SWIFT DATOO - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Lawyer and Partner
- President / Chair of the Comox Valley Community Foundation and of North Island College Foundation
Andrea was born in Nova Scotia and, as part of a military family, lived in a number of communities in Canada and Western Europe. She obtained a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in 1981 and served for several years as a public affairs officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. She earned her Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1988 and articled with the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In 1990 Andrea obtained her Master of Laws degree from the University of Toronto. She practised pensions, trusts and estate law at a national firm in Toronto until 1996. Andrea moved to the Comox Valley in 1996 and joined Swift Datoo shortly thereafter.
Andrea's practice involves general solicitor's work with an emphasis on estate planning, corporate law and land development. Andrea has special interests in the use of trusts to assist persons with disabilities and the use of covenants in land conservation efforts.
Andrea has served as president/chair of the Comox Valley Community Foundation and of North Island College Foundation and as a board member of the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, North Island College and the Corps of Commissionaires for Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Yukon. She is a frequent lecturer on the subjects of wills and estate planning and the legal obligations of directors of charitable organizations and not-for-profits.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Corporate, Commercial & Business Law
Estate Administration
Property Development Strategies
Trusts
Wills & Estate Planning
Aniel moved to the Comox Valley at a young age and graduated from Georges P. Vanier Secondary in Courtenay. Aniel obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Victoria before attending the University of Ottawa for law school. He completed his articles with the Toronto office of a large national firm before returning to the Comox Valley to join Swift Datoo in 2006.
Aniel maintains a varied practice with a focus on the needs of small business owners. He advises clients on matters related to the purchase, operation and sale of their businesses. Aniel also gives advice to employers and employees on their rights and obligations in the workplace, and following the breakdown of the employment relationship.
Aniel appears regularly before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Provincial Court of British Columbia, the Employment Standards Tribunal, and the BC Human Rights Tribunal.
Aniel is a past president of the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre, a former Director of the Comox Valley Community Foundation, and the former Head Adjudicator for KidSport Comox Valley. He remains a proud junior soccer coach.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Corporate, Commercial & Business Law
Employment & Wrongful Dismissal
Litigation
Real Estate Conveyancing
Azim was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, where he completed high school. He received his Law degree from the University of Wales (Aberystwyth) in 1969 and returned to Kenya where he was called to the Bar in 1971. He immigrated to Canada in 1973 and after attaining Canadian citizenship was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1978. That same year, Azim moved to Courtenay to join Richard Swift and form the firm which became Swift Datoo. Azim was awarded the designation of Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) in 1998.
Azim formally retired as a practicing lawyer on January 1, 2022. Azim continues to mentor and assist lawyers within the firm in respect of general solicitor's work with an emphasis on wills and estates, real estate (residential and commercial), leasing, financing, and business law. We are very pleased that Azim remains actively involved with firm and client matters- his exceptional experience and high ethical standards continue to guide us.
Azim has worked with and supports local music, performing arts and other arts, cultural and social organizations, and has also been an active Rotarian. He is past president of the Comox Valley and Nanaimo County Bar Associations and served on the Discipline Committee of the Law Society of British Columbia for 5 years. He is a past Law Society appointee to the Board of Governors of the Law Foundation of British Columbia. From 2002 to 2013 Azim sat as an appointed member of the Special Compensation Fund Committee of the Law Society.
Swift Datoo is a full service law firm that has been serving Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland and the rest of the Comox Valley for over 50 years.
Ben grew up in Shawnigan Lake, BC, before moving to Vermont to study literature and Russian. As part of his Bachelor of Arts degree, Ben studied literature in Irkutsk, Russia, before completing Law school at McGill University.
Between degrees, Ben worked as a forest fire fighter in 100 Mile House and a registry clerk at the Duncan courthouse. In his work as a registry clerk, he gained an insider's view into court procedure and court advocacy.
After completing his articles with a law firm in Alberta specializing in aboriginal law, Ben was called to the Alberta bar in 2018. Ben returned to Vancouver Island to practice family law in Victoria and was called to the British Columbia bar in the same year.
Ben joined Swift Datoo in 2019, where he focuses on family law. He maintains a varied family law practice, including cohabitation and separation agreements, adoptions, child protection, and separations involving companies and excluded property claims. Ben appears regularly in Provincial and Supreme Court.
Ben speaks French and Russian, and enjoys spending time outside and with family.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Family & Divorce
Litigation
Chris was born and raised in Vancouver, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in 1980 from the University of British Columbia. After earning his Law degree from the University of Victoria in 1985, Chris articled with a large Vancouver firm where he continued to practice until he moved to the Comox Valley.
Chris' practice focuses predominantly on estate planning, estate administration, real estate (residential and commercial), leasing, financing, and business law.
