Seminar

Do you wonder whether you should incorporate your business? Is it better to be a “sole owner” or a partner? What should you, as an independent practitioner, know about contract law?

This session is a “must attend” for professionals who own or are planning to start their own business. In addition to answering these questions, this session will review the ins and outs of small business taxation and give tips on the best way to protect your business through best practices, risk management and business insurance.

Topics covered:

• Business Structures and Legal Issues
• Insurance, Bonding & Risk Management
• Small Business Taxation
• How to Stay out of Trouble
• Professional Practice Issues for Sole Proprietors and Small Firms

Instructors:

Geoffrey Bowman , LL.B., Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP
Geoff is an associate with Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP's Engineering & Construction group.  His responsibilities include assisting senior counsel with litigation matters involving issues of insurance, construction, engineering, architecture, and professional regulation.

Lawrence Bicknell, ACII, CRM, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc.
Lawrence has over 30 years experience in the insurance industry – 20 years specializing in Professional Liability Insurance. He started his career in the London insurance market where he was responsible for the servicing of large international accounts. In 1987, Lawrence joined Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc. with the Professional Liability Department, using his extensive experience in servicing our many clients in the design consulting area. He has experience in the development of new products and programs for Environmental and Professional Liability Insurance and specializes in placing coverage for large international accounts and project insurance. Lawrence has a BA Hons, is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and holds a Canadian Risk Management designation. He has given numerous lectures and seminars for architects and engineers on Risk Management, Professional Liability, Environmental insurance, Design/Build and Turnkey projects. He also acts as a consultant to various design professional associations.

Kevin Kilgour, CGA, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Kevin is a Senior Tax Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), currently working out of the Fraser Valley Office in Surrey. He has been with PwC since 2004, after a merger with his previous firm, Rennie & Company.  He is currently part of the Private Company Services ("PCS") group at PwC, specializing in providing tax compliance and consulting services to private companies and small business clients.

Geoff Thiele, LL.B., APEGBC
Director, Investigation and Discipline

A graduate of the University of Toronto Law School, Geoff Thiele practised law in the Lower Mainland area for nine years before joining the claims adjusting firm of Barnes, Craig & Associates in 1999.  For five years, he investigated professional liability claims against engineers, architects, surveyors and a wide variety of other professions. Geoff joined APEGBC as the Associate Director, Regulatory Compliance in October 2004 and has recently moved into the role of Director, Investigation and Discipline, where he is responsible for the Discipline and Enforcement Processes as well as providing general legal advice to the Association. 

Peter Mitchell, P.Eng., APEGBC
Director, Professional Standards and Development

Peter is the Director of Professional Standards and Development at APEGBC. His key responsibilities include the administration of the Practice Review Program, and providing staff support to numerous committees, task forces and boards dealing with professional practice issues including the Consulting Practice Committee, Building Codes Committee, Seismic Risk Task Force, Fee Guideline Task Force, Practice Review Committee, Certified Professional Committee, and the APEGBC/ABCPF Joint Practice Board. He also provides staff support to the Division of Engineers and Geoscientists in the Forest Sector (DEGIFS), and the Division of Structural Engineers (DSE).

APEGBC is an AIBC/CES registered provider offering an AIBC-Accredited activity for 7 Non-Core Learning Units.

© APEGBC