Ravi Hira K.C.
Ravi Hira K.C., is a partner at Hira Rowan LLP. Prior to founding Hira Rowan LLP in April 2016, Ravi was a partner at another boutique litigation firm in downtown Vancouver.
Ravi was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 1998. He was Crown Counsel from 1982 to 1988 and a Commissioner with the British Columbia Securities Commission from 1992 to 1994. Ravi was a Director of the British Columbia Law Institute from 1997 to 2004 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Criminal Law and Reform and Criminal Justice Policy as well as an elected member of the Canadian Bar Association National and Provincial Council. He was a member of the University of British Columbia Senate from 2000-2003 as well as the “Council of Investigative Excellence” for the Canadian Police College from 2001-2005. He was appointed by the Attorney General of British Columbia and the Law Society of British Columbia to the List of Special Prosecutors from 2007 to 2015. Most recently, Ravi was elected as a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia for a two-year term commencing January 1, 2024.
Ravi’s practice consists exclusively of counsel work. It includes complex commercial litigation cases, criminal defence cases, prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney General of British Columbia, and administrative law cases relating to professional discipline, political ethics, public inquiries, and other regulatory matters. Ravi has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Outside of his extensive contributions to the legal community, Ravi actively participates in running, squash, tennis, cycling, golf and skiing. He also enjoys chess and has competed in Provincial Championships.
E-mail: rhira@hirarowan.com
Recent Decisions
- R. v. Grafton, 2023 BCPC 191
- Prokam Enterprises Ltd. V. British Columbia Farm Industry Review Board, 2023 BCSC 403
- R. v. Tsonos and McGuire, 2022 BCPC 265
- R. v. Mason, 2022 BCPC 85
- Tucci v. Peoples Trust Company, 2020 BCCA 246
- Alassia Newships Management Inc. v. British Columbia (Provincial Court), 2018 BCCA 92
- Ari v. ICBC, 2015 BCCA 468
- R. v. Bergeron, 2015 BCCA 177
- R. v. Pompeo, 2014 BCCA 317
- EDG v. Hammer, 2003 SCC 52
More Notable Decisions
- R. v. Hira, [1981] CarswellBC 72, 11 M.V.R. 154, 27 B.C.L.R. 279, 5 W.C.B. 502 (B.C. Co. Ct.)
- R. v. Hira, [1981] CarswellBC 2388, 7 W.C.B. 112 (BCCA)
- R. v. Thind, [1984] CarswellBC 2586, 13 W.C.B. 124 (B.C. Co. Ct.)
- R. v. Shkwarok, [1984] CarswellBC 1833 W.C.B. 125 (B.C. Co. Ct.)
- R v. Morrow, [1985] CarswellBC 2251, B.C.W.L.D. 635 (BCCA)
- R. v. Powell, [1985] CarswellBC 1391 B.C.W.L.D. 1851, 14 W.C.B. 123, (BCCA)
- R. v. Lloyd, [1985] B.C.W.L.D. 1927, B.C.W.L.D. 1929, 14 W.C.B. 175 (BCCA)
- R. v. Popoff, [1985], CarswellBC 1112, B.C.W.L.D. 2670, 14 W.C.B. 290 (B.C. Co. Ct.)
- R. v. White, [1985] CarswellBC 1350, B.C.W.L.D. 2312, [1985] B.C.W.L.D. 2318, [1985] B.C.W.L.D. 2321 (BCCA)
- R. v. MAM, [1986] BCJ 1262, 32 CCC (3d) 566, BCCA
- R. v. Smith, [1987] BCJ 1185, BCCA
- R. v. E. (D.W.) [1987] CarswellBC 927, B.C.W.L.D. 2874, 2 W.C.B. (2d) 339 (BCCA)
- R. v. DWE, [1987] BCJ 1185, BCCA
- R. v. Hilland, [1987] CarswellBC 1481, B.C.W.L.D. 1955, 2 W.C.B. (2d) 67 (B.C. Co. Ct.)
