Established in 1988, SMS Law is a highly regarded Victoria-based municipal law firm. The firm acts for sophisticated institutional clients including municipalities and regional districts across British Columbia.

Following the judicial appointment of one of the firm’s senior litigators, SMS is seeking to add a senior lawyer at the counsel or partner level to assume a meaningful role in the firm’s litigation practice. This is a rare opportunity to step into a well-established book of complex, substantive disputes, without the expectation of bringing a portable practice. 

The successful candidate will manage and run sophisticated litigation files from intake through to multi-week trials. The work spans bespoke liability defence, construction disputes, negligence, and other municipal matters including land use, injunctions, by-law prosecutions, and related judicial reviews and other administrative law proceedings. 

SMS is seeking candidates with 10+ years of experience in municipal litigation, commercial insurance defence, or accomplished trial lawyers from construction or other related litigation practices. 

The role is based in Victoria, BC. The firm will consider candidates currently located in Vancouver or elsewhere in BC who have a demonstrable intention to relocate to Victoria over time. 

Compensation is competitive, structured around a base salary with a bonus tied to billings beyond target. This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven litigator to step into a complex and diverse municipal litigation practice in Victoria with clients across the province. 

This is an exclusive recruitment engagement with Smith Legal Search. Please direct all applications and inquiries to David Namkung at dave@smithlegalsearch.com.