Represented formwork subcontractors to recover claims for delay and extras arising from the retrofitting of a historic concrete building.
  • Recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of institutional insurers in subrogated, fraud, and other recovery claims.
  • Recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of creditors, landlords, and professionals for a variety of debt claims.
  • Conducted multiple trials, ranging in duration from three days to three weeks, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia as lead counsel and co-chair in matters including insurance defence, insurance coverage, fraud, and construction claims.
  • Frequently resolved litigation using mediation, negotiation, and other alternative forms of dispute resolution.

Reported Decisions:

  • Wright v. Schlesiger 2020 BCCA 73
  • Rivers v. North Vancouver (District), 2020 BCSC 1050
  • Tsonis v. Mizuguchi, 2020 BCSC 643
  • Ghuman v. ICBC, 2019 BCSC 1380
  • Ghuman v. ICBC, 2019 BCSC 3
  • Can-Faith Enterprises Inc. v. 0932784 B.C. Ltd., 2019 BCSC 1322
  • Pearson v. Whiteside, 2018 BCSC 1246
  • Insurance Corporation of British Columbia v. Mehat, 2017 BCSC 1476
  • Pearson v. Savage, 2017 BCSC 1435
  • CIT Financial Ltd. v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2017 BCSC 641
  • Schaffner v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2016 BCSC 1186
  • LeBel v. ICBC et al, 2016 BCPC 126
  • Schaffner v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2015 BCSC 314
  • Kett v. Insurance Corporation of BC, 2014 BCPC 173
  • Wallner v. Uppal, 2012 BCSC 1602
  • Maver v. Greenheat Energy Corporation, 2012 BCSC 1139
  • Kotscha v. Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, 2011 BCSC 836

Publications

Presentations

Dan has spoken on civil litigation topics to both business groups and the legal industry including:

  • Presenter, Canadian Defence Lawyers, Annual Paralegal Program, “The Clash: Using Summary Trial to Bring About Early Resolution”: 2016
  • Presenter, Better Business Bureau, Debt Collection: 2012 and 2013
  • Presenter, Small Business BC, Debt Collection: 2011

Articles | Jul 21, 2020

A Whole New World during and post COVID? Virtual Examination Discovery in B.C.

Articles | Jul 15, 2020

Virtual Series – Virtual Oral Advocacy in British Columbia

Articles | May 25, 2020

Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act: An Overview for Canadian Creditors

Articles | Aug 2, 2018

The Perils of Co-Ownership

Publications | Aug 8, 2017

The Sky’s the Limit—But Not for Limited Partners

Publications | Jul 4, 2017

Engage in Extreme Sports ar Your Own Risk