Brandon
Hastings
Associate
Biography
Brandon Hastings is a litigator, mediator, and legal innovator with a strong track record in high-stakes disputes and appeals across British Columbia. His practice spans business and real estate conflicts, civil litigation, family law, and complex appellate matters—often involving novel legal questions and lasting legal impact.
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PERSONAL LAW
BUSINESS LAW
Education
LLM in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship | Cornell University, Faculty of Law | May 2024
Juris Doctor | University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law | May 2013
Exchange Semester (from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law) | National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law | August 2011
Bachelor’s of Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Leadership (with Distinction) | Kwantlen Polytechnic University, School of Business | April 2010
Business Administration Diploma (with Distinction)| Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Economics Faculty | December 2007
Trends in e-Psychology (and e-Mediation) | University of Leuven (Belgium) via EdX | December 2015
Knowledge Management and Big Data in Business | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University via EdX | October 2015
BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHY
Brandon Hastings is a litigator, mediator, and legal innovator with a strong track record in high-stakes disputes and appeals across British Columbia. His practice spans business and real estate conflicts, civil litigation, family law, and complex appellate matters—often involving novel legal questions and lasting legal impact.
Brandon holds a Master of Laws in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship from Cornell Tech, where he earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award and graduated with a 4.11 GPA. His graduate work built on an established reputation for combining legal insight with technical fluency and business acumen.
Highlights:
- Over a decade of courtroom and negotiation experience, including precedent-setting wins at the BC Court of Appeal
- Certified family law mediator and collaboratively trained, known for practical, people-focused solutions
- Trusted by individuals, families, and business owners to resolve conflict with clarity and care
- Nationally recognized legal innovator and graduate of Cornell Tech’s elite LL.M. program (4.11 GPA, CALI Award)
Brandon has appeared at every level of court in British Columbia and is equally at home in the courtroom, the boardroom, or the mediation room. Clients value his calm under pressure, clear communication, and ability to simplify complex issues. As a certified mediator and trusted advisor, he’s frequently sought out for matters that demand both strategic thinking and human understanding.
Beyond litigation, Brandon has helped shape BC’s justice system—contributing to tools like the Civil Resolution Tribunal’s “Solution Explorer,” founding The Justice Hack, and co-founding Vancouver Legal Hackers. He has served on the boards of the Canadian Bar Association (BC Branch) and ISSofBC, and regularly teaches and speaks at conferences for legal professionals and mediators across Canada.
When he’s not working, Brandon is usually building something, sailing, or SCUBA diving under the ocean’s surface. He holds a black belt in martial arts, an over 1500-day streak on Duolingo, and keeps finding new ways (and new things) to learn.
Representative Matters
- Willms v. Willms, 2020 BCCA 51
Successfully represented the appellant in a complex appeal of a chambers judgment, resulting in a significant reduction in spousal support obligations. Retroactive support was recalculated and reduced by over $30,000. Covered in Take Five British Columbia: CanLII link.
- Pisarski v. Piesik, 2019 BCCA 129
Defended against a claim seeking to exclude $351,000 from family property, leading to a landmark appellate ruling clarifying the legal test for intention when excluded funds are placed into joint property. Followed by courts across British Columbia, including Venables v. Venables, 2019 BCCA 281.
- Helle v. Helle, 2019 BCCA 97
Led the appeal on behalf of a spouse denied support, resulting in a new legal standard—dubbed the “correlation probably equals causation” test—for using post-separation income increases in spousal support. Cited by Professor Rollie Thompson, QC, as one of the top ten most challenging spousal support cases at the 28th Annual Institute of Family Law. Covered in Take Five British Columbia: CanLII link.\
Publications
Brandon writes regularly on legal trends, judicial reasoning, and the intersection of technology and justice. His work has appeared in BarTalk Magazine, National Magazine, Business in Surrey, and CLEBC publications. A few highlights:
- Mediating Online: Ethical and Practical Considerations for Mediating in a Digital World
CLEBC: Emerging Topics in Conflict Resolution | November 2024 - Transporting Quantum Data: Is Teleportation the Future of Transportation?
