Tam Boyar

Co-Founder

Assistant

Refer Tam

Biography

One of the co-founders of MacKay Boyar, Tam represents clients in a wide range of civil and commercial matters including contract disputes, shareholder oppression claims, employment law matters and fiduciary duty claims.

He also represents clients in select criminal cases as well as proceedings before the BC Securities Commission and professional discipline bodies.

Benchmark Litigation recognizes him as a Litigation Star in white collar crime, securities and commercial litigation with one of his peers commenting that he is “a genius, the full package … clients love him and he is an incredible listener.”

In January 2020, Tam was appointed as Policy Counsel for the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia.  He has also been trial and appellate counsel on a number of significant constitutional cases including Cambie Surgeries Corporation v. Attorney General of British Columbia, a constitutional challenge to the provision of medical care in the province.

Tam obtained his law degree from McGill University where he graduated at the top of his class and was the recipient of numerous academic and mooting awards including the Nathan Cotler Memorial Prize in Human Rights Law, the James McGill Award, the H. Carl Goldenberg Scholarship, and the Maurice Goldenberg Memorial Scholarship.

After graduating from McGill, he served as a law clerk to the Honourable Justice Morris Fish at the Supreme Court of Canada.  He then joined a top-rated litigation boutique where he was counsel on a number of leading cases throughout the country

Tam consistently achieves outstanding results for his clients and has earned the respect of his peers and the courts for his professionalism, commitment and skill.

Education

  • LLB, McGill University (2007)
  • BCL, McGill University (2007)
  • BA, Dartmouth College (2001)

Bar Admissions

  • British Columbia (2008)

Notable Cases

Jennett v. 1026079 B.C. Ltd., 2019 BCSC 1543
Tam Boyar and Samantha Arrandale represented Brenda Jennett in connection with an oppression claim brought pursuant to s. 227(2) of the Business Corporations Act. Ms. Jennett’s shares in the respondent company were seized by one of the directors of the company pursuant to the terms of a promissory note. The court found that the director’s actions following the seizure of the shares was abusive and unfairly disregarded Ms. Jennett’s rights as a shareholder. The court made an order requiring the director to purchase her shares and compensate her for any additional damages suffered as a result of the oppressive conduct.

R v. Pilling (Oral Reasons for Judgment pronounced January 28, 2019)
Tam Boyar and Samantha Arrandale represented the accused, Derek Pilling, on charges of trafficking in a controlled substance, transporting proceeds of crime and possession of proceeds of crime. Mr. Pilling entered a guilty plea to all charges and the Crown sought a sentence of three years jail to be served in Nova Scotia (where the trafficking activity was alleged to have occurred). Following a contested sentencing hearing in Nova Scotia, the court suspended the passing of sentence and placed Mr. Pilling on a probation order.

R v. Gill (Oral Reasons for Judgment pronounced March 2, 2018)
Tam Boyar and Sam Arrandale were successful in obtaining a stay of proceedings on the basis of delay in bringing the matter to trial.

R v. Zadeh, 2016 BCCA 474
In this case, the defendant was alleged to have drugged and sexually assaulted the complainant while they were drinking at his apartment. He was convicted at trial and sentenced to a significant term of imprisonment. Our firm was retained to bring an appeal on his behalf.

R v. McDonald, 2014 BCSC 477
Since 2013, Tam Boyar and Samantha Arrandale have been counsel for Thomas McDonald in connection with criminal proceedings arising from the 1981 shooting death of an individual in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

Icahn Partners LP v. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., 2011 BCCA 228
This case involved an oppression claim brought by Icahn Partners LP against Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (and others).

Sun-Rype Products Ltd. v. Archer Daniels Midland Company, 2011 BCCA 187
This was a price-fixing class action involving an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of high fructose corn syrup. One of the key issues was whether indirect purchasers of products containing high fructose corn syrup could bring a claim against the defendant companies.

Dhillon v. Her Majesty the Queen (and others)
Since 2015, Tam Boyar and Sam Arrandale have been involved in the defence of a claim for Charter damages arising from the alleged non-disclosure of information in the criminal context.

Re SPYru Inc., 2015 BCSECCOM 452
Tam Boyar represented three directors of a private company in the sanction phase of proceedings before the B.C. Securities Commission.

Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner) v. Alberta Teachers’ Association, 2011 SCC 61
Tam was counsel for one of the interveners on one of the leading cases on standard of review and compliance with administrative time limits.

 

 

See all Tam's cases