The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law is kicking off a major fundraising campaign to construct a new building thanks to a
$1 million gift from Farris, a leading Canadian law firm based in Vancouver.
This is the largest gift ever made by a law firm to support legal education in B.C. It will support the Faculty of Law’s efforts to replace the current building with a new structure on the existing UBC Law School site.
“We’re extremely pleased that Farris, with its esteemed 100-year history, is leading the way in laying a firm foundation for exciting growth at UBC’s Faculty of Law,” says UBC President Stephen Toope.
“This generous gift provides a legacy that will benefit the province, the legal profession and future generations of law students,” says Toope.
In recognition of this gift, UBC Faculty of Law will name a prominent lecture hall “Farris Hall” in honour of the firm’s longstanding commitment to UBC.
“This cornerstone investment reflects the commitment and pride of a generation of Farris partners, many of whom are graduates of the UBC Faculty of Law,” says Keith Mitchell, Managing Partner of Farris and a UBC alumnus.
“In providing this gift, Farris partners are proud to recognize the important role UBC plays in developing our future leaders, not only in the legal profession but in the extended community within and beyond Canada’s borders,” says Mitchell. “It gives us great pleasure to be able to give back to our province, its legal profession and our community in such a meaningful way.”
Farris has had a long and successful association with the UBC Faculty of Law. During the 1930s and ’40s, Farris’ founder, Senator John Wallace de Becque Farris, rallied community support for a B.C. law school. He was instrumental in convincing the provincial government to provide $10,000 in funding, allowing UBC to create the law school in 1945.
– 30 –
Background
UBC Faculty of Law
One of Canada’s preeminent law schools, UBC Law has a 60-year history of educating leaders in the legal profession and society. UBC Law alumni include the Right Honourable Kim Campbell; Thomas Berger, a former Supreme Court Justice; the Honourable Frank Iacobucci; and the Honourable Wally Oppal. The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and UBC Chancellor Allan McEachern, former Chief Justice of the B.C. Court of Appeal and a UBC alumnus, have both taught at the UBC Law School.
UBC Law provides its 700-plus students the broadest array of courses offered in Canada, among them theoretical and critical perspectives on the law, advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, legal research and writing, problem solving and ethics. Faculty members have won national and international recognition for their cutting-edge research and for advancing knowledge in issues as diverse as the environment, First Nations rights, intellectual property, corporate governance and feminist legal studies.
For more information visit: http://www.law.ubc.ca/.
Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP
Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP (Farris) is a leading Canadian law firm located in Vancouver, British Columbia with a diverse client base that includes some of the largest public institutions and private corporations in the province.
Founded in 1903 by Senator John Wallace de Beque Farris, Farris provides innovative solutions and unparalleled knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate and commercial, securities, banking, real estate, technology, biotechnology, litigation and labour law.
As recognized and respected leaders in their field, many Farris lawyers are ranked among the top 500 leading lawyers in Canada. In 2006, Farris was rated the top corporate and litigation law firm in Vancouver by LEXPERT, Canada’s most well-read business magazine for lawyers.
Farris has a proud tradition of supporting the development of the legal profession in British Columbia. In 2003, Farris established the Farris Endowment at UBC to celebrate the firm’s 100th anniversary and commitment to the academic study of law. This $200,000 gift supports excellence in teaching and research in the areas of business law and advocacy. It also serves as a memorial to C. Francis (Frank) Murphy, QC, and Peter W. Butler, QC, former partners of the firm.
UBC Law Building
A 1995 assessment of the current UBC Law Faculty building revealed moisture and ventilation problems in addition to outmoded teaching spaces, serious deficiencies in classroom design and space, and limited wheelchair accessibility. A cost analysis showed that renovating and rebuilding the existing building was uneconomical given its concrete structure and flaws in the heating and ventilation system.
The proposed facility will provide space for more than 60 full-time faculty members and 600 undergraduate and 100 graduate students. The new building will be designed with a mix of classrooms and large lecture halls along with a new, state-of-the-art UBC Law Library serving as a vital academic hub for students and the legal community.
