Areas of Practice
With dozens of appearances in the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and over 25 reported decisions in the last 10 years, John Alexander has a wealth of expertise and experience in appellate practice and trial work.
John’s primary subject area is in land use law, local government (municipal) litigation, survey, expropriation, and solutions to complex land title and ownership problems. He has appeared at all levels of the courts in Canada, and in front of many tribunals. John has also acted as an arbitrator and is experienced in mediation and arbitration work.
Clients include landowners, developers, public interest groups, government agencies, societies, not-for-profit organizations from across the province and, on the odd occasion, government agencies. Much of John’s work is referrals from other law firms looking to access his specialized expertise in dealing with local government and land disputes.
John welcomes consultations from clients, and consultations or referrals from other lawyers on appeals or potential appeals, or to provide specialized advice on land use and development issues.
Work History and Education
John has been practising at Cox Taylor since his call to the Bar in 1983. John has a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Marine Biology from the University of Victoria (1977) and a law degree from the University of British Columbia (1982).
John is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association, the Victoria Bar Association, The Canadian Homebuilders Association, the Urban Development Institute, and a life member of the Victoria City Rowing Club.
John has been an active volunteer for amateur sport in B.C., serving on numerous sport and community boards and committees including serving as Chair of the Board of Sport B.C. John is the past President of the Victoria City Rowing Club.
“People say, ‘You can’t fight City Hall.’ In my experience, it’s usually not a fight my clients should be looking for. What you can often do is find a solution at City Hall. It can however be challenging, with 162 municipalities in B.C., each with their own issues, problems and personalities. Sometimes you do have to eliminate a barrier by resort to the courts, but the object is always to achieve a solution in an effective way.”
Contact Details
Phone: 250.388.4457
Email: alexander@coxtaylor.ca