Greg Harney

Greg specializes in business litigation with an emphasis on franchise disputes, landlord/tenant, shareholder/partnership, employment and construction/development disputes.

Greg has been active in franchising issues for over 25 years including providing advice on franchise agreements and drafting packages for developing franchisors.

Greg was called to the bar in 1983 and joined a medium-sized Vancouver firm at which he subsequently became a partner. He left that firm in 1998 to establish Shields Harney.

Greg is senior counsel at Shields Harney, and has appeared frequently before all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as before the Trade-Mark Opposition Board, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Greg advises clients across Canada as well as in the United States, and has arbitrated many times using the domestic and international arbitration rules as both counsel and arbitrator.

Professional Memberships & Associations

• Canadian Bar Association
• Canadian Franchise Association
• Board member, Canadian Franchise Review
• Frequent lecturer, Pacific Franchise Association, and the Canadian Franchise Association
• Regularly writes for Canadian Business Franchise Magazine, The Business Examiner and Business Vancouver Island
• Recognized in L'Expert and in Canada's Best Lawyers as a leading Canadian litigation lawyer

Community Activities

• Former Chairperson of the Board of Directors of SportHost-Greater Victoria, a Sport Tourism Partnership promoting economic development through sporting events in Victoria
• Coach:
  • Cedar Hill Fastball Association
  • Bays United Soccer
  • VRC Minor Hockey - Manager
  • Oak Bay Little League - Minors, Majors, and Tournament Team Coach - 5 years
  • Carnavon Baseball Association - Bantam A Coach
• Arbutus Club of Vancouver - Member and Legal Counsel
• Union Club of Victoria - Member
• Victoria Golf Club - Member
• Victoria Squash Club and British Columbia Squash Association - Member

Charitable Associations

• Boston Pizza Foundation
• United Way – Volunteer Law Firm Liaison
• The Courtnall Celebrity Classic Society – Board Member and Director/Legal Counsel
• Pacific Sport Institute - Legal Advisor
• Mustard Seed Food Bank - Special sponsor teaming with WHL Victoria Royals