- R. v. Andrews, [1987] BCJ 1814,
- R. v. Keeling, [1988] BCJ 1302
- R. v. Baig, [1990] BCJ 3039, 58 CC (3d), BCCA, Leave
- Devron-Hercules v. Baichu, [1990] BCJ 1534
- R. v. Gatley, [1990] BCJ 1683
- Movsesian v. Saswan, [1991] BCJ 3470, BCCA
- Topple v. Topple (1991) BCJ No. 2724, CarswellBC 613 (BCSC)
- R. v Pearson [1991] CarswellBC 3392 (BCSC)
- R. v. Kim, [1992] BCJ 742
- R. v. Baig, [1992] BCJ 2567, BCCA
- R. Gatley, 1992 BCJ 1484, 74 CCC (3d) 468, BCCA
- R. v. Horvath, [1992] CarswellBC 1984, [1992] B.C.W.L.D. 1506, [1992] B.C.J. No. 1107, 16 W.C.B. (2d) 197 (BCSC)
- Hoole v. Advani [1996] CarswellBC 512, [1996] B.C.W.L.D. 933, [1996] B.C.J. No. 522, 61 A.C.W.S. (3d) 884 (BCSC)
- Hoole v. Advani, [1996] BCJ 731
- R. v. Silzer, [1996] BCJ 440
- R. v Bakker 1996 SCC No. 289
- Theodore Allan v. Whistler Brewing, [1997] BCJ 1489
- Smithfield’s Meat v. Lalani, [1997] BCJ 2474
- Theodore Allan v. Whistler Brewing (costs), [1998] BCJ 1818
- Bains v. Bains, [1998] BCJ 2893
- R. v. MOB, [1998] BCJ 560, BCCA
- R. v. Wilder, [1998] BCJ 1028
- R. v. MOB, 1999 BCCA 84
- Northwest Sports v. Griffiths, [1999] BCJ 637
- R. v. Naumenko, [1999] BCJ 2485
- Swamy v. Tham, No. 1, 2000 BCSC 1253
- Dhalla v. Dhalla, 2000 BCCA 508
- Swamy v. Tham, No. 2, 2001 BCSC 551
- Ambleside Chinese v. Strata Corporation VR 575, 2001 BCSC 1182
- Elks vs. Elks, 2001 BCSC 1553
- Elks Can v. Elks New West (Costs), 2002 BCSC 974
- R. v. Dosanjh, 2002 BCSC 25
- Meyer v. BC, 2002 BCSC 257
- Border Ent. v. Beazer, 2003 BCSC 49
- Madatali v. ICABC, 2003 BCSC 129
- R. v. Sauer, [2003] BCJ 3194
- R. v. Hannibal, [2003] BCJ 3119
- Zynik v. Faris, 2004 BCSC 1032
- Ruwenzori v. Walji, 2006 BCCA 448 BCCA
- Aujla v. Yellow Cab, 2006 BCCA 116 BCCA
- Malik v. FICOM, 2006 BCSC 723
- DCTB v. Original Fishboat, 2006 BCSC 1939
- R. v. Sommani, 2007 BCCA 199
- R. v Sommani, 2007 CarswellBC 2413, SCC No. 327 (Application for leave to appeal refused)
- Zynik v. Faris, 2007 BCSC 257
- Gidda v. Gidda, October 29, 2007, BCSC
- OMI v. Dohm Jaffer, 2007 BCSC 734
- OMI v. Dohm Jaffer, 2007 BCSC 1709
- Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (British Columbia) v Dohm, Jaffer and Jaraj, 2007 BCSC 1503
- Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (British Columbia) v Dohm, Jaffer and Jaraj, 2007 BCSC 1709
- Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (British Columbia) v Dohm, Jaffer & Jeraj, 2007 BCSC 734.
- Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (British Columbia) v Dohm, Jaffer and Jaraj, 2007 BCSC 1412
- Saggu v. Canwest Publishing Inc., 2009 BCSC 362
- Rundel v. British Columbia (Commissioner of Inquiry), 2009 BCCA 604
- Polar Bear Ice Services Inc. v. Arctic Glacier Inc., 2010 BCSC 314
- Intergulf Investment Corp. v. Gregory, 2010 BCSC 607
- Virk v. Brar, 2011 BCSC 301
- Braidwood Inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski, 2009
- Missing Women Inquiry, January-May 2012
- R. V. Benji, 2012 BCCA 301 (trial special prosecutor, first-degree murder)
- R. v. James, 2012 BCCA 162
- USA v. Ibrahim, 2012 BCCA 916
- Virk v. Brar, 2012 BCSC 1004
- Sandhu v. British Columbia (Provincial Court), 2012 BCSC 1064
- R. v. Nam Bak Enterprises and Pang, 2012 BCPC 506
- R. v. Jahanrkshan, 2012 BCCA 341
- R. v. James, 2013 BCCA 11
- R. v. Bergeron, 2013 BCSC 313
- R. v. Jahanrkshan, 2013 BCCA 128
- R. v. Jahanrkshan, 2013 BCCA 196
- R. v. Jahanrkshan, 2013 BCCA 322
- Ari v. ICBC, 2013 BCSC 1308
- Khela v. Phoenix Homes Limited, 2013 BCSC 2079
- Lama Lo Holdings Ltd. v. Gurnisch Development Corp., 5908 Holdings Ltd. and Ralph Schwartzman, 2013 BCSC 2224
- Dent (Re), 2014 LSBC 4
- Dent (Re), 2014 LSBC 12
- Dent (Re), 2015 LSBC 4
- R. v. Millington, 2014 BCSC 756
- R. v. Millington, 2015 BCSC 143
- R. v. Millington, 2015 BCSC 515
- R. v. Millington, 2015 BCSC 1380
- R. v. Millington, 2015 BCSC 1426
- R. v. Millington, 2015 BCSC 1518
- R. v. Millington, 2015 BCSC 1612
- Cook v. ICBC, 2014 BCSC 1289
- Riley Park v. Waterson, 2014 BCSC 1605
- Dent (Re), 2015 LSBC 37
- Dent (Re), 2016 LSBC 5
- R. v. Bergeron, 2015 BCCA 396, (special prosecutor)
- Tucci v. Peoples Trust Company, 2015 BCSC 987
- Khela v. Phoenix Homes Limited; 2015 BCCA 202
- Derksen v Canada (Attorney General), 2015 CF 1058.
- McMyn v. Manulife, 2015 BCSC 2205
- Jiang v. Peoples Trust Company, 2016 BCSC 368
- R. v. Pompeo, 2016 BCPC 133
- Hunter West Consulting Group Inc. v. 0748697 B.C. Ltd., 2016 BCSC 1126
- R. v. Millington, 2016 BCCA 293
- Jiang v. Peoples Trust Company, 2017 BCCA 119
- Phoenix Homes Limited v. Takhar, 2017 BCSC 699
- Tucci v. Peoples Trust Company, 2017 BCSC 1525
- Alassia Newships Management Inc. v. British Columbia (Provincial Court), 2017 BCSC 2181
- Darwish v. Advancedio Systems Inc., 2017 BCSC 2456
- Ari v. ICBC, 2017 BCSC 2212
- Jiang v. Peoples Trust Company, 2018 BCSC 299
- 1021846 B.C. Ltd. v. Hare, 2018 BCSC 814
- Insurance Corporation of British Columbia v. Mehat, 2018 BCCA 242
- R. v. Buchanan, August 22, 2018, Provincial Court, Duncan Registry 39953
- Her Majesty the Queen in the Right of Canada v. Alassia New ships Management Inc., SCC 38083, Supreme Court of Canada leave to appeal denied
- Rolin Resources Inc. v. CB Supplies LTD, 2018 BCSC 2018
- Jiang v. Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, 2019 BCCA 149
- Canada (National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) v. Canada (Attorney General), 2019 FC 741
- Ari v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2019 BCCA 193.
- Plaza 500 Hotels LTD v. Millgate Limited, 2019 BCSC 1295.
- Jiang v. Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, 2019 BCCA 347.
- Ari v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2020 BCSC 1087.
- Tucci v. Peoples Trust Company, 2020 BCCA 246.
- Jiang v. Peoples Trust Company, 2020 BCSC 1644.
- 0981352 BC LTD v. Sarpal, 2020 BCSC 1881.
