Karen Bastow practices criminal defense, general civil litigation (defence side), extradition, immigration, wills and estates litigation, and asset seizure and forfeiture.
Karen accepts cases in all areas of criminal defence and has had many successful outcomes for people facing drug charges and allegations of sexual assault, both the criminal and civil area, current and historical.
Our office has a combined experience in general civil litigation, including business and personal injury, of over 40 years.
Karen and the lawyers she works with, take on professional discipline cases in the medical area, primarily nurses and dentists.
Where you have a dispute with a regulatory, professional, or municipal body, particularly where there are allegations of fraud, Karen Bastow will assemble the right group of professionals to defend your rights, whether they be forensic accountants or other experts.
In addition to estate litigation, Karen Bastow’s office also offers probate services and preparation of wills. Where you have a legal problem that is novel, our office works with other lawyers to ensure you have our litigation and trial experience, combined with the specialized knowledge of counsel that work solely in the legal area.
Our office works well with interpreters and takes on many clients whose first language is not English.
While Karen is a trial lawyer, she works hard to get a good deal for her clients who have no chance of an acquittal at trial and will do her best to keep you out of jail.
Fees are negotiable and the first consultation is always free.
We can be contacted for emergencies 24 hours a day and meetings are available on weekends and after regular work hours. Our offices are located next to the SkyTrain and free parking is available.
View the April 5th, 2023 Canadian Justice episode about home invasion cases and self-defence laws.
Recent Cases
2024
- In the context of acrimonious family law dispute, client charged criminally with historical sexual assaults between 2017 and 2023, an offence of sexual assault cause bodily harm with threats’ weapon/choking in 2021, uttering threats to cause death and bodily harm in 2023, and a sexual assault in 2023, after a lengthy trial, client found not guilty on all counts.
- Professional Discipline: Successful dismissal of a College investigation into medical professional after making submissions, providing witness statements and engaging in an interview with the College investigator.
2023
- Immigration Appeal – won an appeal of a family sponsorship application denied on the basis that marriage was not genuine; marriage ruled to be genuine after submissions, argument and calling of witnesses by counsel.
- Sexual Assault – Accused charged with multiple years of anal rape of two complainants, acquittal on sexual assault charges with respect to both complainants
- Wills and Estates – 3.4 million dollar estate, challenge to the will by beneficiary, settled at mediation
- Wills and Estates – 2.4 million dollar estate, challenge to the will by beneficiary, settled between counsel
- Sexual assault and sexual touching of person under the age of 16 – acquittal at trial
- Crypto-currency fraud investigation – resolved without proceeding to charges
- Use of self-defense interview
2022
- Possession for the purposes of trafficking and trafficking, large quantity of fentanyl;, methamphetamine, cocaine – stay of proceedings prior to trial
- Possession for the purposes of trafficking and trafficking, large quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine – 18 month sentence
- Action for criminal contempt in business litigation – ruling no criminal contempt