This month’s spotlight shines on Rebecca Morse of Farris LLP
How did you first get involved with CLEBC?
I don’t remember exactly how I first got involved with CLEBC—it was a long time ago. I began my legal career in England and moved back to Canada in 2006. Shortly after, I started attending CLEBC seminars, and at some point (though I can’t recall when), I began speaking and presenting at them.
What are you currently working on (or have most recently worked on) with CLEBC?
I recently co-chaired the course A Litigator’s Arsenal with my colleague Daxton. This full-day course, held on June 9, was aimed at intermediate and senior litigators.
In November 2024, I co-presented a paper entitled Intersecting Issues Between Family Law and Estate & Trust Law at Advanced Financial Issues in Family Law 2024 with Roja Safartabar.
Earlier in the year, in February 2024, I co-chaired Bankruptcy & Insolvency 2024 with Gregory Dabbs and co-presented a paper titled General Overview of All Insolvency Statutes.
What inspired you to become a lawyer?
That’s a difficult question for me to answer. I studied commerce at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, and I knew I wanted to continue with my studies afterward. I considered doing a master’s in economics and finance, but ultimately decided to apply to law school instead. I’m not sure I had truly turned my mind to becoming a lawyer at the time—but I’ve never looked back.
Your civil litigation practice is very wide-ranging. It includes contract disputes, construction law, insolvency and restructuring, estate litigation, and international trade matters. Do you have a preferred area of focus, or do you like having all this variety?
I enjoy the range and variety of work, and I believe that having different practice areas helps me be a better lawyer. For instance, some of the strategies used in insolvency and restructuring matters can also be helpful in estate disputes. I think the variety not only improves my skills but also keeps the practice more interesting.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
When I worked in London, my boss and mentor was an excellent lawyer—albeit sometimes demanding and difficult. He had a remarkable ability to sift through facts and issues and focus on what really mattered. While it wasn’t a single piece of advice, I’ve always remembered the way he analyzed a case, and I’ve tried to emulate that in my own practice.
After returning to Canada, I also received some valuable advice—and support—from senior colleagues. I have a tendency to be intense and don’t always recognize my own limitations, often pushing myself too hard. One colleague used to check in on me during my busier times and would consistently remind me that the practice of law is “a marathon, not a sprint.” I still push myself too hard at times, but I try to keep that advice in mind.
Other than law, what are you passionate about?
I’m a working mother, and between parenting and practicing law, there isn’t time for much else. I’m committed to being present for my children—who are now teenagers—and I try to spend as much time with them as I can on weekends and evenings. I ski and mountain bike with my younger son, and go for hikes and to the library with my older son.
I also enjoy cooking and spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I can. And my children and I really love to travel. Recent trips have included Japan, Iceland, and New Zealand (where we go relatively often, as I have family there).
This summer, we’re staying more local—we have trips planned to Whitehorse and Atlin (where I grew up), followed by a camping trip through the Rockies.