Cobbett & Cotton has been serving the community of North Burnaby and all of Greater Vancouver for over 60 years in the area of real estate, wills & estates, corporate and commercial work, as well as in personal injury claims, estate litigation and general civil litigation matters. For the past 11 years, Cobbett & Cotton has been voted “Best Law Firm in Burnaby” by the readers of the Burnaby Now Newspaper.

We’re committed to providing our clients friendly service and the best results possible from a practical and business-oriented perspective.

We help with residential and commercial real estate matters

Buying a home or condo and developing/investing in commercial property are major transactions. They involve large sums of money and there is lots to consider. What easements or other charges are registered against the property? Should you get title insurance or a survey certificate? How does a strata corporation work? With commercial projects, issues like zoning, joint venture agreements, sub-division and financing may all come into play.

At Cobbett & Cotton, providing real estate legal services is a big part of what we do. We understand how important your transaction is and can help – whether you’re buying your first home, leasing space in a shopping centre or developing an office building. Our lawyers have extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law, including:

• Residential house purchases and sales (including condominiums)
• Purchases and sales of commercial and industrial properties
• Leases and tenancy agreements
• Mortgage loans and financing
• Land development
• Construction contracts
• Joint venture and partnership agreements
• Real estate disclosure statements
• Foreclosures
• Builders liens

We help injured people get compensation

Have you been injured in a car crash or other accident? It’s important to have a lawyer who acts only for you and protects your legal rights. (When dealing with ICBC, having a lawyer almost always means more compensation for you.)

At Cobbett & Cotton, we are experienced in dealing with ICBC, insurance companies, doctors and opposing lawyers to recover the compensation you’re rightfully entitled to receive. In most cases, we negotiate a fair settlement (and you never have to go to court), though we will fully pursue your claim to trial, if necessary. We usually give a free initial consultation and don’t charge for our fees until we resolve your claim.

The personal injury cases we handle include:

• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bone injuries
• Chronic pain and fibromyalgia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and psychological injuries
• Temporary and long-term disability claims
• Wrongful death claims

We understand the impact that your injuries have on your life, and we treat you with compassion and respect. Don’t hesitate to give us a call. You have just 90 days to apply for ICBC benefits and usually only 2 years to start a lawsuit (and only 6 months to claim against a municipality).

We help small and large businesses succeed

Perhaps you’re starting a new business. Should it be a sole proprietorship? A company? A franchise? A partnership? Or perhaps you have a well-established business and need a creative restructuring plan to help it expand?

Our experienced business lawyers are committed to helping you establish and grow your business. You can trust our legal advice. We have a practical understanding of what’s involved in running a business. We get to know your particular business – whether that is retail sales, construction, real estate, a service industry, manufacturing or technology – so we can help your business to succeed and thrive.

We handle all corporate and commercial law matters related to the following:

• Incorporations
• Corporate records and filings
• Shareholder and partnership agreements
• Purchases and sales of businesses
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Franchises
• Commercial financing
• Joint venture agreements
• Commercial contracts
• Tax-effective reorganizations

We administer estates and help protect your loved ones

Making a will is one of the kindest things you can do for your loved ones. You can name a guardian for your children. And it allows your estate to be given away after you pass as you desire. Without a will, your estate is distributed according to provincial law (in a way that you may not wish).

But making a will is only one part of an estate plan. Thoughtful estate planning can help save taxes and probate fees, maintain a family business and allow for planned giving to charities. Our firm can help you create an estate plan that protects your loved ones and fulfills your goals.

If you’ve been named as executor, we can help you to probate and settle the estate.

Our firm provides complete services in the following:

• Will preparation
• Estate planning
• Probate and estate administration
• Trusts
• Power of attorney
• Representation agreements
• Committeeship (to manage the financial affairs of an elderly or mentally incompetent person)
• Elder law