Background
Deborah Overholt is the Regional Managing Partner of our Vancouver office. She was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1990 graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Laws in 1989. Prior to that, Deborah received a Bachelor of Arts (Double Major in English and History) from the University of British Columbia in 1985, followed by a Diploma in Legal Studies from Keble College at Oxford University in 1987.
Areas of Practice
- Deborah practices in the areas of environmental law, energy-related transactions and general commercial transactions.
Professional Experience
- Represents various industrial and commercial enterprises including forest companies, mining companies, manufacturers, transportation entities and financial institutions in due diligence investigations, negotiation and drafting of environmental provisions in transaction documents, environmental compliance issues, developing environmental management systems, environmental impact assessment issues, contaminated site issues, associated negotiations with environmental authorities and minimizing environmental liability generally in corporate and commercial transactions and ongoing operations.
- Appearing before regulatory tribunals on permit issues, administrative orders and contaminated site issues.
- Preparing submissions to government concerning proposed legislation for business groups such as the Business Council of British Columbia.
- Advise participants involved in electrical energy and gas transmission projects.
Recent Career Highlights
- Co-counsel to British Columbia Railway Company in connection with the sale of Vancouver Wharves.
- Co-counsel to Province of British Columbia in connection with the CN Rail Public/Private Partnership with respect to BC Rail Ltd.
- Advised BC Hydro in the design and implementation of several power procurement processes including the Standing Offer Program and the F2006 Call for Tenders process in which BC Hydro awarded 38 contracts to independent power producers across the Province.
Professional and Community Activities
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver Regional Management Committee, Vancouver Regional Compensation Advisory Committee, National Executive Committee and National Council
- Business Council of British Columbia, Environmental Policy Advisory Group
- Canadian Bar Association Environmental Law Section, Business Law Section
- Frequent Author and Speaker on Environmental Issues
