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What’s New at Shroff Animal Law

V. Victoria Shroff was appointed K.C. -King’s Counsel. The Attorney General of British Columbia’s announcement notes that Victoria “is widely considered to be a pioneer in animal law in B.C. and one of Canada’s first animal lawyers

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Victoria was voted a “Top 25 Most Influential Lawyer” in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.

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V. Victoria Shroff Received a Letter of Congratulations from Honourable John Horgan, Premier of BC, for her work and teaching in animal law.

There’s always something new at Shroff Animal Law  Check this page often for updates or even easier, check our our twitter feed @shroffanimallaw!     

  • Victoria was appointed as an associate Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics
     https://www.linkedin.com/posts/v-victoria-shroff-law_oxfordcentreforanimalethics-animallaw-animalethics-activity-7079586683612000256-VoAO?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  • Exciting New Changes to BC’s Pet Custody Law! Victoria provided input into proposed changes to BC laws concerning pet custody and was quoted in the BC Government news release when changes were announced. ⚖ 🐱 🐶 🐴 B.C. legislation looks to clarify pet custody during divorce- V. Victoria Shroff, BC’s longest serving animal law lawyer, provided input to proposed changes to BC’s Family Law Act concerning pet custody.  Changes will clarify pets’ vital role in families and provide more guidance for people and judges involved in animal custody disputes.


    📰 News Release from the Attorney General’s office of BC here: https://lnkd.in/gPguQwbi Animal Law Lawyer-Educator, V. Victoria Shroff, who provided input into the amendments was quoted her in the press release stating:

    These amendments reflect how pets are valued as unique family members by society rather than as inanimate property like furniture,” said V. Victoria Shroff, animal law specialist at Shroff and Associates. “Having relevant factors to consider for these difficult decisions will bring more clarity and is a welcome change.”

    Animals Being Considered in Pet Custody Cases vis FLA amendments is hugely important for animals.

    V. Victoria Shroff has also written a whole chapter in her textbook 📗 , Canadian Animal Law, about animals, pet custody, in the family setting. Publisher, LexisNexis Canada Inc. http://ow.ly/Y5EF50FV0Ev

    Proposed amendments in British Columbia family law that would make custody battles over pets more family-friendly and consider what is best for the animal is “game-changing,” says Vancouver-based animal rights lawyer Victoria Shroff, going a long way towards reversing the mindset that pets are “someone and not something.” 🐾

    📺 A few examples of the FLA-Pet Custody media coverage:

    -Groundbreaking BC family law changes weighs interests of pets in custody cases: animal rights lawyer | Canadian Lawyer Magazine https://lnkd.in/g9qT6NS5 By Zena Olijnyk

    -Groundbreaking changes to B.C.’s pet custody laws May 17, 2023 By V. Victoria https://lnkd.in/gRePZsFD Law360 Canada

    -BC looks at new guidance for pet custody disputes https://lnkd.in/g_PFwQz9
    -Chek TV https://lnkd.in/gsbfrtwk
    -CBC https://lnkd.in/gW_RF6ta CBC
    -Globe & Mail https://lnkd.in/gvuQ2fxS
     -Family pets to get more rights in B.C. divorce cases | Vancouver Sun https://lnkd.in/gZVScH-A

    ⚖ #PetCustody #AnimalLaw #PetsAreFamily

     

     

-Victoria Shroff is Chairing BC’s 1st Animal Law Conference for CLEBC in April 2022 –

The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC @CLEBC – The countdown is officially on! BC’s first-ever “Animal Law 101” with V. Victoria Shroff of @shroffanimallaw  https://bit.ly/3Lx0DNA  🐴🦔🐕‍🦺

Animal Law 101 – An Introduction from Course Chair V. Victoria Shroff – YouTubeAnimal Law 101 Brochure.docx In addition to our keynote speaker, Chief Judge Gillespie, BC Animal Law Luminaries will be speaking at BC 1st Animal Law Conference.

 Canadian Lawyer Mag attended the 1st Animal Law conference and have written a very thoughtful article. https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-areas/litigation/practice-of-animal-law-gives-pets-domestic-animals-and-wildlife-a-voice-conference-attendees-told/365800

Treatment of animals by Canadian legal system slowly evolving, legal experts say – The Lawyer’s Daily https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/35248/print?section=civillitigation      

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Victoria is very often in the media talking about animal law issues, writing about animal law, or public speaking about animal law topics.  Canadians care about animals and the law!

 We also like regularly tweeting about animal law (see side bar). Follow us! @shroffanimallaw 
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 Victoria Shroff has  written a book called Canadian Animal Law for LexisNexis Canada. She also regularly writes articles for legal and mainstream publications about animal law. 

