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Farris LLPPartner
Karen Shirley-Paterson
Pro

Karen Shirley-Paterson

2.9
1 review

25th Floor, 700 W Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1B3

Family Law

About Karen Shirley-Paterson

Karen specializes in the area of family law. She guides clients through mediation, resolving numerous matrimonial disputes ranging from the simple to the complex, and has extensive experience drafting co-habitation, marriage, and separation agreements. Her practice includes all matters relating to parenting, property division, child and spousal support, and divorce, and she has appeared as family counsel in all levels of court in British Columbia. Karen has been named in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as among the leading family lawyers in British Columbia, and is also recognized for her family law expertise in the Best Lawyers Directory and by Martindale-Hubbell, an authoritative and global source for identifying leading lawyers and law firms.

Year of Call

1989

Legal Recognition

•The Best Lawyers in Canada (2026)
•Lexpert Leading Lawyers in Canada (2025)
•Martindale-Hubbell Ranking (CV)

In the News

Recognition

61 Farris Lawyers Recognized in the 2026 Best Lawyers in Canada Directory

September 4, 2025

Recognition

28 Farris Lawyers Named in the 2025 Lexpert Directory

March 11, 2025

Recognition

61 Farris Lawyers Recognized in the 2025 Best Lawyers in Canada Directory

August 29, 2024

 

Karen Shirley-Paterson (Vancouver, British Columbia) View website

Awards

Notable Peer Rated
This award is granted to attorneys who have been reviewed by their peers, with an average peer review score below 3.0.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer CV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Karen Shirley-Paterson got this award in 2021

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

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Services

Areas of Law

  • Family Law

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Partner
    Firm Name
    Farris LLP
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Representative Work: Negotiation
    settlement of property division
    child
    spousal support in a variety of situations including those ranging from basic family holdings to those involving family trusts, corporate holdings, diverse investments
    real property holdings.
    Negotiation
    settlement of trust claims for property.
    Advising internationally on cases in the areas of mobility, parenting, property,
    support,
    advising on the law of B.C., including for purposes of prenuptial, marriage
    separation agreements for international clients or their counsel.

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1989, New Brunswick
    1990, British Columbia
    Memberships

    Affiliations

    •Member of the Law Society of British Columbia
    •Member of the Family Law Subsection of the Vancouver and Canadian Bar Associations
    •Member of the Trial Lawyers' Association of British Columbia
    •fellow, Canadian Chapter, International Academy of Family Lawyers
    •Treasurer and President Elect Designate, Canadian Chapter Executive Committee, International Academy of Family Lawyers

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Dalhousie University
    Class of 1988
    LL.B.
    Other Education
    University of New Brunswick
    Class of 1982
    B.Sc.

Contact Karen Shirley-Paterson

Partner at Farris LLP
2.9
1 review

Pacific Centre South, 25th Floor, 700 W Georgia StreetVancouver, BC V7Y 1B3Canada

Show on map
Fax: 604 661 9349
Office Hours:
  • Monday 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
  • Tuesday 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
  • Wednesday 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
  • Thursday 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
  • Friday 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM

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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    Karen Shirley-Paterson was admitted in 1989 to the State of New Brunswick.
  • Is this attorney admitted to the bar in more than one state?
    Yes, Karen Shirley-Paterson is admitted to practice in British Columbia and New Brunswick.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Farris LLP has 97 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Karen Shirley-Paterson attended Dalhousie University.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Farris LLP was established in 1903.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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