A renewed gift of $250,000 from Richards Buell Sutton LLP will support the operation of the Peter A. Allard School of Law’s Business Law Clinic over the next five years. In recognition of the firm’s generous support, the clinic will be named in their honour over the duration of the term.
“We’re sincerely grateful to the partners of Richards Buell Sutton LLP for their ongoing support of the Business Law Clinic,” said then-Dean of Allard Law Professor Ngai Pindell at the time of the agreement. “Our students will continue to benefit immensely from real-world opportunities to develop fundamental legal skills, and the local community will benefit as well.”
The Richards Buell Sutton LLP Business Law Clinic at Allard Law was first launched as a pilot project in 2016, with the goal of providing hands-on business law experience in a supportive learning environment for the benefit of the public. A decade later, more than 150 students have gained practical experience working with real clients, while furthering their academic understanding of business law through their clinical coursework.
“We strongly believe in the work being done at the RBS Business Law Clinic and are thrilled to continue our partnership,” said Aneez Devji, Managing Partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP. “As a UBC alum, it’s particularly meaningful to me to see the opportunities the clinic creates for students and the community.”
Part of the Centre for Business Law, the Richards Buell Sutton LLP Business Law Clinic is one of the most popular experiential learning opportunities at Allard Law, and securing a placement at the clinic is highly competitive. David Harvey, adjunct professor in the clinic and partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP, said he’s “consistently inspired” by the energy and enthusiasm of his students and by how much they help the clinic’s clients.
Over the years, students at the clinic have assisted individual entrepreneurs, arts and non-profit organizations and small businesses in fields like healthcare, tech, sustainability and finance. Due to the high cost of accessing legal services, many of the organizations that students help would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance.
During their time at the clinic, students provide advice and draft documents for clients across a wide range of topics, including intellectual property, employment law and non-profit governance issues. Through this experience and the mentorship provided by the clinic’s adjunct professors, students build their skills in file management, client relations and legal drafting and deepen their understanding of professional ethics and responsibilities.
“The Richards Buell Sutton LLP Business Law Clinic allowed me to move beyond theory and engage directly with real client needs, sharpening my skills in client communication, professional judgment and practical contract drafting,” said recent Allard Law grad Michelle Lee. “Working on a live file under the close supervision of three experienced lawyers in a small-group format helped me gain confidence and taught me how to translate legal concepts into clear, usable documents.”
Richards Buell Sutton LLP has been a longstanding, generous supporter of Allard Law. In 2007, the firm donated $1 million towards the construction of Allard Hall, and over the years they have supported numerous impactful causes that have advanced faculty research and supported student success, including Allard Law’s Chair in Feminist Legal Studies, the Nathan T. Nemetz Chair in Legal History, and the IDEA Leaders Program. Since 2019, RBS has committed a total of half a million dollars in support of the Business Law Clinic.
“Thank you to Richards Buell Sutton LLP for their ongoing support of the Business Law Clinic and other law school initiatives,” said Bruce MacDougall, Dean pro tem of Allard Law. “Their generous support has meaningfully enriched legal education for our students.”
“The RBS Business Law Clinic provides an incredibly unique opportunity to support our local business community while helping prepare the next generation of lawyers,” said Silvana Facchin, Chair of the RBS Business Law Group, and also an Allard Law alum. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with UBC and the Allard School of Law.”
Meet the Clinic Adjuncts
David Harvey
David is a partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP's Vancouver office. He is a member of the firm's Business Law Group, Employment and Human Rights Group, and Technology and IP Group. He regularly advises his clients on legal matters including mergers and acquisitions, business structures, corporate reorganizations, shareholder and partnership agreements, employment agreements, and license and service agreements.
Tamara Huculak
Tamara is a partner at Richards Buell Sutton LLP, practicing real estate development and corporate/commercial law out of their Surrey office. Her real estate practice focuses primarily on the needs of developers, including advising on corporate structures, then assisting with the acquisition and financing of development property through to the leasing or sales of developed residential or commercial units. On the corporate side, Tamara assists clients in the start-up of business, franchising, reorganizations and the sale or acquisition of businesses. She is also a registered trademark agent.
Amir Ghahreman
Amir is Counsel in the Vancouver office of Richards Buell Sutton LLP. He serves clients across a variety of industries, and his practice encompasses a broad range of commercial matters including business formations, business acquisitions and divestitures, and related areas such as commercial agreements, leases, and shareholder agreements. He also practices in the areas of construction law and employment law.
