* Practising through a Law Corporation
Additional Contact Info
- FAX 604 899 5216
- Vancouver
Douglas's Assistant
- Tania McCreight
- TEL604 899 5225
- tmccreight@eyfordpartners.com
Practice Areas
Education
- LLB, University of British Columbia (1990)
Bar Admissions
- British Columbia, 1991
Douglas Eyford, K.C. is a civil litigation lawyer and negotiator. He provides insightful and strategic advice to businesses, governments, and First Nations. Doug was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2015 (now King’s Counsel), a recognition of merit and significant contributions to the legal profession.
In civil litigation proceedings, he represents clients in negligence claims, defamation actions, contract disputes, fraud, product liability, railway law, and fire loss. He also acts for securities industry participants on matters relating to investment dealer litigation and regulatory enforcement. As a committed advocate for his clients, Doug works to resolve disputes efficiently. He is experienced in alternate forms of dispute resolution, representing clients at arbitration and mediation. Other law firms and lawyers know that Doug stands ready to proceed to trial, should this course of action be in the client’s best interest. He has a depth of experience serving as trial and appellate counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia, and in representing clients before regulatory and administrative tribunals. In the leading personal injury case, Rowe v. Bobell Express Ltd., 2003 BCSC 472, Doug served as trial and appellate counsel (appeal dismissed 2005 BCCA 141). He has served as counsel for transportation carriers —for example as counsel for the defendant in British Columbia v. Canadian National Railway, 2003 BCSC 928—and as counsel for investment dealers, publishers, and numerous other clients in a diverse range of industries.
Doug provides strategic business and legal advice to First Nations, governments, and industry regarding transportation infrastructure and resource development projects. From 2007 to 2014, he served as chief federal negotiator for the Government of Canada in the comprehensive land claims process in British Columbia. The Government of Canada has retained him to provide advice regarding Aboriginal participation in the development of oil and natural gas pipelines in Alberta and British Columbia. His 2013 report to the Prime Minister, Forging Partnerships, Building Relationships: Aboriginal Canadians and Energy Development, outlined strategies for earning trust and for fostering an inclusive energy economy. Doug continues to share his expertise in Aboriginal law—actively writing, speaking, and sharing insights on how the Crown, industry, and Indigenous groups can engage in a constructive dialogue and build a better path forward.
In 2015, Doug led the federal government’s engagement on the renewal of the comprehensive land claims policy. He canvassed the views of participants in the modern treaty process from across Canada which culminated in the publication of his report, A New Direction: Advancing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
In the field of insurance law, Doug advises on coverage and residency issues and acts for Canadian and U.S. insurers in proceedings involving life, disability, motor vehicle, sports, and recreation claims. In one representative case, Sander v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2001 BCSC 1445 (appeal dismissed 2003 BCCA 55), he served as trial and appellate counsel; this leading disability insurance case established an insured’s duty to obtain reasonable medical treatment as a condition for continued disability payments.
Doug is committed to giving back to the community. He regularly presents papers and speaks about public policy and legal issues at seminars and conferences. As a member of the Association of Defence Trial Attorneys and the National Association of Railway Trial Counsel, he remains committed to the practice of law. Eyford Partners, the litigation boutique that Doug co-founded, exemplifies his approach to advocacy, leadership, and professional excellence.

Notable Cases
Recognition
Insights
Events & Seminars
Associations
Woodward & Company Lawyers LLP v. The Tsilhqot’in National Government, 2021 BCSC 16. Doug was counsel on this application which resulted in the dismissal of an action as an abuse of process with our client being an awarded special costs.
British Columbia v. Canadian National Railway, 2003 BCSC 928. Doug was counsel for the defendant railway company in a decision restricting the scope of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia for the recovery of the cost of fire control operations.
British Columbia Securities Commission Re: Roger F. Bapty et al., 2006 BCSC 638. Doug was counsel for an investment dealer in the dismissal of a proceeding brought by the British Columbia Securities Commission to recover losses alleged by an investor.
Gill v. Canadian Venture Exchange, 2003 BCCA 431. Doug was counsel for the respondent in a proceeding relating to the contractual authority of a stock exchange over a former registrant.
Prodor v. Canwest Publishers Ltd., 1996 CanLII 1880 (B.C.S.C.). Doug was trial counsel for the plaintiff in a defamation action against defendant journalists.
Rowe v. Bobell Express Ltd., 2003 BCSC 472, appeal dismissed 2005 BCCA 141. Doug was trial and appellate counsel in leading personal injury case establishing principles for the assessment of loss of income earning capacity.
Sander v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2001 BCSC 1445, appeal dismissed 2003 BCCA 55. Doug was trial and appellate counsel in leading disability insurance case establishing an insured’s duty to obtain reasonable medical treatment as a condition for continued disability payments.
Sibley v. British Columbia Custom Car Association et al, 2005 BCSC 509. Doug was counsel for the defendant in the dismissal of an action based on the enforceability of a release and waiver of liability.
Stalzer v. Nagai, 2014 BCSC 1388. Doug was trial counsel for the defendant in an action resulting in the dismissal of a cyclist’s claim against the defendant driver.
Viitre v. St. Peter’s Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2010 BCSC 296. Doug was counsel for the respondent in a proceeding relating to the governance of a society.
Wark v. Kang, 2018 BCSC 1733. Doug was counsel in this action which was heard with a jury. This oral ruling deals with challenges to the admissibility of expert reports.
View all of Douglas's Cases- Queen’s Counsel, 2015 (Now King’s Counsel following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)
- Recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading practitioner in Aboriginal Law
- Recognized in Benchmark Litigation Canada 2021 as a Litigation Star in Aboriginal Law, Commercial Litigation, Energy, and Transport
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart Files ‘anti-SLAPP’ Application
- B.C.’s Anti-SLAPP Legislation Put to the Test
- National Post: Chris Selley: There isn’t any reason to declare reconciliation dead. Maybe the opposite.
- Injuction Granted Against Seller of Company Who Breached Non-compete with Buyer
- Employment Law Update: Court Refuses to Enforce Non-Compete Agreement
- Aboriginal Law 101
- Overview of Evolution of Treaty Making Process
- Métis Land: Rights & Scrip Conference
- A Litigators Arsenal
- House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs Study
- Modern Treaty Making
- Economic Development in Every Sector
- Northern Gateway Depends on Better Aboriginal Consultation
- Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in 2016, Challenges & Opportunities
- BC Update: Aboriginal Communities and Energy Infrastructure
- The New Comprehensive Land Claims Policy
- Tsilhqot’in and the Future of the Treaty Process
- The History of Development of Modern-Day Treaties
- Crown – Aboriginal Relations: Getting It Right
- Getting it Right: Advancing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights
- A New Direction: Advancing Aboriginal & Treaty Rights
- Getting It Right: Reconciling Aboriginal & Treaty Rights
- Getting It Right: Reconciling Aboriginal & Treaty Rights
- First Nations and Resource Development
- Significance, Implications, and Practical Impact of Tsilhquot’in Nation v. British Columbia
- First Nations and Westcoast Energy Infrastructure
- Major Business Agreements with First Nations
- Commodities & Corridors: Integrating Aboriginal Interest
- Forging Partnerships Building Relationships: Aboriginal Canadians and Energy Development
- Forging Partnerships Building Relationships: Aboriginal Canadians and Energy Development
- The Road to Reconciliation: Lessons Learned in the Port of Prince Rupert
- Member of Law Society of British Columbia
- Member of Canadian Bar Association
- Member of Association of Defence Trial Attorneys
- Member of National Association of Railway Trial Counsel