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Expropriation Lawyers
Helping Landowners Receive Full CompensationThe Expropriation Notice is the start of a process that you cannot stop, but with expert legal advice, you can obtain the highest value for your exporpriated land. The offer to you is a conclusion of a process built around the expropriating authority’s position, not yours. There is a high probability that the offer you received is a fraction of what the expropriation is really worth. We have seen it many times before, and in every case, we have successfully challenged the offer, and often by a wide margin. Knowing the arguments to make is key to winning the proces.
Speak With an Expropriation Lawyer
Confidential. A lawyer will review your case within 1 business day.
Top RatedExpropriation Law Firm in British Columbia
0Property Owner Clients Who Trust ATAC LAW
0Litigation Lawyers on Staff
0Years of Combined Legal Experience
The First Offer Can be Beaten with Experience
We have spent years on the property owner's side of the table, guiding clients across British Columbia through every stage of the process, from the first notice through negotiation and ultimately, the Supreme Court of British Columbia. We know how authorities construct their offers, how their appraisals are flawed and biased, where those offers consistently fall short, and which of the Act's six heads of compensation are most often left out: market value, injurious affection, disturbance damages, business losses, equivalent reinstatement, and recoverable legal and appraisal costs.
We rebuild your claim from the ground up, independently appraised, fully documented, and grounded in the statute. Property owners who engage ATAC LAW consistently recover materially more than they were first offered.
One of the biggest risks for clients that we see with these cases is that the expropriating authority attempts to convince the property owner that their offer is reasonable and should be accepted. In reality, sometimes the offer is ten times (10x) lower than what the owner is owed. We make sure every owner that retains us learns the full value of what they can receive.
You cannot stop the expropriation. You can, with experienced expropriation lawyers, secure the full compensation the Expropriation Act provides. That is the work we do on your side from the very first conversation. The earlier we are involved, the better positioned we are to protect your interests.
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What You Are Entitled to Claim Under the BC Expropriation Act
The authority must pay what your property would have sold for on the open market, not a figure discounted by the project itself. An independent appraisal is the only way to verify whether the offer reflects true market value, and in most cases the gap is recoverable. We have experienced, independent appraisers who have helped us win for our clients.
When only part of your land is taken, what remains often loses value: a smaller lot, awkward access, or proximity to a highway or transmission line. Injurious affection compensates you separately for that loss, and it is the head of compensation most commonly omitted from first offers.
You are entitled to recover the practical costs of being displaced: moving expenses, temporary accommodation, lost use of the property, and the disruption to your daily life or operations. Properly documented, these add up quickly and form a substantial part of a fair claim.
If your business operates from the expropriated property, you may claim lost profits, damaged goodwill, the cost of relocating equipment and operations, and any decline in revenue during the transition. Quantifying these losses takes careful financial and operational analysis — work authorities rarely undertake on your behalf.
The cost of finding, purchasing, and moving to a comparable property is recoverable, including legal fees, land transfer taxes, surveys, and incidental acquisition costs. The legal standard is equivalent reinstatement: you should be no worse off financially after the move than you were before.
Under the BC Expropriation Act, the reasonable costs of legal representation and independent appraisal are often recoverable from the expropriating authority. This means engaging counsel is rarely the out-of-pocket burden most owners assume — a point we walk through clearly at our first meeting.
Meet the Expropriation Lawyers
Behind Our Clients' Success
Mike C. Stewart
Partner, Engineer, JD, Q.Arb, Q.Med
Expropriation and property rights lawyer. Dual-designated lawyer and engineer with over 10 years of experience in property disputes, compensation claims, and dispute resolution under the BC Expropriation Act.
Roy D. Kim
JD, Engineer., Barrister & Solicitor
Roy combines passionate legal advocacy with hands-on engineering experience in complex technical disputes, property rights, and civil litigation including expropriation and compensation matters.
Dan H. Griffith
Q.Arb, Litigation Lawyer, Partner
Dan is a true litigator with over 10 years of experience advocating for property owners in compensation disputes, arbitration, and court proceedings at the BC Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeal.
Gurpal Sandhu
Associate Lawyer
Gurpal specialises in property and commercial litigation, representing clients from individuals to corporations in compensation disputes, property claims, and court proceedings across BC and Ontario.
David Milojkovic
Associate Lawyer
David is known for securing favorable outcomes for property owners through diligent documentation, effective negotiation, and strategic enforcement of compensation rights.
James Cain
Associate Lawyer
James has built a reputation for delivering clear, strategic advice and exceptional results in property, commercial, and compensation disputes across British Columbia.
Rodolfo Assinger
Associate Lawyer
Rodolfo is a multidisciplinary lawyer with experience in property law, torts, contracts, and dispute resolution. His background in construction management gives him an edge in assessing compensation claims for owners, contractors, and businesses.
James Un
Senior Lawyer
James Un is a senior lawyer at ATAC LAW. He focuses on real estate litigation, property disputes, debt collection, and commercial litigation — including matters involving property rights and compensation claims.
Raymond Jin
Lawyer
Raymond Jin is a courtroom litigation lawyer at ATAC LAW. He focuses on civil litigation, commercial litigation, property disputes, estate litigation, and residential tenancy disputes.
Linting Zhang
Lawyer
Linting has extensive litigation experience across Greater Vancouver, with the ability to quickly understand clients' legal needs and develop efficient, cost-effective strategies in property and civil litigation matters.