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 New Book on Animal Law!
In 2021, Victoria Shroff wrote a unique easily accessible book called Canadian Animal Law.  Published for lawyers, students and the public it’s available from the publisher, Lexis-Nexis. Canadian Animal Law | LexisNexis Canada Store.  (For more info or to order a copy, please see:http://ow.ly/Y5EF50FV0Ev
 

Book Review of Canadian Animal Law:

“The go-to book for the legal profession, law students, and the wider public.”

by Professor Maneesha Deckha, University of Victoria

“This is a capacious and compelling treatise about the state of animals today in Canadian law. Shroff shares her rich practice-based knowledge and experience as a long-standing animal law lawyer to provide informative overviews and illuminating case snapshots of the laws (or lack thereof) pertaining to animals in different industries and settings. Immensely clear, readable and comprehensive, and covering the latest legal developments, the book is an impressive blend of facts, laws, practice and other advocacy stories, and informed opinion.

It provides readers with both breadth and depth in understanding how Canadian laws fail animals. Whether one wants to learn efficiently about a specific regulatory area or grasp the wider legal landscape as to how Canadian laws treat animals, this is the go-to book for the legal profession, law students, and the wider public. Readers new to the area as well as seasoned advocates will learn from Shroff’s seemingly endless and outstanding expertise in animal law.”

-Interview by Dr.Marc Bekoff in Psychology Today of Victoria Shroff – How Animal Law Applies to Many Areas of Mainstream Practice | Psychology Today Canada https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/animal-emotions/202109/how-animal-law-applies-many-areas-mainstream-practice

-Podcast on Animal Law and Victoria’s career as a trailblazing animal law lawyer.  Recorded by Lexis Nexis: LexisNexis Canada Podcast/Balado: Canadian Animal Law Trailblazer on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-animal-law-trailblazer/id1527132541?i=1000553739610

-Lexis-Nexis is hosting an animal photo contest #LNCAnimalContest.  Enter your animal photo for a chance to win a prize including a copy of #CanadianAnimalLaw 🐶🦢🐈

Details here: https://www.lexisnexis.ca/en-ca/academic/animal-photo-contest.page?utm_medium=social&utm_source=allnetworks&utm_campaign=MULTISEGMENT-animal-contest

-Animal Law Essay Contest 2022-2023 Details here: https://www.lexisnexis.ca/en-ca/academic/animal-law-essay-contest.page

-Victoria has had many interviews for CBC, Global, CTV, CKNW, Vancouver is Awesome and other news outlets.  Here’s a recent interview about Wildlife and the Law for CBC: https://youtu.be/8lg8G4ShBro

-Happy Lawyer Profile about Victoria Shroff by Not Your Average Law Firm in 2021:  https://notaveragelaw.com/lawyer-profiles/victoria-shroff

-Partnering with Starbuck’s, Victoria runs a successful toy drive for pets in need annually.

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Fun Collab with #OvalPawffice in USA:  Catbassador Ariel has been appointed as the Canadian Animal Law Pawbassador @TheOvalPawffice See: http://theovalpawffice.com

Upcoming Events & Animal Law News Items:    

-Victoria Shroff is a 5th time finalist for Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018.) 
-Victoria is a 2022 and was a 2021 Finalist Nominee for the YWCA Women of Distinction awards.
 
Victoria maintains a busy guest speaking schedule in addition to teaching at 2 universities.
-Feb. 11, 2021- Victoria  presented at the Capilano Universe lecture series |https://capilanou.ca/about-capu/get-to-know-us/capsule-stories/articles/60ish-seconds-with-victoria-shroff/
-Victoria presented on animal law in person in Asia & Europe in 2018, 2020 and via Zoom in 2021 & 2022
-Spring 2021 – Trial Lawyer’s Association of BC -Presentation
-April 2021 – Humane Canada  Presentation
– BC Courthouse Library Presentation on Animal Law Spring 2021
-Canadian Animal Law Conference 2020, 2021, 2022
-November 2021 Violence Link Conference at Humane Canada
-May 2022, Victoria chaired a panel on Fur Farming at Humane Canada’s conference, #SummitForAnimals.  Speakers included MP Nate Erskine-Smith, Dr. Sara Dubois, Dr. Jan Hajek, Chief Judy Wilson and Lesley Fox.
-September 2022, Victoria was on a panel at the Canadian Animal Law Conference
-November 2022 Victoria is invited to speak about Emotional Support Animals for CLEBC’s Human Rights Conference
Victoria’s frequently been in the news to talk about the needs of domestic and wild animals during the unprecedented time of Covid and beyond. 
-Victoria presented at the Humane Canada Conference in May 2020 on ‘dangerous’ dogs.  She spoke at the conference again in 2021 
-In August 2020, Victoria presented on pet custody at the European Animal Law Conference.
-In August 2020 Victoria was a guest speaker for an animal rescue organization.  Elizabeth May MP was in attendance and shared some great input.
-In October 2020 Victoria Shroff presented at Centre for the Law and Environment at Allard with Camille Labchuck of Animal Justice
-Lots of conferences and guest speaking coming up in 2023.

