Bryan Williams (Canadian lawyer)

Williams was called to the British Columbia bar in 1959.[3] He practised law with the Vancouver firm of Swinton and Company for close to forty years, being made partner in 1961. A litigator in commercial matters, administrative and environmental law, he eventually led the firm's litigation department.[3][4] He developed a very busy practice in the courts, often juggling different complicated court matters simultaneously.[1] He appeared in major cases involving aboriginal land claims, physician billing practices, and lawyer advertising rules.[4] He also appeared in two cases in the Supreme Court of Canada. One of them, Attorney General of Canada v Law Society of British Columbia, is a leading case on the constitutional jurisdiction of provincial superior courts, as well as the interplay between federal competition law, and provincial regulation of the legal profession.[5]

One of his major cases was acting as counsel for the government of British Columbia in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia at the British Columbia Court of Appeal.[6] The case was one of the most important cases relating to aboriginal title in Canada. He was asked directly by the Premier of British Columbia to argue the province's position. Williams later said it was the most interesting case of his career.[7] The case went on appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but Williams was not able to act for the provincial government in the Supreme Court because by then he had been appointed to the bench.

Williams was heavily involved in a number of organizations relating to the legal profession and the justice system. At various times he was a member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal; a commissioner on the British Columbia Law Reform Commission; chair of the British Columbia Legal Aid Society; and Governor of the British Columbia Law Foundation. He also served as permanent chair of a number of arbitration committees under various collective bargaining agreements.[1]

Upon the expiry of his term on the Law Reform Commission, the Commission paid tribute to him in their annual report: "Mr Williams brought to our deliberations a wealth of experience as senior counsel. His intuitive grasp of complex issues combined with a keen appreciation of the practical consequences of law reform measures made him a tower of strength in our deliberations."[8]

Williams was heavily involved in the Canadian Bar Association throughout his legal career. He was the president of the British Columbia Branch of the CBA in 1977-78, and the national president of the CBA in 1986-87.[9] In 1983-84, he was the chair of the CBA National Law Reform and Legislation Committee and in 1984-85, he was the founding chair of the CBA Law for the Future Fund.[4]

One of his friends, Richard Vogel, a former Deputy Attorney General for British Columbia, commented that Williams "... has lectured, published and generally made waves on numberless platforms and podiums."[1]

Williams was a long-time supporter of the federal Liberal Party and a personal friend of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.[10][11] At the provincial level, he was involved in the British Columbia Social Credit Party.[1]

Williams has a strong interest in the environment and the wilderness. He was a member and director of the World Wildlife Fund Canada. In 1985, the provincial government appointed him the chair of the Wilderness Advisory Committee established by the provincial government.[12] The Committee recommended the creation of several new wilderness parks and also changes to the boundaries of some existing parks, such as South Moresby Island. In 1995, he was appointed Canada's special advisor in relation to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, established as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement.[4] In the spring of 1995, the provincial government again relied on his services, appointing him a Special Commissioner to review the issue of the public usage of the Cypress Park, which had become controversial over the conflicting interests of conservation and economic development. He made his report to the provincial Cabinet in August, 1995.[4][13]

Williams was on the board of Air BC, a regional subsidiary of Air Canada. He was also the chair of the YVR (Vancouver airport) Art Foundation, and a director of the Laurier Institution.[4]