Small Firm. Big Thinking.

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).

T604.358.7167Esonia@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2006 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 2005 – LL.B., University of British Columbia
• 1990 – Ap.Sc. (Civil), University of British Columbia

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Pam Jefcoat

Managing Partner

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.

T604.358.2248Epam@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2001 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 2001 – Masters, Public Administration, University of Victoria
• 2000 – LL.B., University of Victoria
• 1995 – B.A. (Political Science), University of Victoria

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Michael Moll

Partner

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.

T604.358.1933Emichael@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2014 – LL.M., University of Toronto
• 2008 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 2007 – LL.B., University of British Columbia
• 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.

T604.358.7590Emarcela@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2020 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 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.

T604.358.7014Ekai@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2022 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 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.

T6043581663Ekyle@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2023 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 2022 – J.D., University of Ottawa
• 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.

T604.358.0252Eaidan@civiclegal.cavCard

Education & Year of Call

• 2024 – Admitted to the British Columbia Bar
• 2023 – J.D. (Co-op), University of Victoria
• 2019 – B.A. (Political Science), University of Regina