-Exciting work on several animal projects are ongoing & cases to make the lives of animals better

-Victoria is once again teaching animal law at UBC’s law school, Allard School of Law in 2023

August 2019: Punky Santics and BC Court of Appeal (filed for leave to the SCC) regarding dangerous dogs.  We are co-counsel for the Plaintiff, Ms.Susan who is fighting for her dog Punky.

 August 23, 2019 -Court of Appeal Animal Law Victory for Punky the dog. We won a stay for Punky Santics, the dog who was to be destroyed August 23. Instead, we may now seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.  CBC TV Interview here:
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Aug. 15/19 ‘It’s devastating’: Local woman weighing options to save dangerous dog | CTV News https://bc.ctvnews.ca/it-s-devastating-local-woman-weighing-options-to-save-dangerous-dog-1.4551962

 

      Victoria Guest Speaking at Career Fair & Other Community Events

June 24/2019 Victoria interviewed by CBC TV News about ‘Dangerous’ Dogs kept in the pound

-CBC TV news article about Punky the Dog and Dogs held in the pound is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6XTdHQQSxw&t=30s

-CBC Article by Andrea Ross on Punky ‘dangerous dog’ and his long stay in the Vancouver Pound. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/punky-dangerous-dog-shelter-1.5186133

-In May, we delivered a presentation for VOKRA, Vancouver Orphan Kittens Rescue Association and the public.  -We also organized and presented about careers in animal law at community Career Fair in May.

-Victoria presented about the Link between animal  abuse & domestic violence to UBC law students and at Humane Canada’s conference.

-Also in May, there will be a hearing of a big BC Court of Appeal case where Victoria Shroff is one of the 3 counsel acting for the Appellant and her dog Punky. Woman launches court appeal to save dog’s life Article by Gord McIntyre, Vancouver Sun about Punky. Victoria Shroff & Susan Santics interviewed. April 2019. 

 June 1 – 7 | Vancouver, British Columbia https://www.congress2019.ca/ — Congress 2019 will take place in June at UBC.-Victoria Shroff is presenting a paper on animal law at Congress 2019 held at UBC. She will be part of an amazing panel of top Canadian & US animal law scholars.

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-Paws of Empathy Session in June 2019.

 – Victoria Shroff is founding Chair of the National Canadian Animal Law Study Group (CALSG)

Victoria Shroff helped establish groundbreaking new pro-bono animal law clinic at LSLAP called the Animal Law Pro Bono Clinic (ALPC) in 2020 -Victoria Shroff: Access to justice is for animals too | Georgia Straight https://www.straight.com/news/victoria-shroff-access-to-justice-is-for-animals-too

New student-run pro bono animal law clinic victory for access to justice | Victoria Shroff – The Lawyer’s Daily https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/21909/new-student-run-pro-bono-animal-law-clinic-victory-for-access-to-justice-victoria-shroff |

UBC Experts Page:   Victoria Shroff is on The UBC Experts page. Click here to see some of her published articles and interviews with major media news outlets.https://experts.news.ubc.ca/expert/victoria-shroff/ 

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 Contact Us:  ☎

Tel. 604. 891-0209  Speak to Landry or Veronkia M-F.  Email us: shroffandassociates@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-victoria-shroff-0631601/

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/shroffanimallaw

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Welcome to our  Animal Law website at Shroff & Associates, the trusted downtown Vancouver Animal Law firm that helped pioneer animal law on the West Coast of Canada in the year 2000.  Animal Law is all we do.⚖️🐾 

V. Victoria Shroff (she/her) is credited as one of Canada’s 1st and Longest Serving Animal Law Lawyers.  She’s an award winning innovator who has practiced in the unique area of animal law for 20 plus years. Referred to as an animal law ‘trailblazer’, V. Victoria Shroff was awarded the prestigious animal law SEEDS award for her unique contributions to the animal law field.  