- 0981352 B.C. Ltd. v Sarpal, 2021 BCSC 417
- Ari v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2021 BCCA 180
- Dosanjh v Binpal, 2021 BCSC 1523
- Jiang v Peoples Trust Company, 2021 BCSC 2193
- Jiang v. Peoples Trust Company, 2022 BCCA 40
- Aubichon v. Grafton, 2022 BCCA 77
- Taj Park Convention Centre Ltd. v Sher-A-Punjab Community Centre Corporation, 2022 BCSC 473
- R. v. Mason, 2022 BCPC 67
- Ari v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2022 BCSC 1475
- R. v. Mittelsteadt, 2023 BCPC 24
- Bienvenu v. Canada (Attorney General), 2023 FC 175
- Prokam Enterprises Ltd. v. British Columbia Farm Industry Review Board, 2023 BCSC 606
- Sandhu vs. Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, 2023 BCSC 640
Public Inquiries as Counsel for Interested Party or External Commission Counsel
- British Columbia Conflict of Interest Commissioner Inquiry into Premier Glen
Clark, January 25, 2001. - Office of the Ethics Commissioner: The Grewal – Dosanjh Inquiry, January
2006. - Braidwood Commission Inquiry into The Robert Dziekanski Tragedy – May
20, 2010. - Oppal Inquiry into Missing Women – November 19, 2012.
- National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls –
June 3, 2019. - Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in BC – June 15, 2022
- British Columbia Farm Industry Review Board Inquiry into Allegations of Bad
Faith and Unlawful Activity – June 2022
Areas of Practice
- Regulatory and Administrative Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Law
- Civil Litigation
- Professional Negligence
- Employment Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Environmental Claims
Appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel)
- January 1998
Bar Admission
- British Columbia, 1982
Education
- University of British Columbia
- L.L.B. – 1981
Member
- Law Society of British Columbia
- Canadian Bar Association
Academic Achievements
- Alan S. Gregory Memorial Scholarship, 1980: This scholarship is awarded for advocacy in the Grand Moot Competition.
- Dean’s Honour Roll, Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration: 1977 and 1978.
- The University of British Columbia Scholarship Fund, 1978-1979.
- The University of British Columbia Scholarship Fund, 1977-1978.
- The Koerner Scholarship, 1976.
- The Royal Institute Scholarship, 1975.
- The North Vancouver Centennial Scholarship, 1975.
- British Columbia Government Scholarship, 1975.
- Reach For the Top Scholarship: 1973, 1974, and 1975.
Publications
- British Columbia Annual Criminal Practice, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004, 2005 ,2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 co-authored with the late Mr. Justice Bouck, Judge Alexander, Ms. Ainslie QC, and Mr. Rankin.
- “Impact of McNeil on Criminal Disclosure Cases” by Sarah Conroy and Ravi Hira; November 23, 2011, for the Canadian Institute’s Western Canada Conference on The Law of Policing, November 29 and November 30, 2011.
- “How Much is Too Much? Legal Principles Governing Police Use of Force” by Brendan Morley and Ravi Hira; November 9, 2010, for the Canadian Institute’s Western Canada Conference on The Law of Policing, November 23 and November 24, 2010.
- “Recent Revelations and References regarding Judicial Independence”; November, 2002, 2002 Conference of the Judicial Justices of the Peace.
- “Crown Privilege: A Brief History from Absolutism to Judicial Review” by Kent Wiebe and Ravi Hira; October, 2002, Canadian Police College.
- “Recent Judicial Remediation of the Waste Management Act”; December 4, 2001, Urban Development Institute.
- “A Checklist for Objections” by W. B. Smart, Q.C. and Ravi Hira; Advocacy Conference, Continuing Legal Education Society, 2001.
- “A Brief Summary of the Law Relating To Experts In Sexual Assault Cases” by Kathryn Seely and Ravi Hira; Sexual Assault/Abuse: “A Cross-Disciplinary Approach”; Continuing Legal Education Society, 2000.
- “Is `Voluntariness Being Displaced By The `Right To Counsel’ And `Fairness’ “? Advocate, Volume 55, Part 2, page 199 (March 1997).
- “The Crown’s Discretion to Charge–Can It Be Reviewed?” Advocate, Volume 44, page 819.
- Book Review on “Appearing For The Crown”, P.C. Stenning, Advocate, Volume 45, page 83.
- “Criminal Code Drinking And Driving Offences”; Impaired Driving; Continuing Legal Education Society, 1987.
- “Jury Selection”; Criminal Jury Trials; Continuing Legal Education Society, 1988
- “Proof Of Documents” by A.G. Henderson, updated April 1989 by W.B. Smart and Ravi Hira; Criminal Evidence, Continuing Legal Education Society; 1989