Chris served as a director and subsequently the chair of the board of St. Joseph's General Hospital for many years. Chris and the St. Joseph's Board oversaw the transition of St. Joseph's General Hospital from an acute care hospital to a care facility for seniors. As part of this transition, Chris was involved in the creation of Providence Living, a non profit society focused on seniors care and those with dementia. Chris is dedicated to improving seniors care in British Columbia, and is chair of the Mission, People, Ethics and Governance Committee of Providence Living. Currently, Providence Living is focused on the redevelopment of the Views in Comox, as well as guiding the redevelopment of long-term care residences in Vancouver.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Commercial Financing
Corporate, Commercial & Business Law
Estate Administration
Property Development Strategies
Real Estate Conveyancing
Job Titles:
- General Solicitor
- Lawyer and Managing Partner
David is an Islander who moved to the Comox Valley to practice law at Swift Datoo in 2010.
David started his legal career in Campbell River, and became a partner at Swift Datoo in 2014. He was called to the BC Bar in 2007.
David is a general solicitor with a focus on wills and estates, real estate (residential and commercial), leasing, financing, and business law. He particularly enjoys advising clients on the purchase or launch of a business. David's advice is practical, efficient, and focussed on the interests of his clients.
Away from the office, David is usually spending quality time with his family and friends.
David currently serves as the firm's managing partner.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Commercial Financing
Corporate, Commercial & Business Law
Estate Administration
Property Development Strategies
Real Estate Conveyancing
Logan grew up in the Lower Mainland and moved to the Comox Valley in 2018 after completing his law degree at the University of Victoria. Logan joined Swift Datoo as an articled student and was called to the bar in August of 2019.
Logan has a general solicitor's practice that includes commercial transactions, conveyancing, real estate development, and estate planning and administration.
Away from the office, Logan spends his time with his wife and two children gardening, reading or exploring.
Logan is a board member of the Glacier View Lodge Society.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Corporate, Commercial & Business Law
Estate Administration
Property Development Strategies
Real Estate Conveyancing
Wills & Estate Planning
Rebecca is a solicitor who practices primarily in estate and incapacity planning, estate administration, real estate, and corporate law.
Richard is past president of the Courtenay Rotary Club and a founding director and past president of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. He has supported, and continues to support, numerous community charities and fund-raising events. Richard has also been active in many professional associations, including as a member of numerous committees and the executive of the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, as a lecturer and course designer for the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, and as a member of several committees of the Law Society of BC.
Richard has served as a member (and chair) of the Board of Governors of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and was an original member (and vice chair) of the Board of Directors of the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia. He has also served as a member of the Consumer and Investor Advisory Council of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments, and as a member of the British Columbia Supply and Services Society. Richard served as an Adjudicator with the Disciplinary Panel of the Real Estate Council of British Columbia. He has also chaired the Patient Care Quality Review Board (Island Health) for 10 years.
Swift Datoo is a full service law firm that has been serving Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland and the rest of the Comox Valley for over 50 years.
Job Titles:
- Board Member of the Cumberland Community Forest Society
- Lawyer
Shawn grew up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan and moved to Vancouver in 2001. While in Vancouver, he had a career in the construction industry, was highly involved in the local music scene, and completed his political science degree at Simon Fraser University in 2010.
Shawn earned his Law degree in 2015 from the University of Victoria where he participated in the co-operative education program, and held positions with the BC Ministry of Justice - Civil Policy and Legislation Office, the Capital Regional District, and the Office of the Ombudsperson.
After obtaining his Law degree, Shawn articled with Swift Datoo and was called to the Bar in 2016. Shawn appears regularly in Provincial Court and Supreme Court on behalf of clients. Shawn advises clients on a broad range of litigation matters including property disputes and family law matters.
Shawn is a board member of the Cumberland Community Forest Society.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Family & Divorce
Litigation
Suzanne graduated from Highland Secondary in the Comox Valley and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of British Columbia. She completed her Law degree at the University of Victoria, where she participated in the co-operative education program. Suzanne was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2013.
Suzanne's preferred area of practice is wills, estates, and trusts litigation. She enjoys advising executors and beneficiaries with respect to contested estate accounts and administration under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act, and helping resolve conflicts regarding powers of attorney and other incapacity issues.
Her practice also includes committeeships (adult guardianship orders), and elder law related disputes. She also advises clients in relation to probate and estate and incapacity planning matters.
Suzanne is a contributing author to The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia's widely used publication, "BC Probate & Estate Administration Practice Manual", and "Estate Disputes in British Columbia: A Litigator's Guide". She is a board member of the Comox Valley Family Services Association, and the Sid Williams Theatre Society.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Estate Administration
Litigation
Wills & Estate Planning