Siwei Xu
Lawyer
Siwei Xu focuses on civil and commercial litigation, property disputes, and residential tenancy matters. He has represented clients in proceedings before the BC Supreme Court and Provincial Court.
One of Our Clients' Greatest Wins
Municipal Road Widening
Landowner awarded $150,000 in municipal road widening expropriation
ATAC LAW's expropriation lawyers obtained compensation of $150,000 for a landowner affected by a municipal road widening project. The authority's initial offer significantly undervalued the taken land. Following independent appraisal review and negotiation, the client recovered the full amount to which they were entitled under the BC Expropriation Act.
Why Choose ATAC LAW for Expropriation Matters
01
BC Expropriation Act specialists
We know every section, every deadline, and every head of compensation available to you. We have done work for for years on the property owner's side of the table, across every type of authority taking in British Columbia.
02
Independent appraisal review before you respond
We identify everything the authority's offer left out before you respond. An offer accepted without legal review is an offer that closes off your rights. Our review benchmarks the offer against full statutory entitlement and positions your claim for maximum recovery.
03
Negotiation first, litigation when necessary
We resolve most expropriation matters at the table. When the authority will not pay what the law requires, we advance your claim through the BC Supreme Court. The other side knows we will take a case the full distance if the settlement is not what you are owed.
04
Experience against major authorities
Township of Langley, TransLink, BC Hydro, Ministry of Transportation, and municipal authorities across BC. We know how these organizations construct their offers, where their appraisals consistently fall short, and which heads of compensation their initial positions most often omit.
05
Partial expropriation and injurious affection expertise
If only part of your land is taken, the impact on what remains is often the largest component of your claim. ATAC LAW assesses the full effect on your remaining property's value and advances the injurious affection claim the authority's offer routinely ignores.
06
Legal costs often recoverable from the authority
Under the BC Expropriation Act, reasonable legal and appraisal costs are often recoverable from the expropriating authority. Engaging ATAC LAW is rarely the out-of-pocket burden most property owners assume. We walk through the cost position clearly at our first meeting.
What BC Property Owners Say About ATAC LAW
"David walked me through all potential scenarios, put down my builders lien in a timely fashion, and within two weeks I was paid in full. Best decision ever."
Anything ConcreteGoogle Review
"Excellent knowledge of construction and Strata law. Partners educated in Engineering and Law, a perfect match for construction litigation. Would highly recommend."
Trevor SmithGoogle Review
"Mr. Kim helped me with my construction dispute. Very happy with the resolution and the price. Very professional and quick to respond. I've already recommended ATAC Law to friends and clients."
Zanyar The RealtorGoogle Review
"For businesses in construction and engineering, ATAC LAW is an asset. Responsive, straight to the heart of the matter, and they never sugar-coat costs. Everyone I've referred has come back thanking me."
Chad GiffenGoogle Review
"James Un handled my pre-sale contract dispute professionally and kept me informed throughout. The case settled smoothly. Quick, concise responses with genuine expertise."
Tru NguyenGoogle Review
Our Locations
Vancouver Office
Vancouver
375 Water St #650
Vancouver, BC V6B 5C6
Vancouver, BC V6B 5C6
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Burnaby Office
Burnaby
8988 Fraserton Ct #308
Burnaby, BC V5J 5H8
Burnaby, BC V5J 5H8
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Surrey Office
Surrey
15299 68 Ave #207
Surrey, BC V3S 3L5
Surrey, BC V3S 3L5
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Richmond Office
Richmond
#1020-6388 No.3 Rd
Richmond, BC V6Y 0A2
Richmond, BC V6Y 0A2
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Expropriation Law Insights
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Our expropriation team is here to help.
Contact Our Team →Can I refuse the expropriation?
In most cases, no, a government authority with expropriation power under British Columbia law can take your property without your consent. What you can do is challenge the amount of compensation you receive and ensure every applicable head of claim is included in the award.
Is the government's appraisal final?
No. The authority's appraisal is their starting position, not a legal determination. You have the right to obtain an independent appraisal and challenge their valuation at the Expropriation Compensation Board. In most cases, an independent review identifies material gaps in the offer.
What is injurious affection?
Injurious affection is compensation for the decrease in value to your remaining land caused either by the expropriation itself or by the construction and operation of the public project on the taken land. It is one of the most commonly overlooked heads of compensation and a significant source of additional recovery for property owners who are properly represented.
What if only part of my land is being taken?
Partial expropriation can significantly reduce the value of what remains. You may claim injurious affection for the impact on your remaining property, in addition to full compensation for the portion actually taken. ATAC LAW assesses the full effect on your remaining land and ensures the injurious affection claim is properly advanced.
How long does the process take?
Negotiations typically take weeks to months. If the matter proceeds to the Expropriation Compensation Board, the timeline extends further. Acting early — before deadlines pass — is critical to preserving all your options and achieving the best outcome.
Do I have to pay your legal fees?
In most cases, you will need to pay legal and appraisal fees as you incur them. In many expropriation matters, those costs are recoverable from the expropriating authority under the BC Expropriation Act. We will provide our opinion on the likelihood of cost recovery as your case progresses — and we walk through the cost position clearly at our first meeting.
Protect Your Property Rights Today
Paid consultation. Straight answers. Strict deadlines apply, don't wait. Your case deserves specialized expropriation advice. Book your confidential case review now.
Protect Your Property Rights
Confidential. A lawyer will review your case within 1 business day.