Advisory Committee The Advisory Committee plays a critical role in assisting FACL BC achieve its long-term strategic vision. |
Jenny Huang (she/her) is a Senior Legal Counsel at Providence Health Care. Prior to entering law, she earned a master’s degree in genetics from the University of British Columbia and completed her law degree at Western University with a concentration in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. Her practice focuses on helping biotech and technology founders scale their businesses and navigate complex transactions. Outside of work, Jenny is passionate about community building and mentorship and is the immediate past President of FACL BC. |
Judge Brent Gordon Hoy (Retired Provisional Court Judge) (he/him) grew up in East Vancouver and earned his law degree from UBC before being called to the BC Bar in 1977. He began his career as Crown Counsel and later practised general litigation in Chilliwack until his appointment to the Provincial Court of British Columbia in 1991. As the Court’s second judge of Chinese heritage, he served primarily in the Fraser Valley and spent about a decade on circuit in the Central Coast First Nations communities of Bella Coola, Bella Bella, and Klemtu. During his 30+ years on the bench, Judge Hoy presided over criminal, civil, and family matters, known for fairness, respect, and sound judgment. Colleagues praised his wisdom, compassion, and commitment to reconciliation. Since retiring in 2022, Judge Hoy has remained active through mentoring, work with the FACL BC, public speaking on inclusion and belonging, and serving as an adjudicator for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner. |
Dr. Carol Liao (she/her) is an Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Business Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law. Prior to academia, Dr. Liao practised M&A in New York with an international firm. She is the recipient of the 2021 Influential Women in Business Award from Business in Vancouver, the 2022 Women of the Year Award (Equity and Inclusion Champion) from BCBusiness and was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network. A long-time supporter of FACL BC, Dr. Liao appears in "But I Look Like a Lawyer” and delivered the closing keynote at FACL BC's 10th Anniversary Gala in 2021. |
Doug Chiu (he/him) is a Partner at Hammerco Lawyers LLP and leads its Commercial Litigation Department. He acts for businesses in relation to corporate malfeasance claims and insurance disputes. Doug has participated in FACL-BC’s mentorship program and has spoken at their various events. He is a member of the TLABC’s Executive Committee and Chairs its annual Litigation Conference. In 2021, he was appointed onto the Law Society of British Columbia Tribunal where he sits on discipline and credential hearings. Doug is regularly featured on Chinese media and co-hosts a program where he discusses legal issues and fields live questions in Cantonese. |
Gurminder Sandhu, K.C. (he/him) is a partner at Hamilton Duncan. Gurminder practices civil litigation, family law and insurance matters since being called to the bar in 2000. He is widely respected by colleagues and the judiciary for his knowledge, his professionalism and his integrity. Gurminder shares his knowledge to help build up the profession. He contributes to CLEBC and to the PLTC curriculum. He has written submissions on behalf of the Canadian Bar Association and has served on the BC South Asian Bar Association Executive. In 2021, Gurminder was appointed to the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee where he served for two years, after serving on the Provincial Judicial Advisory Committee for ten years. Gurminder has been a Bencher since 2022. He has been appointed to various Law Society committees, including being appointed as one of three motions’ adjudicators. In recognition of his contributions, Gurminder was appointed King’s Counsel in 2023. |
Izumi Miki McGruer , CFP, CLU, CHFC, CHS (she/her) has spent over 35 years in the financial advice industry which has been characterized by a deep commitment in giving back. After senior roles with London Life, Freedom 55 Financial, and Canada Life - where she served as Regional Vice-President , Izumi is now a Partner at McGruer Wealth and Estate Planning Group. Izumi has held numerous industry leadership positions, including Past President of Advocis Greater Vancouver, Chair of the National Chapter Leadership Council, Director on the National Board of the Financial Advisors Association of Canada, voting member of the Insurance Council of BC, and long-time Co-Chair of the Vancouver Estate Planning Conference. She has mentored emerging professionals for over a decade, including through the BCIT Financial Planning Program, UBC Arts Tri-Mentoring Program and the UBC Women in Business Blossom Mentor Program. She currently serves on the Institute for Advanced Financial Education as the Chair of its Discipline and Conduct Committee, is on the Advisory Board of Vela Wealth and is a member of the Forum Magazine Advisory Panel. A passionate music lover, Izumi also sits on the Board of the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festivals Society. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, boating with her family, reading tarot cards, gardening, and playing piano for anyone who will sing. |