BarTalk Magazine | February 2024 - Family Law and Legal Culture: Family Ventures and Multigenerational Housing
BarTalk Magazine | December 2023 - AI’s Transformative Influence on Legal Access: A Glimpse into the Future
BarTalk Magazine | October 2023 - An Interview with Chief Justice Robert Bauman
BarTalk Magazine | June 2023 - Joint Tenancy vs. Tenancy in Common: A Suboptimal Dichotomy
BarTalk Magazine | April 2022 - Failure to Obey Court Orders: When Civil Contempt Becomes Criminal
BarTalk Magazine | December 2021 - Dimensions of Dispute Resolution: Categorizing Methods of Dispute Resolution
BarTalk Magazine | August 2020 - The Civil Resolution Tribunal: A Boon to BC Business
Business in Surrey | June 2015 - A2J Evolution: Time for a Redesign
CBA National Magazine | December 2016
Additional articles and links to Brandon’s BarTalk articles are available at https://bartalk.org/en-ca/contributors/author_bhastings.
Events
Brandon regularly presents at legal conferences and training programs across Canada, where he speaks on dispute resolution, legal innovation, and access to justice. His audiences have included lawyers, mediators, law students, technologists, and the public.
Selected appearances include:
- CLEBC
Faculty & Presenter, Emerging Topics in Conflict Resolution Conference (2024)
Faculty, Mediation Level 2 (2020)
Co-presenter, Justice Technology: Digital Dispute Resolution for an Analog World (2016) - Osgoode Hall Law School
Simulation Coordinator, Legal Technology Course – Online Dispute Resolution (2016) - Innovate BC
Panelist, What’s Next in AI: And What That Means for B.C. (2018) - 7th National Pro Bono Conference
Panelist, Tech Tools for #A2J (2018) - People’s Law School
Presenter, Settlement Smarts for Self-Represented Litigants (2016) - Conflict Resolution Clinic (CoRe)
Faculty, Online Mediation Training Sessions (2019) - Douglas College
Guest Lecturer, Auditor’s Liability (2016) - Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Presenter, Navigating Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (2014)
Brandon also speaks at community events and legal orientation sessions, and has presented at the University of British Columbia, PechaKucha Night Richmond, and bar association section meetings.
News
Community
Brandon has long been committed to public service, legal innovation, and community-building. He has held leadership roles with bar associations, legal tech communities, and nonprofit organizations across British Columbia.
Selected leadership and board roles include:
- Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch
Director, Board of Directors (2019–2022)
Chair, BarTalk Editorial Committee (2018–2022)
Member, BarTalk Editorial Committee (2016–2018, 2023–present)
Chair, Young Lawyers’ Advisory Committee (2019–2020)
Member, Professional Issues, Legislation & Law Reform, and Court Services Committees
Liaison, Automobile Insurance Working Group
Provincial Council Representative for Westminster County (2017–2019) - Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC)
Executive Member / Secretary (2014–2018) - The Justice Hack
Founder and Organizer (2017–2021)
Published Voices of Justice magazine in 2020 - Vancouver Legal Hackers
Co-founder and Organizer (2016–present) - Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Director and Treasurer, Alumni Association (2012–2014)
Member, Branding and Visioning Committees (2009–2011)
He has also served on the organizing committee for Access to Justice Week BC (recognized by royal proclamation), and on the Steering Committee for BC’s Justice Summits on Technology. Other past service includes roles with the City of Richmond’s Family and Youth Court Committee, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Policy Advisory Council, and the Richmond Public Library Board.
Brandon has also served as a volunteer appeals lawyer with Access Pro Bono, has acted as a refugee lawyer through the Refugee Sponsorship Support Program, and has provided pro bono services through the BC Collaborative Roster Program. Earlier in his career, he participated in trade missions as part of Junior Team Canada, helped build housing in Ecuador, and volunteered with the UBC’s Law Students’ Legal Advice Program and Conflict Resolution Clinic.
He’s also served as a field school archaeologist in Petra, Jordan, and once helped run a student conference that raised over $30,000 and implemented its own registration algorithm.
Associations/Memberships
Law Society of British Columbia
Barrister and Solicitor (since 2015)
Certified Family Law Mediator (since 2017)
Mediate BC
Civil Roster Mediator (since 2015)
Canadian Bar Association
Active member at the national and branch levels (see “Community” section)
New Westminster Bar Association
Member
Mensa Canada
Member