Our History
Founded by Gordon A. McFarlane
The Firm was founded in 1960 when Gordon A. McFarlane set up his own practice in insurance defence litigation. Prior to his pursuit of a law degree at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Law, Mr. McFarlane served in the RCMP with postings in Ottawa and Colwood, BC. As a lawyer, Mr. McFarlane was highly respected for his ability to defend cases in the highest traditions of the bar. He solved matters in a fair and economical way, and his preparation for trial was careful and strategic. At Hartshorne & Mehl, we commemorate the legacy of Mr. McFarlane by continuing to practice the same methodology, spirit, and love for the law as Mr. McFarlane in all our current and future legal exchanges.
Since 1960
Many of the present lawyers have been with the Firm since the commencement of their legal careers.
Insurance related litigation has been the main focus of the Firm since 1960, although our firm employs lawyers with extensive litigation experience in several fields in addition to insurance defence, including catastrophic injury litigation, property & liability litigation, and products liability. The specific nature of the work we do has varied over the years to reflect the changing trend in the law and the evolving nature of insurance.
Although the members of The Firm have extensive trial experience, there has been an increased movement towards the use of non trial methods of dispute resolution, such as mediation or arbitration. It is our practice to approach all potential litigation with a view to cost effective, efficient, and expedient solutions for our clients.
