YLaw - Family Law Firm Vancouver & Surrey, BC Lawyers. Divorce, Children & Common Law. Asset & Debt Division, Spousal & Child Support. Settlements, Appeals & Agreements. Estate, Corporate & Immigration Litigation. | HQ: 580-1122 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5L1

Kathryn Panton
Kathryn Panton
Family Lawyer | Mediator | Legal Coach | Langley | Chilliwack

Book Now

Kathryn Panton is a family, pet custody and collaborative lawyer, mediator and legal coach.  She serves clients in Langley, Chilliwack, and throughout British Columbia.  She is known for her detail-oriented approach, careful preparation, and guidance, helping clients navigate family law matters with clarity and confidence. Her practice is built on the principle that thorough analysis and strong organization produce better outcomes, making her particularly well suited to clients who value careful attention to the numbers, the documents, and the details that shape family law decisions.

Meet Our Law Team

View Attorneys

Detail-Oriented Advocacy

Clients who think carefully about financial matters and who expect attentiveness from their professional advisors will find a natural fit in Kathryn’s practice. She understands that family law cases frequently turn on financial details, from income determinations and asset valuations to tax implications. Her organized, methodical approach reflects a commitment to thoroughness. Ultimately, her focus is on guiding her clients through difficult scenarios and working to find the best possible solutions for complex problems.

Kathryn has a proven record of success in family law litigation before the British Columbia Supreme Court. Her reported decisions include Enns v. Mitchell, 2021 BCSC 2213 and N.E.G.B. v. T.A.S., 2024 BCSC 647. She brings a careful, strategic perspective to contested matters and has a strong record of success on chambers applications, combining meticulous preparation with advocacy.

APPROACH

Kathryn’s Approach to Family Law – Calm, Kind, Detailed, and Results-Focused

Kathryn is calm and kind. She brings a compassionate approach to family law, firmly believing that achieving the best possible outcome for her clients does not require adversarial tactics. She understands that unnecessarily deepening the divide between parties rarely serves her clients’ long-term interests, and she is committed to guiding disputes toward resolution with empathy and professionalism.

That said, Kathryn is never hesitant to advocate forcefully when the situation demands it. In her first year of Call, she independently conducted a lengthy Supreme Court trial which is an exceptionally rare accomplishment for a junior lawyer. Her willingness to take on that challenge speaks to her dedication and tenacity in protecting her clients’ interests, no matter how complex or contentious the matter may be.

Kathryn Panton Guides Her Clients and Helps Them Choose the Best Options for their Situation

Her approach is grounded in thorough analysis, advocacy, and a commitment to helping clients make informed decisions at every stage. She will not make your decisions for you, rather, she will present you with your options and recommend the option she feels best helps you reach your goals.

Kathryn understands that family law issues often involve both legal and personal complexity, and that even small facts can have a meaningful impact on the outcome of a case. Whether the issue involves financial disclosure, property division, support calculations, or parenting arrangements, she works closely with clients to identify the details that matter most and to develop clear, tailored strategies that reflect their specific circumstances and goals.

Children First – Reduce Parental Conflict to Make Family Law Matters Easier on Children

Kathryn Panton has a background in psychology, has won multiple awards throughout her schooling, and is a child of divorce herself. Kathryn’s approach to family law focuses on the best interests of the children. Her overall goal is to reduce the conflict between parents to allow for more effective co-parenting; however, she recognizes that co-parenting is not always possible or in the best interest of the children.

know-ylaw-1
Education
  • Bachelor of Arts (Major in Psychology), University of British Columbia-Okanagan
  • Juris Doctor, University of Saskatchewan

Accreditation:

  • Accredited Family Law Mediator with the Law Society of British Columbia
  • Accredited Legal Coach
  • Trained Collaborative Lawyer
Languages

English

Professional Affiliations:

  • Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia- Board Member
  • Chilliwack & District Bar Association-Executive
  • Law Society of British Columbia- Member
  • Collaborative Divorce Vancouver- Member
  • International Academy of Collaborative Professionals-Member
  • Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch- Member
  • Abbotsford and District Bar Association- Member
  • Chilliwack Chambers of Commerce- Member
Achievements
  • Major success rate on BC Supreme Court Chambers Applications
  • Faculty for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia course “Family Law Provincial Court Practice 2025”
  • Guest Speaker for Amici Curiae Family Law School
  • Regularly contributes to the legal community through continuing legal information and guest speaking engagements.

