Our lawyers combine legal experience in local government, commercial real estate development, and construction law to provide focused legal services to municipalities, owners, builders and developers on a range of projects, from concept to completion, and beyond.
Meet the Civic Legal Team
Sonia Sahota
Partner
Sonia Sahota is a founding partner of the firm. She practises in the areas of procurement, construction and land development, with a particular focus on tendering law, procurement fairness and construction contracting. Sonia practised as a professional engineer for 10 years and worked on civil and geotechnical design and construction projects in northern British Columbia, the United States, northern Africa and South America. She provides legal advice with practical insight by drawing upon her unique professional understanding of construction and engineering projects. She routinely provides advice on structuring and administering public tenders and competitive RFPs, managing contractor performance and lien issues and securing land tenure. Sonia has advised on, drafted and negotiated complex contracts for construction, professional services and operational services, in respect of public projects including a multi-use recreational complex, district energy facility, new school sites, stormwater management, waste handling and environmental remediation. Sonia presents regularly on legal topics of interest to members of the local government and engineering communities, such as the Municipal Engineers Division of Engineers and Geoscientists of BC and the Public Works Association (BC).
Pam Jefcoat is a founding partner of the firm and is currently the Managing Partner. With over 24 years of combined experience in local government and commercial real estate law, Pam is a seasoned advisor to owners and developers alike on a wide variety of local government and real estate development matters, with a focus on land use planning, subdivision, and rezoning and redevelopment of residential, mixed-use and industrial properties. Having honed her skills on numerous projects for both municipalities and developers, Pam brings extensive experience into advising clients on rezoning and permit approval processes, public hearings, phased developments, development agreements, density bonusing, density transfers, the imposition of development cost charges, amenity cost charges, community amenity contributions, housing agreements, alternative transportation requirements and subdivision servicing requirements. Pam holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and offers unique insight into matters of public policy and its impacts on urban development. Pam frequently speaks throughout the province on matters of interest to both local governments and developers, including recent topics such as Development Cost Changes, Amenity Cost Charges, Phased Developments: Managing Growth and Securing Amenities, The Subdivision Application Process, Statutory Considerations and the Broad Powers of the Approving Officer and the Regulation of Lot Sizes, Subdivision Standards and Discretionary Imposition of On-Site and Off-Site Works and Services. Pam is also on the CLEBC’s Editorial Board for the British Columbia Real Estate Development Practice Manual.
Michael is a partner with Civic Legal LLP and has over 17 years of experience advising and representing local governments. He maintains a mixed solicitor and litigation practice with a particular focus on local government land use, development, finance, and bylaw regulation and enforcement. Michael regularly assists local governments on a wide variety of matters, including property taxes, tax sales remedial action requirements, elections, highways, construction disputes and expropriation. Michael is a frequent speaker at local government conferences and workshops, including those hosted by the Planning Institute of British Columbia, Government Finance Officers Association (BC), the Local Government Compliance and Enforcement Association and the Municipal Insurance Association of BC. In 2014, Michael obtained a Master of Laws degree, writing a thesis on the municipal regulation of business. Prior to pursuing a career in law, Michael studied economics and worked in procurement for a telecommunications company in Germany.
2004 – M.A. (Economics), University of British Columbia
2001 – B.A. (Economics (Hons) & International Relations), University of British Columbia
Marcela Ouatu
Associate
Marcela is an associate lawyer with Civic Legal LLP. Her practice focuses primarily on tendering, procurement, construction matters and local government law. Marcela assists clients with drafting and reviewing construction contracts and procurement documents, contract administration, and general municipal matters. She regularly writes on legal topics of interest to local governments and the construction industry. Prior to joining Civic Legal LLP, Marcela completed a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. During her time in law school, she completed the Business Law Concentration and was a student clinician at the Business Law Clinic, where she was providing legal advice to small businesses. Marcela also worked in the legal department of an international franchise company and at a Vancouver boutique law firm, specializing in real estate, corporate law, and estate planning. Marcela articled at a civil litigation law firm, where she gained extensive legal experience in advocacy by frequently representing clients in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
2019 – JD, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
2015 – LL.M., Peter A. Allard School of Law, The University of British Columbia
2010 – LL.B., Moldova State University
Kai Hsieh
Associate
Kai is an associate lawyer of the firm and maintains a general municipal law practice with a focus on real estate development. In particular, he regularly drafts section 219 covenants, statutory rights of ways and other legal agreements for real estate projects, and he has provided assistance during various stages of the development process, from rezoning and development permit issuance to air space parcel subdivision and occupancy permit issuance. He has also assisted with other local government matters, ranging from procurement to regulatory issues.
