Richard S. Fowler, Director

Richard Fowler graduated in 1989 with a B.Sc.(Hons) Psychology from the University of Birmingham in England and received his LLB in 1994 from McGill University in Montreal. He was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1995 after articling with David Gibbons Q.C.

Since being called to the bar Mr. Fowler has built a very successful criminal defence practice which has included being a leading member of a team of lawyers representing one of the accused in the Air India case and co-counsel with David Gibbons Q.C. in the successful defence of Glen Clark, the former Premier of British Columbia. In addition he has appeared as counsel in many murder cases in British Columbia and Yukon Territory.

Mr. Fowler has appeared in trial courts all over British Columbia and Yukon Territory. His experience extends across a broad range of offences with particular emphasis on organized crime and gang related offences, drug offences, sexual offences, and murder. In addition Mr. Fowler has successfully argued many appeals in the British Columbia Court of Appeal and The Court of Appeal of the Yukon Territory. In addition he has an interest in mental health issues as they relate to criminal proceedings and has successfully argued for a stay of proceedings for an elderly man found to be permanently unfit to stand trial.

Mr. Fowler has assisted clients facing charges in other jurisdictions and worked closely with Attorneys from the United States to assist Canadians facing charges in that country.

Mr. Fowler has been a presenter at Advocacy courses in Canada and the United States focusing on how technology can be used to enhance the courtroom experience. In addition he has presented at and chaired many Continuing Legal Education Courses in British Columbia. He has lectured at UBC Law School and coached mooting teams. He has also presented at the Professional Legal Training Course established by the Law Society of British Columbia.

As well as being a director of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers, Mr. Fowler is on the Executive of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia where he is also currently the chair of the Criminal Defence Committee. He is also currently the BC representative for the Association for the Wrongfully Convicted (AIDWYC) and volunteers for the Lawyers Assistance Program of B.C.