Jeevyn Dhaliwal, K.C. (she/her) served as President of the Law Society of British Columbia for 2024, the occupation of which office was the culmination of more than a decade of service to the organization, as a Bencher and committee member. She is a longstanding and ardent supporter of FACL BC, having, during her earlier terms as a Board member and President of the South Asian Bar Association, facilitated the mutual engagement between these Associations, and, as LSBC President, she continued to provide opportunities for FACL’s meaningful engagement within the profession at large. Although always very proud to note that she is originally from Kamloops, she has practiced in Vancouver exclusively since her call to the Bar in 1998. Jeevyn is delighted to share her insight and support as a member of the Advisory Committee. |
Winston Sayson, M.G.C., K.C. (he/him) has been involved with FACL BC since 2011. He was the keynote speaker at FACL BC’s third annual gala and was the inaugural recipient of the FACL BC Lawyer of Distinction Award. Now retired, Winston served as a senior trial Crown Counsel with the BC Prosecution Service, Ministry of Attorney General (1989-2019). Winston is a distinguished Filipino-Chinese Canadian who personifies the virtues of the BC Medal of Good Citizenship as demonstrated through his legal career, service to victims of crime, dedication to the rule of law, and volunteer work. He was a pioneer in combining wellness practices with legal work and taught lawyers trauma-informed practices to minimize re-traumatizing victims. |
Past Advisors |
Cheryl D'Sa, K.C. (she/her) is a first generation Canadian, born and raised in Vancouver. She attended law school at UBC and was called to the bar in 2008. She summered, articled and practiced at a mid-sized firm before joining a plaintiff only firm. In 2013 she joined her partner to start their own firm, Narwal Litigation LLP, where she remains today as the Managing Partner. The firm is devoted to criminal defence, professional regulation, securities litigation and personal injury. She is also a mediator. She was the first visible minority female president of the Vancouver Bar Association. She received the CBABC WLF Debra Van Ginkel, QC Mentoring Award. Business in Vancouver named her a Top Forty Under 40 (2019) and she received the Canadian Lawyer Magazine Excellence Award in the Female Trailblazer of the Year category for the 2021 Canadian Law Awards.
Raji Mangat (she/her) is a non-profit leader and practicing lawyer with 20 years of specialist and senior level experiencing working to improve access to justice and enhance equity for underserved communities. She is currently the executive director of West Coast LEAF. Along with her role on FACL BC's Advisory Committee, Raji serves on the boards of the Vancouver Public Library and Health Justice, and on the national committee of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Law, where she teaches a course on civil liberties and the Charter. She recently served on a task force reviewing the Employment Equity Act. |
Kelly Ho (she/her) entered the financial services industry in 2005. She holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFA) Professional and Certified Cash Flow (CCF) Specialist certifications. Kelly was a finalist for the 2022 Female Trailblazer of the Year award from Wealth Professional Canada and is frequently sought out by media outlets as an expert on common financial planning issues faced by Canadians. In the community, Kelly is a longstanding Kiwanis Club of Vancouver member, working exclusively with youth initiatives, and has been involved with the FACL BC since 2016. |
Mark Leung (he/him) is the founder and CEO of Interhouse, the former General Counsel for GSL Group and Chief Legal Officer / Chief Compliance Officer for OPBets, a prospective igaming operator for the province of Ontario. Prior to GSL and OPBets, Mark was the Director of Legal at BBTV, Corporate Counsel and Chief Copywriter for a branding firm that he co-founded, and a litigation associate at one of Canada's largest national law firms. Mark has previously served as a director with FACL BC and the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. He was also a member of the CBABC Legal Aid Committee and Civil Litigation Section. Mark currently teaches as an adjunct professor at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. |