Kai obtained his Juris Doctor from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at The University of British Columbia, articled with a provincial organization, and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in May 2022. He was heavily involved in law school through activities such as:
– presenting legal topics to high school students through Legal Education Outreach;
– working as the Centre for Business Law’s Operations Officer;
– participating in the Corporate Counsel Externship;
– competing in the 2021 Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot where he and his moot partner were awarded “Best Factum – Appellant”;
– volunteering as a clinician with the Law Students’ Legal Advice Program; and
– volunteering with A2JBC through Pro Bono Students Canada where Kai had the opportunity to discuss access to justice issues with advocates throughout the province and was co-recipient of the 2021 Honourable Donna J. Martinson Access to Justice Award.
Prior to law school, Kai obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering with Distinction from The University of British Columbia. Upon graduating, he was employed as a Process Improvement Specialist at an architectural glass fabrication company for several years, where he designed and implemented a new laminated glass line as well as numerous mechanical and organizational process improvements.
Outside of the office, Kai has participated in the CBABC Law Student Mentorship Program as a mentor.
2021 – JD, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
2015 – BASc (Mechanical Engineering), University of British Columbia
Kyle Laplante
Associate
Kyle is an associate lawyer of the firm and maintains a general municipal law practice with a focus on real estate development. Prior to joining Civic Legal LLP, Kyle worked at a regional law firm specializing in real estate development where he represented a number of developers. In his practice, Kyle assists clients throughout all stages of the development process from rezoning and development permit issuance to air space parcel subdivision and occupancy permit issuance. He regularly drafts section 219 covenants, statutory rights of ways and other legal agreements for development projects.
Kyle obtained his Bachelor of Political Science and Communication Studies with a Minor in Legal Studies and a specialization in Media and Cultural Theory with Distinction from Wilfrid Laurier University. He later completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Ottawa and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2023. During his time in law school, Kyle volunteered with the Indigenous Law Students Government and OUTLaw to advance the rights of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ Peoples. While in law school, Kyle worked with the Federal Government at Fisheries and Oceans Canada where he worked on international oceans policy with a particular focus on the Arctic Ocean. Upon graduation, Kyle articled with a national corporate law firm in downtown Vancouver.
2019 – B.A. (Political Science and Communication Studies), Wilfrid Laurier University
Aidan Andrews
Associate
Aidan is an associate lawyer with the firm and maintains a general municipal law practice, with particular interest in land use planning, judicial review, and freedom of information and privacy matters. Aidan has provided advice to local governments about zoning compliance, use of park land, and the scope of easements. As well, he has drafted leases and section 219 covenants, advised on conflict of interest and code of conduct issues, and assisted with submissions to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia. Aidan has assisted with the preparation of pleadings in bylaw enforcement matters and written submissions to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia.
Aidan obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 2024, after articling with a municipal law boutique in Vancouver. During law school, Aidan spent time working for a full-service law firm, a disability non-profit, and two administrative tribunals. Aidan previously obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Regina.
We provide a broad range of solicitors and litigation legal services to municipalities, owners, builders and developers.