Successful Cases:

Volunteering:

  • Past President of the University of Saskatchewan Criminal Law Club
  • Co-Founding Member and Past President of the Golden Key International Honour Society, University of British Columbia-Okanagan Chapter
  • Past Legal Information Volunteer at Community Legal Assistance Services For Saskatoon Inner City (CLASSIC)
  • Past Legal Information Volunteer at Public Legal Education Association
  • Past Volunteer at Pro Bono Students Canada

VICTORIES

A SLEW OF VICTORIES, BUT WHO’S COUNTING? Case Li v. Virk – 2023

Harry Saini was the successful counsel in the residential tenancy litigation case Li v. Virk at the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The Story In December 2018, Ms. Li agreed to pay the Landlord of a Richmond property $2500 for monthly rent There was a problem with one of the rooms, so the Landlord and Ms. Li revised the tenancy…

A SLEW OF VICTORIES, BUT WHO’S COUNTING? Case: L.C vs. E.S – 2017

Child Removal, International Custody, Parenting Time This was a case which made local, national and international headlines. It spans several countries and took more than 5 years to resolve. During those 5 years, the mother did not allow the father or her brother to see her. She kept on feeling around the world to make sure the father does not…

A SLEW OF VICTORIES, BUT WHO’S COUNTING? S.C vs L.H – 2017

Groundbreaking case on Child Abduction, Wrongful Removal of Children and Wrongful Retention of Children. YLaw's latest BC Supreme Court Case has become one of the most important cases in the entire history of British Columbia on Child Abduction and Wrongful Removal. This case was reported on CBC, the Vancouver Sun, multiple child abduction websites, and later Leena was published with her story…

A SLEW OF VICTORIES, BUT WHO’S COUNTING? Ting vs. Wong – 2017

In yet another groundbreaking case in 2017, YLaw was able to obtain more than $116,000 in contempt fines in addition to special costs. This marks the highest family law contempt award in the history of British Columbia.  The Story - Contempt of Multiple Court Orders Ms. T's story was heartbreaking but beautiful at the end. She was left alone with her…

A SLEW OF VICTORIES, BUT WHO’S COUNTING? Case: Storey v. Terry – BC Court of Appeal – 2020

Leena Yousefi and Abib Ngom were successful counsel in the precedent-setting case of Storey v. Terry.  In this case, the wife applied for an unequal division of family property, an unequal division of family debt. Her Appeal was unsuccessful. As per the Court of Appeal: The appellant appeals a summary trial order providing for the equal division of the parties’…

Case: Storey v. Terry – BC Court of Appeal – 2020
Personal life

Personal Life – Loves Family, Dogs, Nature and Travelling

Kathryn enjoys spending time with her husband and their dogs, Ella and Gus. As an only child, Kathryn enjoys being alone outside in nature with a cup of coffee or tea from a local shop. Kathryn is an avid traveler, having travelled to many different countries worldwide. Kathryn’s idea of vacation often includes doing as many activities as possible in one trip. 

Most recently, Kathryn travelled to Europe and visited two countries and 6 cities in 7 days. However, Kathryn’s most memorable trip was when she and her husband spent 7 days on a small boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Kathryn dreams of owning a waterfront property with a boat where she can spend hours and days in the water.

Get to Know Kathryn Panton – Experienced Family Law Lawyer, Mediator, and Legal Coach

  • Favourite hobby: Decorating and “do-it-yourself” crafts, especially ones involving painting or detailed work. I also enjoy listening to crime and comedy podcasts, watching documentaries and swimming.
  • Favourite book: Anything written by Stephen King.
  • Biggest pet peeve: Disorganization/clutter.
  • Can’t live without: A green space where I can go to relax.
  • Favourite person: My husband who has been my best friend since I was 13.
  • Biggest role model: My parents.
  • Favourite travel destination and why? Anywhere I have not been. I enjoy experiencing and learning about other places in the world. There is so much to learn and discover out there and I want to experience as much as I can. My absolute favourite place is being on the open water disconnected from the outside world.
  • What makes you happy? Playing with my dogs Ella and Gus. They remind me every day to cherish the little things. Nothing makes me happier than seeing their wiggling bodies and smiling faces after a long day.

Let Kathryn Panton represent you today!

What Our Clients are Saying

Find a location near you

All locations