V. Victoria Shroff has a strong affinity for animals, having lived with them as part of the family since infancy. Her family have been in the legal profession for generations starting with her Great Grandfather.  The boutique law firm was founded decades ago by litigator (now retired) H. Shroff, Q.C.  Being an Animal Law Lawyer, Educator and Author is the perfect fit for Victoria Shroff’s love of law and her deep respect and empathy for animals.

Pushpin New Book! 📘 Victoria Shroff has written a unique book about Animal Law called, Canadian Animal Law (Published by Lexis-Nexis)  Written in an accessible easy to read style, it’s been called “the go-to” animal law book for the legal profession and the public. For Info/ To Order Book: http://ow.ly/Y5EF50FV0Ev

  Law Professor Maneesha Deckha, stated this about the book:

“This is a capacious and compelling treatise about the state of animals today in Canadian law. Shroff shares her rich practice-based knowledge and experience as a long-standing animal law lawyer to provide informative overviews and illuminating case snapshots of the laws (or lack thereof) pertaining to animals in different industries and settings. Immensely clear, readable and comprehensive, and covering the latest legal developments, the book is an impressive blend of facts, laws, practice and other advocacy stories, and informed opinion.” 📘

Interview by Dr.Marc Bekoff about Canadian Animal Law book here: How Animal Law Applies to Many Areas of Mainstream Practice | Psychology Today  https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/animal-emotions/202109/how-animal-law-applies-many-areas-mainstream-practice

Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada  V. Victoria Shroff is grateful to be recognized for her longstanding, influential work in animal law as a ‘Top 25 Most Influential  Lawyers in Canada‘ Canadian Lawyer Magazine. https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/general/voting-is-now-open-for-canadian-lawyers-top-25-most-influential-lawyers/365924

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Victoria was nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in 2023 (and 2022) for her Animal Law, Access to Justice work.

Honourable Premier of BC, John Horgan, recognized V. Victoria Shroff with a letter of Congratulations for her long standing work in animal law and education.

 

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Victoria was invited to present an #AnimalLaw #Tedx talk for Capilano University- “Why Animals Need Law” .  Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atb0SyUN3HA

 

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Groundbreaking Canadian Animal Law Case:  V. Victoria Shroff and legal team filed for leave for a groundbreaking animal law case to Canada’s Top Court, the Supreme Court of Canada.  The case of Punky Santics was frequently covered by CBC and other news outlets due to its importance for animals and the law.   https://youtu.be/AjiKFGB0M_E

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🐾 At Shroff Animal Law we are Animal Focused.  We help companion animals (pets) and wild animals navigate through the legal system.   We bring the interests of animals forward. For the past 20+ years we  have been handling a wide range of cases to help animals including:

  • dog bites or attacks
  • ‘dangerous’ or ‘vicious’ or ‘aggressive’ dog cases
  • housing issues involving pets or animals, residential tenancy, Strata/Condo issues
  • pet ‘custody’ cases when a couple or roommates split up who gets to keep the pet
  • veterinary negligence, malpractice
  • pet insurance denial claims
  • dog or cat breeder issues
  • cat cases
  • municipal (city) by-law matters such as barking dogs, off leash dogs, dog bites
  • human rights cases involving animals
  • cruelty, ‘Violence Link’
  • injury, dog attack
  • wildlife issues
  • fur farming
  • tainted pet food
  • horse cases
  • farm animal cases
  • bird and rabbit cases and many other animal law cases.

Victoria Shroff has experience at all levels of court in BC.

Besides being an animal law lawyer and author, Victoria Shroff is also an Animal Law Educator & adjunct Professor.  She is an (erstwhile) Adjunct Professor of Animal Law at UBC Law school, Allard  School of Law where she has been teaching animal law since 2016 and is also faculty at Capilano University’s School of Legal Studies where she founded & teaches a course on animal law. In 2023, Ms.Shroff was appointed as an associate Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in the UK.

🐾 Victoria Shroff helped establish Canada’s 1st and only Pro-Bono Animal Law Clinic with the Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) in 2020 and continues to volunteer her time for the Animal Law Pro Bono Clinic (ALPC).

At the heart of Victoria’s work is Access to Justice For Animals. #A2JForAnimals

🐾 V. Victoria Shroff is founding Chair of the national Canadian Animal Law Study Group (CALSG) working to improve the lives of animals using the law.

🐾 Ms. Shroff further contributes to the animal law field and access to justice by regularly writing about and being interviewed about animal law issues for the legal profession and the public.  She is frequently called upon by CBC TV and Radio, Global TV, CTV, and other media outlets to provide animal law commentary and has been featured in several podcasts and documentaries about animals and the law.  Ms.Shroff also regularly consults with government about animal law matters.

