Bob Hodgins consistently provides effective, prompt and practical legal advice. He is highly skilled both in advancing and defending complex litigated claims for his insurance clients.

Senior Legal Counsel
Insurance Industry

Bob has always been a clear and steady voice of reason for our firm. He has guided us through any situation with an approach which is fair but firm, providing us with unparalleled support, professionalism and humor.

His advice is invaluable, and we have grown to depend on him.

Principal
Architecture Firm

Rankings

Robert Hodgins is top-ranked by Leading Global Rankings Agencies and Directories.

Professional Background

Robert Hodgins is a Partner in the Vancouver Office and Chair of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) Practice Group at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP.  He is also a member of the Construction and Infrastructure, Insurance and Commercial Litigation Groups. He has practiced litigation at the firm for over twenty five years.

Robert’s practice focuses on motor vehicle claims, personal injury, construction, professional liability, insurance defence, and commercial litigation.  He has represented a range of insurers including the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, as well as a diverse range of clients in professional liability matters, including architects, engineers, accountants, and directors and officers.

In the insurance field, Robert has acted in coverage disputes against insurers, personal injury and property damage claims, and in product liability claims.

In the construction area, Robert assists clients with a variety of claims including:

  • builders liens
  • contract problems
  • complex construction disputes

In his personal injury practice, he has acted for both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of claims, including catastrophic claims, Family Compensation Act claims and Under Insured Motorist Protection (UMP) claims.  He has also defended fraud and bad faith claims on behalf of insurers.

Robert has appeared as counsel in both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of British Columbia, and has represented clients at mediations, arbitrations and other forms of dispute resolution. He has acted as trial counsel in multiple Supreme Court trials over his career.

Education

  • Called to the British Columbia Bar, 1994
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of British Columbia, 1993
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History, University of Western Ontario, 1989

Rankings + Recognitions

  • Ranked in the areas of Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Personal Injury Litigation by Best Lawyers Canada®
  • Recognized in Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star”

Memberships

  • Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law – Construction Law
  • Past Editorial Board Member, Professional Liability and Discipline Litigation Journal
  • Member, Canadian Defence Lawyers
  • Member, Urban Development Institute

Community + Volunteering

  • Member, Seymour Golf and Country Club
  • Umpire, District 5 Little League and North Shore Baseball
  • Former President and long-time Board Member, Lynn Valley Little League
  • Former youth coach in baseball, basketball and hockey
  • Managed, conducted and resolved complex litigation disputes in construction, insurance and commercial areas.
  • Obtained reduction of security required to be paid into court as sufficient security for builders lien claims filed against property by contractors and subcontractors (M3 Steel (Kamloops) Ltd. v. RG Victoria (Construction) Ltd., BCSC) and (Buckle v. Timberview Developments Ltd., BCSC).
  • Obtained dismissal of negligence claim against professional land surveyor (Petersen v. Power, BCSC).
  • Obtained dismissal of alleged theft claim of vehicle on the basis of willful false statements (Chahal v. ICBC, BCSC).
  • Obtained dismissal of claim of indemnity for property damage by the owners of a commercial semi-truck and trailer that allowed a friend to drive without a valid driver’s licence (Brar v. ICBC, BCSC).
  • Obtained dismissal of negligence claim against insurance broker by owner of a logging truck that was improperly insured in the wrong rate class (BCSC).
  • Obtained dismissal for want of prosecution on behalf of an insurance broker in a fire property damage claim (Momi v. Wawanesa et al., BCSC).
  • Successfully defended at trial numerous liability and quantum cases on behalf of ICBC in the personal injury field.
  • Successfully defended claims for a declaration of insurance coverage on the basis of willful false statements.

Publications

  • Author of many published articles on professional liability, fraud litigation and other legal issues.
  • Continuing Legal Education speaker.

Presentations

  • Speaker at various construction and insurance industry seminars.