Divorce is always a serious matter, even more so when the spouses involved have significant assets. Relationship exit strategies can be challenging.
The MacLean Family Law Group helps individuals of medium to high net worth obtain a divorce in British Columbia. We bring tenacity and strategy to divorce. Our goal is to maximize your financial awards, win child custody, and address any tax concerns you may have.
Lorne MacLean is one of Western Canada’s most experienced family law lawyers concentrating in family law and BC divorce. Since 1983, he has worked exclusively in the field of family law, and has successfully represented clients in cases of spousal and child support, property division, custody and access and common law relationships.
Legal Team
Lorne MacLean has focused on building a strong team of associates including Shelagh Kinney, Shawna Specht , Justin Werb, and Mike Jukic as well as articling students Manny Witzman, Jaqua Page and Ari Wormeli. The MacLean Family Law Group has offices in downtown Vancouver and in Fort St. John in the North Peace region of British Columbia. Appointments are also available in Penticton, British Columbia and the firm plans to open an interview office there in 2009.
A firm is more than just lawyers, and quality legal support staff are often the most important contacts for our clients on a daily basis. For that reason Lorne MacLean has hired intelligent and empathetic support staff including paralegals, Rosanna Lin and Sarah Jones and legal assistants Julie Dadgar, Elana Mckenzie and Candice Pappenberger as well as Office administrator Tamara Dawson and administrative assistant Lori Olsen.
Supreme Court of Canada Representation
The winning counsel in Young v. Young, which he argued before the Supreme Court of Canada as the lead counsel for the plaintiff, Lorne MacLean was instrumental in establishing the modern rules for how Canadian courts decide custody, access and guardianship cases.
Mr. MacLean had the rare honour of making a second appearance before the Supreme Court of Canada on November 18, 2005 in Leskun v. Leskun the highly controversial spousal support case that set the law on spousal support and misconduct, on how capital relates to the payment of spousal support, on what a review order for spousal support is and on what the duty of a spouse to be self-sufficient should be.
Both of these cases are leading precedents across Canada governing the issues of custody guardiansip and access and spousal support, property division, family debts and costs rules.
Legal Publications
MacLean is an established expert who has both written and taught on BC divorce case law. A frequent guest on radio and television, Mr. MacLean has earned a reputation as a tough yet thoughtful advocate for his clients.
His publications and lectures have included:
- “Uncontested Divorce at Crisis in B.C.” Lawyers Weekly, 1987
- “Recent Case Developments Divorce Act 1985. Joint Custody and Access”, (CLE) 1987.
- “Protection of Children Under 11 (1) (b) of the Divorce Act of 1985″, (CLE) 1987.
- “Restraining Orders on Removal of Children from the Jurisdiction”, (CLE) 1987.
- 1987 Update on Injunctive Relief Under Section 53″, (CLE) 1987.
- 2003 Pacific Legal Technology Conference lecturer on cutting edge delivery of legal services to family law clients.
- Best of Show award from the LMA 2003 in San Francisco for “Most innovative in a Niche Market”.
- 2004 lecturer on complex attacks on BC Family Law Trusts for CLE of BC.
- 2004 article “Attacking or Securing a Family Trust Against Family Relations Act Claims” for CLE of BC.
- 2004 article “Trusts and the Family Relations Act Chart” for CLE of BC.
- 2004 article “Valuation of Contingent and Discretionary Trusts” for CLE of BC.
- 2004 People’s Law School lecturer on differences between common-law and married spouses.
- “Family Law: Trusts and Tax Issues PAPER-TITLE: Attacking or Securing a Family Trust Against FRA Claims,” by Lorne N. MacLean, Shawna Specht, and Alison Ouellet, November 4, 2004.
- 2005 lecturer on spousal maintenance and misconduct, on self- sufficiency and spousal support, on capital assets and BC spousal support and on review of BC spousal support orders.
- 2005 Article Spousal Misconduct and Spousal Support CLE of BC.
- “Family Law Conference – 2005 PAPER-TITLE: Factum on Leskun,” for the Continuing Legal Education Society, July 7, 2005.
- UBC Law School guest lecturer on spousal support.
- “Same Sex Marriage Seminar,” May 26, 2006.
- Family Law: Adv Financial Issues; Trusts and the Family Relations Act Chart,” by Lorne N. MacLean, Shelagh Kinney, Alison Ouellet, and Shawna Specht for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, September 29, 2006.
- Family Law: Adv Financial Issues; Trust Update Valuation,” for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, September 29, 2006.
- Family Law Basics II:The Impact of Leskun on Consideration of Capital and Reviews under the Divorce Act,” for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, October 19, 2006.
- Solo and Small Firm Conference: Mission, Vision, and Values: The Best Tools for Keeping Your Law Firm on Course,” complied by Lorne N. MacLean and Allison Wolfe, February 23, 2007.
- 5th Annual CBA National Law Firm Leadership ConferenceMousetrap 2.0? —– Guiding Principles for the modern, win-win law firm/ client relationship.
Panel Speaker and Presentation on fixed fee billing and social media and its role in marketing October 2009 Toronto
The Vancouver Province: Cheating Financially
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The Lawyers Weekly: Oh Mann! Modified support formula may lead to trouble
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MacLean Family Law Group Radio Ad
