Direct line: (604) 891-7207
Fax: (604) 682-5217
E-mail:

Rick Twining was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1977. He articled and practiced in the Construction Litigation and Professional Liability Department of Bull, Housser & Tupper from 1976 to 1981. He has since specialized in major loss litigation and is the senior litigation director at Whitelaw Twining. Rick has 32 years experience specializing in trial and appellate litigation. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006.

Rick’s practice is focused on the fields of:
·Insurance Coverage
·Major Insurance Loss
·Construction Litigation
·Products Liability
·Professional Liability

In addition, Rick leads the litigation department at Whitelaw Twining in the areas of:
·Boiler Inspection
·Libel and Slander

Recent Work:
·insurance coverage: over 30 years experience in coverage opinions and coverage litigation for a wide range of policies, including All Risk, CGL, E/O, D&O, Boiler/Machinery and other special lines – represented insurers on large loss associated with mad cow exposure;
·major loss, insurance litigation: area of expertise for more than 20 years, recognized by peers as a leading practitioner - represented insurers both in defence and in subrogated claims on numerous large actions involving property loss - represented subrogating insurers in the Alberta Wheat Pool subrogation following destruction by fire of the Wheat Pool dock in Vancouver harbour;
·construction litigation: for over 10 years actively involved in defence of E & O claims against engineers of various disciplines - subsequently represented contractors and owners in construction disputes involving large cost overruns or project failures – successfully represented the Plaintiff at trial in the Vancouver Island gas pipeline case;
·product liability: extensive experience in dealing with engineering issues and expert testimony relating to large product and material failures – most recently represented liability underwriters in the defence of Petro-Canada claim for a generator failure which shut down a portion of the company’s gas fields in northeast British Columbia. Also recently defended major refractory manufacturer through trial and appeal in product failure case where OSB plant was shut down;
·professional liability: representing architects on leaky condo claims. Historically, defended wide range of professionals including: engineers, lawyers, accountants, insurance and real estate brokers and health care specialists;
·marine: represented insurers in Supreme Court of British Columbia and Federal Court of Canada on coverage disputes and casualty claims;
·boiler & machinery: represented national insurer on major equipment collapse at Neptune’s bulk loading terminal;
·libel & slander: defended a corporation against allegations that defamed competitor's products.

Education
LL.B., University of British Columbia, 1976
M.A., University of Toronto, 1971
B.A., University of British Columbia, 1970

Professional Memberships and Activities
Called to the British Columbia Bar in 1977
Queen’s Counsel, 2006