Timothy E. Watkins
The law isn’t justice. It’s a very imperfect mechanism. If you press exactly the right buttons and are also lucky, justice may show up in the answer. A mechanism is all the law was ever intended to be.
- Raymond Chandler
Tim has been practicing law in Maple Ridge for over thirty years, and has practiced in a wide variety of areas including commercial and corporate disputes, construction litigation, family law and divorce, and even criminal law. However, in the last decade he has come to focus on estate and family litigation, helping people deal with the tricky financial issues that can arise when a family member dies or a spousal or parental relationship breaks down. Tim has acted in numerous family disputes over the ownership of shared residences and other assets. However, he has also helped clients avoid such disputes by preparing timely co-ownership agreements, trust agreements, and cohabitation agreements. Of course, Tim still maintains a busy practice resolving commercial disputes for our business clients as well. He has a practical approach to dispute resolution, and is as comfortable with mediation and negotiation as he is in front of a judge. Tim’s clients often appreciate his common-sense approach to expediting court cases and getting the mechanism of the law to yield just and practical results.
Accomplishments & Personal Life
Tim attended the University of Victoria where he received a B.A. (Honours) in history in 1982, before moving on to complete his LL.B. in 1985. He articled with the downtown firm of Shrum, Liddle & Hebenton and was called to the B.C. bar in 1986. He subsequently joined the Maple Ridge firm of Norquist, Shantz & Davies, which evolved into Norquist Watkins before finally merging to form McEachern Harris & Watkins in 2012. He is a long-time resident of this community, where he and his wife Sue raised their two children. Outside of work, Tim remains a passionate amateur historian, as well as an avid runner and cyclist.
Work Highlights
- Offers pro-active advice on agreements between spouses and family members, defining their rights and obligations to avoid conflict.
- Assists businesses to avoid or resolve conflicts, including in respect of employment law, contractual issues, and liability concerns.
- Assists clients with dispute resolution when problems arise, including through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
- When all else fails, provides representation and advocacy in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and in the appellate court.
- Offers cost-effective solutions and practical advice based on a solid knowledge of the law and 30 years’ hard-won experience.
Timothy E. Watkins
B.A. (Hons.), LL.B., called to the British Columbia Bar in 1986.
Preferred Areas Of Practice:
- Family Law
- Wills & Estate Litigation
- Construction Liens and Commercial Litigation
- Employment Law