Westhaven Forestry Law FAQs
- What advantages does Westhaven Forestry Law Law have to offer the BC forest industry?
- What is "forestry law" anyway?
- Can Westhaven Forestry Law service files that are not strictly related to "forestry"?
- Given that Westhaven Forestry Law is based in Nanaimo, is your practice restricted to the Island?
- What resources are available to your office?
- Is Westhaven Forestry Law able to work with other law firms or lawyers?
- Does Westhaven Forestry Law have professional liability insurance?
Q: What advantages does Westhaven Forestry Law have to offer the BC forest industry?
A: Westhaven Forestry Law offers numerous advantages. Jeff Waatainen has practised in the field for over a decade, and is experienced with both the regulatory and commercial sides of the business. As a sole practitioner, Jeff is able to provide personalised service - your file will receive Jeff's personal attention. Finally, Westhaven Forestry Law's low overheads allow Jeff to provide his services at highly competitive rates.
Q: What is "forestry law" anyway?
A: "Forestry law" is an amalgam of various fields of law as they apply to activities on forested land. To be sure, activities on forested land in BC are subject to a unique and complex regulatory regime, and this regulatory regime represents the core of what BC "forestry law" is all about. However, BC "forestry law" also involves the application of other general areas of law--such as commercial law, civil law, property law, and administrative law-- in the context of the forest industry.
Q: Can Westhaven Forestry Law service files that are not strictly related to "forestry"?
A: Yes. As noted, to some degree "forestry law" involves the application of general law in the specific context of the forest industry. The skill set Jeff Waatainen has developed in his practice of forestry law is transferable to other contexts and, indeed, over the course of his career Jeff has frequently worked on files that were not, strictly speaking, "forestry law" files.
Q: Given that Westhaven Forestry Law is based in Nanaimo, is your practice restricted to the Island?
A: No. Over his career Jeff Waatainen has serviced clients throughout BC, from the Kootenays to the Northern Interior, from the Island to the Okanagan and, of course, in Vancouver. With Westhaven Forestry Law, Jeff will continue to provide his services throughout BC.
Q: What resources are available to your office?
A: Jeff Waatainen has a fully equipped home office. In addition to his personal library and collections of legal materials, Jeff has access to the same online resources as any other firm, as well as the Courthouse libraries in Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver, and the UBC Law Library and Diana M. Priestly Law Library at UVic.
Q: Is Westhaven Forestry Law able to work with other law firms or lawyers?
A: Yes. Jeff Waatainen has practised for over a decade with one of the largest law firms in the province, and has worked on numerous complex files in a team environment and with other law firms. Jeff understands that some legal matters require a team approach, and is willing and able to work as part of a team.
Q: Does Westhaven Forestry Law have professional liability insurance?
A: Yes. The Rules of British Columbia's Law Society require that lawyers practising in BC maintain professional liability insurance. The Law Society provides compulsory liability insurance to its members, and Jeff Waatainen is covered under that insurance the same as any other lawyer practising in BC.