For years, V. Victoria Shroff has been invited to guest speak on animal law at law schools in Asia, USA, Europe and Canada and at conferences worldwide.  She has wide experience in public speaking to lawyers, law schools, animal rescue groups, governments, to children and more.

🐾🐾The Animal Law firm of Shroff & Associates is conveniently located in the centre of downtown Vancouver, across the street from the BC Courthouse complex.

We gratefully acknowledge that we are located on unceded territories of the people (and animals) of the Coast Salish,  Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)  & xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

 🐾 Our Professional Fees are reasonable & fair.  We have a sliding (lower) fee scale for non profit groups, those on a fixed income or disability.
 
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* A note about our website– It’s not fancy! We direct our energy and focus on helping Animals, not websites.
 

https://shroffanimallaw.com/

Welcome to Shroff & Associates/Shroff Animal Law, Vancouver’s pioneering Pet & Animal Law Firm for 20 +  years. Conveniently Located in downtown Vancouver, Canada. 

-To make an Animal law appointment:  phone ☎ 604 891-0209 M-F, 8:30 – 5:30 p.m. 

Or Email: ShroffandAssociates@gmail.com 

Follow us on Twitter @shroffanimallaw

LinkedIn/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-victoria-shroff-0631601/

For links to interviews and more information on lawyer Victoria Shroff’s extensive work as a pioneer in Animal law, educator and writer click here.

Twitter/ http://twitter.com/shroffanimallaw

For more information or to order the animal law book Victoria Shroff wrote called Canadian Animal Law click this link (LexisNexis 2021) http://ow.ly/Y5EF50FV0Ev

 Victoria Shroff’s Animal Law on the UBC Expert’s Guide Work: https://experts.news.ubc.ca/expert/victoria-shroff/

[Victoria & Bronte]

At Shroff Animal Law we assist clients in all areas of Animal Law, Animal Protection/Rights,  Wildlife and Animal Welfare at all levels of Court for all kinds of animals. Types of Cases we handle at Shroff Animal Law Include:

  • pet/animal liability
  • ‘dangerous dog’ cases – dogs on death row or accused of being vicious
  • pet custody – Who gets the dog when the couple or the roommates split up?
  • pets issues in strata and tenancy – problems with neighbours, problems with strata council and pets, landlord tenant issues, eviction, problematic behaviours
  • animals in transportation– on trucks, planes, taxis
  • service animals, guide dogs, comfort animals, seeing eye dogs companion animalsemotional support animals human rights, discrimination
  • animals and mental health issues
  • wills and estates involving pets and animals
  • lab animal issues,
  • tainted pet food,
  • cat and dog hoarding,
  • serious dog bite, dog attack, injuries– dog bite on humans, other pets, children
  • human rights
  • adoption issues
  • veterinary malpractice – negligence, mistakes, treatment issues
  • urban and not so urban wildlife – bears, coyotes, squirrels, raccoons, rats, mice, rabbits
  • pet insurance – denial of claim by pet insurance company
  • horse cases, pig cases
  • cruelty,
  • defamation
  • breeder cases – unhealthy animals, poor welfare
  • groomer cases – injuries and problems
  • animal advocacyanimal rights, animal welfare issues
  • just about anything related to animals and the law.
  • Animal Law mediation
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Victoria Shroff is an animal law lawyer pioneer in Canada.  She has practiced animal law for  20 + years. 

Additionally, Ms.Shroff is an educator and erst. adjunct Professor of Animal Law at the Peter Allard School of Law, (UBC law school) and is faculty member at Capilano University where she teaches animal law. 

She has lectured on animal law locally and internationally and is frequently called upon by major media such as CBC TV and Radio, Global TV and Radio for her specialized knowledge on all things animal law. In 2021, Victoria Shroff wrote, a book called Canadian Animal Law for Lexis Nexis. http://ow.ly/Y5EF50FV0Ev She also regularly writes about animal law and her work has been published in lawyer magazines and mainstream publications. publications.

Victoria Shroff also founded and teaches an animal law and social literacy program called ‘The Paws of Empathy’, founded and chairs the Canadian Animal Law Study Group, helped establish Canada’s 1st pro-bono animal law clinic with LSLAP in 2020 called the Animal Law Pro Bono Clinic.

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☎ Contact (604) 891-0209 to make an animal law
appointment or email shroffandassociates@gmail.com

{Please note that information obtained from our Website isn’t, nor meant to be, legal advice. No solicitor/client relationship is created, and people or entities do not become clients, unless and until we expressly agree to act for the person or entity, and specifically not until the retainer agreement is signed.}

 

 

 

 

 

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