About Karen

I'm a settler and lawyer working on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in Vancouver, BC. I have two decades of experience in criminal defence and advocacy. This includes acting for people in protest communities, drug- and/or gang-involved communities, youth, homeless people and people from all walks of life.

I'm honoured to support individuals and communities who are advancing their rights in the legal system. I'm a skilled trial lawyer and  legal advocate. I use a trauma-informed approach and plain language to give legal advice that can be understood by everyone. 

My non-profit experience includes work as staff counsel for Pivot Legal Society, where I focused on grass-roots campaign work in sex work, housing and policing. I've chaired the boards of Pivot Legal Society and PACE and am currently board chair at the BC Civil Liberties Association. I'm a member of the advisory board of the Canadian Law Review.