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OUR LEGAL ATTORNEY'S

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Andy L. Harris
VANCOUVER| BC

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Brooke Fernandes
VANCOUVER| BC

Biography

Associate

Brooke Fernandes practice focuses on the areas of wills, trusts and estates, with demonstrated niche interests in advanced planning for health/personal care and digital assets. A trusted advisor to individuals, families and private business owners, Brooke provides creative, practical and cost-effective planning structures to meet his clients’ needs and objectives that minimize risks and taxes. He takes the time to understand his clients wishes and circumstances, including family dynamics and relationships, while recognizing that many of them work with multiple advisors.

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Brooke also represents executors and administrators in all stages of estate administration and applications for estate grants.

Brooke lives in Surrey. To build community amongst like-minded individuals, he, with some friends, launched “Future Leaders Network” (“FLN”). FLN aims to create a space for future leaders to connect and collaborate.

At the end of the workday, you will most likely find Brooke a few blocks away from the office, training at South Surrey’s premiere CrossFit box.

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Speaking Engagements:

  • Presenter, An Estate Planner’s Primer to Digital Assets, Canadian Bar Association, May 28, 2020

  • Presenter, Leaving Legacy: End of Life Conversations, November 30, 2019

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Articles and Publications:

  • “Digital Assets – You’ve Likely Got ‘Em Now!”, B&BBLT Law Article, June 2020

  • “Wait… That Wasn’t Meant For You!”, B&BBLT Law Article, November 2019 

  • “MAID I Do That – Medical Assistance in Dying”, B&BBLT Law Article, June 2019 

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Bar Admission

British Columbia, 2018

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Education

  • TEP, 2020 Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Canada

  • B.C.L./LL.B., 2016 McGill University

  • B.A., International Studies (Honours), 2013 Trinity Western University

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Memberships & Associations

  • Canadian Bar Association

  • Canadian Bar Association, Wills, Estates and Trust Section, Executive Member, 2019 – Present

  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioner (STEP), 2020 – Present

  • STEP Digital Assets Global Special Interest Group

  • The Fraser Valley Estate Planning Council

  • Fraser Health’s Regional Partnership Network

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Brian Mickelson
VANCOUVER| BC

Adaptability is a central challenge to business. The ability to effectively capitalize on changes within the market and the industry is what sets companies up for success.

Understanding this need, Brian’s practice of 35+ years has comprised flexibility, efficiency and a commitment to the success of our clients. The wealth of experience that he is able to draw upon lends itself to helping our clients proactively address legal and corporate challenges for the growth of their business.

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Work Highlights

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TELUS Garden

  • Acted for TELUS in 2018 sale of iconic TELUS Garden office and retail complex in downtown Vancouver

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Vancouver Airport Authority

  • Advising in connection with the Canada Line Rapid Transit public private partnership

  • Structuring the establishment of the McArthur Glen Outlet Centre

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Surrey CC Properties Inc.

  • Leasing of a major office and retail development

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Because clients require solutions on which they can make decisions and take action, Brian provides advice on what is timely and practical in a business sense.

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Services​​

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Leases

Asset sales

Share sales

Public-Private partnerships

Corporate business structures

Mergers and acquisitions

Financings

Joint ventures

Security transactions

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Brian is analytical by nature. He critically evaluates agreements and contracts, identifies issues and acts on opportunities to execute successful transactions.

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Brian has worked for clients on the front lines of novel initiatives that support the development of Vancouver and the province. This includes:

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  • Converting BC Ferry Corporation from a Provincial Crown Corporation to a private company owned by a statutory authority

  • Advising the Vancouver International Airport Authority in connection with the Canada Line Rapid Transit public private partnership

  • Establishment of a public private partnership to operate a radio pharmacy

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Brian recognizes that once legal issues are overcome and companies are able to be proactive, their business will grow. Brian takes on an advisory role in helping our clients reach that state, achieving their goals with practical and dynamic legal solutions so that they can operate profitably and grow successfully.

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Awards & Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Real Estate Law, 2020 - 2024

  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Corporate Law and Commercial Leasing Law, 2012 - 2022

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®, Repeatedly recommended, 2019 - 2020, 2023

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Biography

Principal

Andy Harris is the principal of Bakers & BBLT Association Law and has been practicing for over 35 years. His work spans a broad range of areas, including wealth preservation and estate planning, inheritance claim, trusts, business succession, corporate reorganizations, estate freezes, real estate and business law.

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With a personal focus and individualized approach, Andy L. Harris works with his clients and their accountants and financial planners to develop and establish comprehensive and personalized estate plans that meet clients’ unique circumstances and needs, ensuring that their estate planning objectives are realized. Andy also represents executors and administrators in all stages of estate administration and applications for estate grants.

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Andy's practice also focuses on corporate and business law, advising his clients in respect to the appropriate business structures and incorporations, and assisting them on the successful purchase and sale of businesses. He oversees the firm’s residential and commercial real estate practices.

