Barry Oland

PARTNER

Barry is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia.  He obtained both his Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Dalhousie University and his Bachelor of Law Degree from Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  In 2002-2003 Barry returned to school to obtain a Master's Degree in Law specializing in Maritime Law from University College London.

Barry's first contact with the practice and study of maritime law came from spending a year at Ince and Co. in London in 1971-1972.

Barry has appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Barry's practice is almost entirely maritime and transportation litigation for marine insurers or institutional clients. He represents owners and insurers of cargo carried worldwide. His cases include investigations and legal action involving damage to cargo of all types, unexplained sinkings, advice to marine insurers on marine insurance issues, voyage reconstruction, oil pollution liability and maritime liens and mortgages.

Barry has represented clients for collisions at sea, cargo damage and dock damage.  He routinely provides advice to marine insurers on coverage issues, provides advice to fishing companies and their hull insurers, stevedore liability claims and ship repairer legal liability claims.

Of particular interest to Barry has been representing cargo insurers in Japan, Taiwan and Korea for many years.

AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST

For many years Barry has been interested in issues of carriage of goods by sea, Canadian maritime law legislation and handling of complicated marine casualty litigation.

Barry was President of the Canadian Maritime Law Association (CMLA) from 1999-2000.

Barry was Chair of the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) Committee of CMLA and worked with officials of Transport Canada to implement the 1976 Convention on LLMC and the 1996 Protocol.

Barry has been involved since the 2000 in CMI negotiations on a new Carriage of Goods Convention, which ultimate led to the UNCITRAL Rotterdam Rules. Mr. Oland was the CMLA spokesperson on Carriage of Goods at the 2001 and 2008 CMI Conferences in Singapore and Athens. Development of the law of Carriage of Goods either by Rotterdam Rules or an amended version thereof is a particular interest.

Barry has appeared as a speaker at numerous maritime law conferences.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Canadian Maritime Law Association (Past President)
  • Law Society of British Columbia
  • Law Society of England and Wales
  • Canadian Transport Lawyers Association
  • International Bar Association
  • Interpacific Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association
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