Twining, Short & Haakonson

General information

David Twining and Kerry Short have been litigators in Vancouver for over thirty years. Originally from large, established law firms, David and Kerry wanted to develop a new and more flexible approach in working with clients, resolving disputes and conducting litigation.

In 1997, David and Kerry left the office towers and tall buildings and, along with Tom Barnes, founded Barnes, Twining & Short as a boutique litigation firm, eventually establishing themselves in a heritage space in Vancouver’s Yaletown area in 2002.

In 2005, Tom Barnes was asked to head up the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia while David and Kerry continued to practise as Twining & Short. Dana Russell joined the firm in 2000 as an associate and has been with the firm since. Doug Morrison joined the firm in 2005. Sadly, Doug passed away in 2010.

Steven Haakonson practised for 17 years as an associate, partner and sole practitioner prior to joining Twining & Short in 2010. Steve joined the partnership in 2012.

Scott Twining joined the firm in 2015 and the partnership in 2016 after practising for several years at another Vancouver law firm.

Also in 2016, the firm was pleased to add Lindsay Nilsson to its growing roster. Lindsay spent the previous ten years as legal counsel for the Municipal Insurance Association.

Cassandra Paterson was a welcome addition to the firm in 2016 after she articled and practised at an international law firm in Vancouver. Prior to that she spent twelve months as a Judicial Law Clerk for the British Columbia Supreme Court. Cassandra was called to the bar in 2015.

Also in 2016, the firm was very pleased to add Lori Leung to its roster. Lori was also a judicial clerk with the British Columbia Supreme Court for a one year term before being called to the bar and admitted to the Law Society of British Columbia in 2011. Lori has a background in insurance, civil and commercial litigation that fits well with the firm’s areas of focus.

All of the lawyers in our firm pride themselves in the quality of the legal representation we are able to offer our clients.