Our Areas of Expertise
Rezoning, Land Development and Subdivision
We have extensive experience in all aspects of land use planning, land development and rezoning including:
Structuring and drafting simple and complex development agreements:
servicing and performance security for on-site and off-site works
easements and SRWs
phased developments
affordable housing and related construction covenants
latecomers
Structuring and drafting Section 219 Covenants:
flooding, fire hazard, geo-hazard and other environmental conditions
district energy
energy efficient design
water conservation
public art
car share programs, electric vehicle charging stations, end-of-trip facilities and other transportation alternatives
other restrictions on the use, development and subdivision of land
Advising on:
public hearings
zoning
subdivision
permit approvals
land use contracts and termination
liabilities associated with flood risks, geotechnical risks and extreme hazard conditions
geothermal and alternative energy source development
Tendering, Construction & Infrastructure Development
With a professional engineer on our team, we can speak the same language. Our advice will not only consider the legal aspects of the issue but also focus on practical, workable solutions. From concept to completion, or any stage in between, let our knowledgeable team shoulder the load of your next project with our expertise in:
Advising on procurement and project development:
methods for procuring goods and services
procurement fairness protocols for administration, evaluation, selection and post-award issues
bidder non-compliance analysis
safely cancelling procurement processes
bid and project bonds
project delivery options (design-bid-build, design-build, construction management, others)
options for use of standard form contracts (eg. MMCD, CCDC, other)
negotiating works contracts
resolving legal issues relating to design and construction disputes
Advising on construction:
builder’s lien issues and statutory obligations for owners
building bylaw and building code issues
contract interpretation
delay claims
Drafting and structuring:
procurement documents (RFPs, tenders, addenda and other)
procurement policies and procedures
construction contracts
public private partnership agreements
consulting services contracts
supplementary conditions of contract
Real Estate
Real estate is a mainstay of our practice. Let our extensive experience help you maneuver through your next transaction, big or small:
Securing land tenure rights:
statutory rights of way
easements
leases
licenses
encroachments
expropriations
Structuring and drafting:
contracts of purchase and sale
land exchange agreements
options to purchase
rights of first refusal
joint venture agreements
co-ownership agreements
assignment and assumption agreements
Coordinating all aspects of the conveyance of lands:
public notices
due diligence investigations
environmental compliance
contaminated sites
Land Title Office filings
Managing all aspects of road closures and park land disposal:
public notices
approval processes
bylaws
purchase and sale and exchange agreements
Land Title Office filings
Structuring, drafting and providing strategic advice on a wide variety of lease arrangements:
offers to lease, options to lease, ground leases, building leases and subleases for industrial, commercial and residential properties
leasehold subdivisions
environmental risk allocation
advising on landlord/tenant rights
Local Government Agreements
We assist our clients with negotiating and drafting a myriad of different agreements from the very simple to the highly complex, including:
Real Estate Agreements:
offers to purchase
purchase and sale
asset purchase
land exchange
options to purchase and rights of first refusal
joint venture
co-ownership
leases
licences
statutory rights of way, easements and section 219 covenants
exclusivity
beneficiary charge and authorization
assignment and assumption
Land Development:
statutory rights of way, easements and section 219 covenants
master developments
servicing
municipal access
highway encroachment
phased development
amenities
affordable housing
Construction Agreements:
design-build
works and services
infrastructure, including concession agreements and other public-private partnership agreements
Servicing Agreements:
partnering
First Nations services
mutual aid
waste, organics and recyclables management
telecommunications
Business and Finance Agreements:
operations and management
municipal corporations
community forests
revenue sharing
security, including loans, guarantees, mortgages, promissory notes and other forms of security arrangements
personal property security
confidentiality and non-disclosure
exclusivity
indemnification, release and waivers
revitalization tax exemptions
utility franchises
asset purchases
equipment leases
community energy utilities
sponsorship
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
We provide day-to-day practical advice and support to local governments in their decision making under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including:
Advising on:
access to information requests
statutory disclosure obligations
privacy compliance obligations
Assisting with:
mediations
inquiries before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
the preparation of submissions and supporting affidavits for written inquiries
General Municipal Advice
With over 40 years of combined legal experience in local government, real estate, construction and corporate law, our team of lawyers is well positioned to advise local governments on:
constitutional law, jurisdiction and related regulatory issues
liability issues, loss prevention and risk management
permissive tax exemptions
revitalization tax exemptions
DCCs
establishment and use of reserve funds
bylaw drafting and interpretation
conflict of interest, procedural rules and related matters
remedial action authority
tax sales
elections
corporate governance issues
statutory interpretation
Environmental
We have worked through many land development and commercial transactions involving environmental issues. Let us assist you by drawing from our experience in:
Advising on:
local government regulatory authority under the EMA and CSR
regulatory tools for groundwater protection
riparian rights regulation
administration of the site profile regime
remediation of contaminated sites
cost recovery options
environmental risk allocation in local government contracts
strategies to minimize liability for purchasing/receiving contaminated sites
due diligence and regulatory compliance
Structuring and Drafting:
environmental indemnity and release agreements
carbon offset agreements
waste, organics and recyclable collection and disposal (MMBC, in-house or private)
community energy agreements
Working Smart
We strive to increase efficiency and create predictability in fees by working directly with you at the beginning of each engagement to define expectations, plan the scope of work and monitor and manage the work to ensure your legal matters remain on track, on time and on budget.
