Practice Profile
Richard regularly represents clients in all levels of Court in British Columbia and in the Yukon. He has extensive experience in both jury and non-jury trials of allegations such as murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, kidnapping, extortion, drug offences, fraud, dangerous offender hearings, and serious driving offences.
He has successfully argued appeals in the British Columbia Court of Appeal, the Court of Appeal for Yukon, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before the Review Board designated to assess the needs of individuals found unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible because of mental disorder. He represents clients in courthouses across B.C. and Yukon as well as in Youth Court.
Richard has extensive experience working as part of a legal team on large, complex cases. His experience includes managing a team of lawyers representing one of the accused in the Air India case and he was co-counsel with David Gibbons, K.C. on the successful defence of former B.C. Premier Glen Clark against breach of trust and fraud charges.
Richard serves on the Board of Governors of the Trial Lawyer’s Association of British Columbia, he is a Director of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers, he is also a Director of the BC Association of Legal Aid Lawyers, and he serves as Treasurer of the Western Front Foundation. In 2016 Richard appeared on behalf of the CCCDL before the House of Commons Standing Committees on Justice and Human Rights regarding access to Legal Aid and Medical Assistance in Dying.
Professional Recognition
- Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2014 (King’s Counsel as of September 8, 2022)
- Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
- Selected for inclusion in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Canada for Criminal Defence
- Lawyer of the Year 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Canada for Criminal Defence – Vancouver
Other Professional Activities
Outside of his criminal practice, Richard Fowler, K.C. has been a regular presenter at advocacy courses in Canada and the United States focusing on how technology can be used to enhance courtroom performance on behalf of clients. He also has a particular interest in the law governing the use and misuse of expert evidence during trials.
In 2011 Richard was awarded the Milvain Chair in Advocacy by the University of Calgary Faculty of Law.
In addition, Richard is active in the following areas and activities:
- Member of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, an international organization of lawyers committed to protecting the human rights of lawyers who work around the world protecting the rights of others;
- Past guest speaker at the Professional Legal Training Course run by the Law Society of British Columbia and at the UBC Law School; and
- A regular guest speaker at conferences and seminars in the areas of criminal law, advocacy skills, and legal technology.
- Chair and organizer of Continuing Legal Education Conferences for the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia.
- Guest speaker at the UBC Law School
- Advocacy coach for UBC Law Students
- Guest speaker at Continuing Legal Education of BC Courses
Richard Fowler has appeared on television and radio to provide analysis and commentary on legal issues, and is frequently contacted by the print media for comment on current criminal cases.
Richard Fowler was also profiled in The Verdict Magazine‘s 157 summer 2018 edition. The Verdict Magazine is a quarterly publication of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia.
Education & Training
Mr. Fowler holds a B.Sc.(Hons) in Psychology from the University of Birmingham, England and earned his LL.B in 1994 from McGill University. He articled under David Gibbons, K.C. After being called to the Bar in 1995 he continued to work with David. In 1997 David Gibbons K.C., Richard Fowler and Matthew Nathanson formed the firm of Gibbons Fowler Nathanson. After David Gibbons K.C. passed away in 2004, Richard continued the firm of Gibbons Fowler. In September 2011, he brought his experience and skill to the new firm of Fowler and Smith, Barristers. After Lyndsay Smith was appointed to be a judge of the Provincial Court of B.C., we decided to change the name of the firm to Fowler and Blok to reflect the contributions Ms. Blok made to the success of the firm.
Jurisdictions
- Member of the Law Society of British Columbia
- Member, Law Society of the Yukon
- R. v. Penner, 2019 BCCA 76
- R. v. Grant, 2019 BCCA 369
- R. v. Park, 2018 BCSC 1632
- R. v. Dick, 2018 BCCA 343
- R. Chung, 2018 BCPC 133
- R. v. Bradshaw 2017 SCC 35
Link to Webcast (Mr. Fowler appears at 2:27:38) - R. v. Hamzehali 2017 BCCA 290
- R. v. Barr 2016 BCSC 193
- R. v. Davidson 2015 BCPC 335
- R. v. Bradshaw 2015 BCCA 195
- R. v. Dhillon 2015 BCSC 1298
- R. v. Snelson 2015 BCSC 1882
- R. v. Leung 2014 BCSC 1894
- R. v. D.G. 2014 BCCA 84
- R. v. Butorac 2013 BCCA 421
- R. v. Law and Lai 2013 BCPC 393
- R. v. Leung 2013 BCSC 1230
- R. v. Cocks 2012 BCSC 1334
- R. v. L.P. 2012 BCPC 6
- R. v. Smith 2011 BCSC 1695
- R. v. Butorac 2010 BCSC 908
- R. v. Smith 2010 BCCA 35
- R. v. Wing and Richard 2009 YKTC 113
- R. v. McKenzie 2009 BCSC 1820
- R. v. Kinley 2009 BCCA 363
- R. v. Lewis 2009 BCCA 244
- R. v. Markovitch 2008 BCSC 1545
- R. v. Giles 2008 BCSC 367
- R. v. Dhaliwal 2007 BSCS 1936
- R. v. Stauffer 2007 BCCA 7
- R. v. Daunt, 2007 YKCA 14 – 2007/11/20
- R. v. Rodrigue 2007 YKCA 9
- R. v. Nathalie Gettliffe-Grant 2006 BCSC 1944
- R. v. Nathalie Gettliffe-Grant 2006 BCSC 1943
- R. v. Lewis 2006 BCSC 1603
- R. v. B.R.W. 2006 BCSC 2102
- R. v. M.P. 2006 BCCA 236; [2006] B.C.J. No. 1062
- R. v. Popov 2006 BCSC 34; [2006] B.C.J. No. 38
- R. v. Daunt 2005 YHSC 34
- R. v. Madrusan 2005 BCCA 609; [2005] B.C.J. No. 2658
- R. v. Proulx 2005 BCSC 184, [2005] B.C.J. No. 272
- R. v. Anderson 2005 BCSC 228; [2005] B.C.J. No. 344
- R. v. Pilarinos 2002 BCSC 1267; [2002] B.C.J. No. 1958
- R. v. Pilarinos 2002 BCSC 452; [2002] B.C.J. No. 609
- R. v. Chan 2001 BCSC 1180 (CanLII); [2001] B.C.J. No. 1689
- R. v. Porter 2001 BCPC 0191 (CanLII); [2001] B.C.J. No. 1826
- R. v. Johal 2001 BCCA 436 (CanLII); [2001] B.C.J. No. 1404
- Brar v. Sahota 1998 CanLII 6477 (BCCA)
- R. v. Kliman 1998 CanLII 15048 (BCSC); [1998] B.C.J. No. 1283
- R. v. Kliman 1998 CanlII 15078
- R. v. Mordo 1997 CanLII 2990 (BCCA)
- R. v. Mordo 1996 CanLII 2077 (BCCA)
- R. v. Kliman 1996 CanLII 8454 (BCSC)
- R. v. Roy 1996 CanLII 2934 (BCCA); [1996] B.C.J. No. 748