Rick Buchan
Barrister & SolicitorP.O. Box 33193
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 6S1
Phone: (867) 668-5611
Fax: (867) 668-5610
Email: rbuchan@northwestel.net
Area of Specialty
- Law practice:
- commercial and insurance-related litigation
- administrative law
- Chairperson of quasi-judicial tribunals
- Commercial and insurance mediation
- Personal injury mediation
- Arbitration
Credentials
- University degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts, English Language, 1980
- Bachelor of Laws, 1983
- Professional practice of law:
- Called to the Bar of British Columbia, 1984
- called to the Bar of Yukon, 1988
- continuous private practice of civil litigation since 1984
- Certificate in Advanced Commercial Mediation, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 1996
- Alternate Dispute Resolution for Litigators, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, 1997
- Dealing with Anger (in conflict resolution), Yukon College, 2000
- Various mediation-related courses for lawyers
- Sessional Instructor (past) at Yukon College, teaching Administrative Law for Tribunals
- Chairperson, Yukon Review Board (quasi-judicial tribunal under Criminal Code of Canada) 1999 to the present time
- 15 years’ experience as legal counsel for parties in mediation processes
Availability
- Full time, by mutual convenience
Further Background Information
• Experience in dispute resolution:
As a lawyer, I have more than 25 years of continuous dispute
resolution experience in the context of civil disputes. My law practice has been almost exclusively oriented around civil litigation, and increasingly such disputes have been resolved through mediation. Having experienced a high ratio of success in achieving mediated settlements, I am committed to this very effective alternative to expensive and formalistic
litigation procedures in the courts.
• Style:
I generally prefer an interest-based, facilitative mediation style that allows the parties to explore and understand their respective interests around the dispute issue, thus leading to discovery of a broader range of creative options for resolving disputes. However, mediators require a variety of tools and styles at their disposal, depending upon the nature of the dispute and the parties. My experience as a lawyer enables me to offer evaluative input, when requested, to enable the parties to gain a more objective perspective on the issues.
• Arbitration:
Over the past 20 years I have served as chairperson on a wide variety of quasijudicial tribunals, enabling me to offer substantial experience — independently, neutrally and objectively—in deciding private disputes that may not be suitable for resolution within the public courts.