We may from time to time engage reputable independent research lawyers and paralegals, with your consent, for certain aspects of a project, where this would be sensible, cost-effective and efficient.
Client Service Policy
We are committed to providing exceptional service to our clients. Our goal is to raise your expectations and then exceed them. We will be accessible, responsive and will put the needs of our clients first. How will we do this?
We will return phone calls and emails as soon as possible and within one business day at the latest.
We will let you know when we will be out of reach and will provide the contact information of the person who can answer your questions.
We will ask you about your service preferences before, during and after each engagement.
We will communicate clearly regarding fees, costs, team members and deadlines.
We will respect our agreed upon fee arrangements and will staff each matter in a way that provides the best value for the service provided.
We will strive to meet or exceed our deadlines. If we cannot, we will let you know well in advance.
We will keep you completely up to date on the status of your matters.
Our bills will be clear, correct and prompt and will be in a format that meets your preferences.
We will meet with you in person or by telephone at least once a year - off the clock - to ask about your satisfaction with our services.
Last, but not least, we will, upon request and at no cost, provide you with on-site / in-house seminars on legal topics of interest to your staff.
Rates And Billing Practices
We will work with you to customize billing arrangements that are attuned to the services required and your bottom line, including traditional hourly billing, fee estimates, price caps and pre-agreed flat fees.
Section 219 of the Land Title Act permits special covenants to be registered in the Land Title Office on title to land. These covenants (known as “Section 219 Covenants”) can only be granted in favour of specific organizations and entities. Section 219 Covenants must be in respect of the use of land or a building on or to be erected on land and, unlike common law covenants can impose positive obligations as well as restrictions on the landowner.
As published in the NRCA’s Northern Construction Connection March 2025 Newsletter and VICA’s e-New.
In February 2025, after weeks of looming threats, the Trump administration announced its decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, citing border security concerns. In retaliation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a reciprocal 25% tariff on American imports. Tariffs, both threatened and realized, stand to cause considerable strain on the construction industry…
As published in the NRCA’s Northern Construction Connection February 2025 Newsletter and VICA’s e-New.
Michael Moll and Aidan Andrews will be presenting “When Tax Collection Goes Wrong” at the GFOABC Annual Conference in Vancouver, May 27-29, 2025. Michael Moll will also be presenting at the pre-conference workshop on tax sales on May 26, 2025.
MIABC Risk Management Conference, April 23, 2025
Michael Moll will give a presentation on liability exposure in municipal tax collection. This session will discuss important statutory provisions regarding tax refunds, core principles of tax collection in responding to ratepayer complaints, the municipality’s role in disputes over tax payments, and of course any risk and liability concerns that may arise with municipal tax collection.
LGCEA Annual Training Conference, April 10th, 2025
Michael Moll will speak about bylaw enforcement that does not involve the Court. Current legislative and judicial trends which reduce the need for prosecutions and injunctive proceedings, along with their limitations and risks, will be discussed. Find out more from the LGCEA Conference Agenda (page 13).