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Complementing Andy’s solicitor practice is his designation as a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA). As a Family Enterprise Advisor, Andy integrates his own discipline (the practice of law) with those of other professionals such as accountants, bankers, insurance advisors, wealth advisors and financial planners, in order to provide collaborative and complementary advice to business family clients. With a broader perspective and skills related to the business and legal issues that families traditionally face, Andy can assist in business succession and transition planning, corporate and family governance, wills, inheritance claim, estate and trust planning.

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Andy is also a registered trust and estate practitioner (TEP) with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has years of experience in estate planning, estate administration, and the preparation of wills and trusts. 

Andy is a frequent instructor for the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Society of BC, and was included in CLE’s list “CLE BC’s Most Prolific Volunteers: 1996 to 2016” for his 30+ contributions (which include presenting or chairing a course, and authoring or updating a publication or course paper). He has authored a number of papers in the area of estate planning.

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Andy is an active member in the Canadian Bar Association and was an elected member of the Provincial Council (Westminster County) for the years 2013 to 2016. In 2014, Andy was a recipient of the CBA Community Service Award “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the life and well-being on his community”.

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Although not a Rotarian himself, in 2010 Andy received a “Paul Harris Fellowship” from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. In 2005, the South Surrey/White Rock Chamber of Commerce awarded Andy the Independent Business Person of the Year.

Andy obtained both his Bachelor of Commerce and his law degrees from The University of British Columbia. His articled with a large national Vancouver law firm and began practicing in 1986.

Andy was born in Florida, U.S.A and he is married with two adult children and has lived in Vancouver since 2000. He is actively involved in community affairs and in his spare time enjoys skiing and traveling, particularly to explore the food scenes in major cities throughout the world.

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Speaking & Instructing Engagements:

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  • Presenter, Wealth Preservation and Succession for the Family Enterprise 2021, Continuing Legal Education Society, May 6, 2021

  • Instructor, Death is Not the End, Estate Administration Workshop, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, January 2003, January 2006, January 2009, February 2012, February 2015 and March 2018

  • Instructor, Rest in Peace, Let Thy Clients will be Done/Wills Drafting, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, January 2004, May 2007 and February 2010

  • Instructor, Wills Drafting Workshop, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, May 2013 and April 2019

  • Workshop Leader-Instructor, Wills Drafting Workshop in the Context of Estate Planning, BC Continuing Legal Education Society, April 2023

  • Presenter, Wills and Estate Planning Basics, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, October 2006 and May 2012

  • Presenter, Conveyancing for Legal Support Staff, Advanced Issues, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, October 2006 and 2011

  • Presenter, Surrey Bar 2007, Wills Estates and Trusts Developments, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, February 2007

  • Presenter, Estates: Out of the Ordinary Problems, Continuing Legal Education Society, June 27, 2008

  • Speaker, Solo and Small Firm Conference, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, March 2011

  • Presenter, Advanced Conveyancing form Paralegals, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, June 7, 2013

  • Presenter, Estate Planning for Blended Families, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, May 22, 2015

  • Course Chair and Presenter, Wills & Estate Practice for Paralegals and Legal Support Staff, Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C., June 26, 2015

  • Presenter, It’s a New Dawn, It’s a New Day: Life Interest Trusts, Webinar, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch, February 24, 2016

  • Course Materials Contributor, Wills Drafting Workshop in the Context of Estate Planning, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, June 2016

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Published Works:

  • The Family Business—Governance and Strategic Advising for the Family Enterprise, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, May 2021

  • Acting for Blended Families: Conflicts, the Code of Professional Conduct and Client Retainers, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, May 2015

  • Professional Conflicts – Advising Personal Representative on Their Duties and Interests as Beneficiaries, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, June 2008

  • Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning, A Core Practice Area for The General Solicitor, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, February 2007

  • A Primer – Tax Fundamentals for Wills and Estate Planners, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, October 2006

  • Acting for Private Lenders – Consideration for Conveyances Preparing Their Mortgages and Representing Their Interests, B.C. Continuing Legal Education Society, October 2006

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Honors and Awards:

  • Community Service Award, The Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch, 2014

  • Paul Harris Fellowship, The Rotary Foundation, 2010

  • “Business Person of the Year”, South Surrey/White Rock Chamber of Commerce, 2005

  • Ranked by Best Lawyers in Canada, Trusts and Estates, 2016 – 2021

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Bar Admission

British Columbia, 1986

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Education

  • Family Enterprise Advisor, FEA, 2015 Institute of Family Enterprise Advisors/Sauder School of Business

  • TEP, 2002 Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Canada

  • LL.B., 1985 The University of British Columbia

  • B.Com., 1984 The University of British Columbia

Memberships & Associations

  • Canadian Bar Association

  • Institute of Family Enterprise Advisors

  • Estate Planning Council of Vancouver

  • The Fraser Valley Estate Planning Council

  • Surrey Bar Association

  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)

  • The Canadian Tax Foundation

  • South Surrey/White Rock Chamber of Commerce

  • Canadian Bar Association, Provincial Council Member, 2013 – 2016

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  • Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation Board of Directors – 2002-2013 ( Chair, 2004 – 2006) and 2014 to 2023

  • Surrey Foundation, Past Director

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