Brian Gilfillan

Brian has spent over three decades deeply entrenched in British Columbia's forestry sector, offering his expertise from the Vancouver office as both a seasoned lawyer and a certified professional forester. His journey in this field is marked by advising on comprehensive aspects of significant forestry legislation and managing the transition of crucial forest tenures. His clientele encompasses a broad spectrum from both the Coastal and Interior regions, including both massive corporations and smaller entities, alongside forestry professionals and various organizations deeply woven into BC's forestry fabric.

In his role, Brian navigates his clients through the intricacies of forestry law and policy. He is adept at structuring agreements essential for timber harvesting, constructing and using roads, managing silviculture activities, and handling sales and purchases of logs and chips. Furthermore, Brian is skilled in guiding his clients through legislative assessments, offering advice and training to ensure compliance with forest operations. His expertise extends to managing tenure transfers, crafting forest stewardship plans, facilitating information exchange between forest companies and First Nations, and representing licence holders in enforcement actions under forestry legislation.

Brian's background is rich with experience, including serving as an in-house legal counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for a leading forest products company in BC. His tenure with the Council of Forest Industries as a Senior Vice President in both their Prince George and Vancouver offices underscores his profound influence on provincial forest policy matters. Before founding Gilfillan Forestry Counsel in Vancouver in 2003, he honed his skills in a prominent law firm within the province.

Rooted in a family legacy of forestry in British Columbia, Brian's professional life is a testament to his deep connection to the land and its industries. Holding bar admissions since 1982 and educated in law and forestry at the University of British Columbia, Brian's dedication to forestry is unmatched, reflecting a rich heritage and a commitment to the sustainable future of British Columbia's forests.