David F. Sutherland Q.C. has practiced civil litigation with a special interest in freedom of speech since 1980. He has represented media at all levels of court and has provided a full range of media law advice to journalists, editors, publishers, broadcasters, web hosts, and other lawyers including pre-publication advice regarding proposed copy, libel defence, contempt defence, advice respecting Youth Criminal Justice Act and other statutory and discretionary publication bans, freedom of information, hate, obscenity, search warrants, production orders, and subpoenas directed to the newsroom, copyright, access to courts, tribunals and other public process and information, Charter challenges, source-confidentiality, privacy, trade-libel, preventive measures, claims-handling, insurance coverage, industry self-regulation, human rights, etc. He is listed in peer-rated publications including Best Lawyers In Canada, Martindale-Hubble and L’Expert, respecting defamation and media law. In addition to media law, he handles litigation arising out of human rights, insurance, and engineering failure. David spent 9 years on the Board and 6 years on the Executive of the BC Civil Liberties Association prior to joining the Board of LRWC. Recently, he has chaired the board of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada.
