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Lisa Newby
Lisa Newby
Family & Estates Lawyer | Mediator, Arbitrator & Parenting Coordinator | Vancouver
604-974-9529
[email protected]

With over 30 years of Call to the Bar, more than a decade devoted exclusively to family law, and several successes on groundbreaking cases in BC, Lisa Newby is arguably one of the most prominent family lawyers in the province. Nowadays Lisa focuses on her work as a parenting coordinator, arbitrator, and mediator in family law. 

Although Lisa became a lawyer in 1994, she spent 8 years as a stay-at-home mothers raising three children before returning to practice exclusively in family law in 2014. Being a mother and a family lawyer made her passionate about helping families move through some of life’s hardest moments with a sense of calmness and clarity. She’s worked in various legal areas, from criminal prosecutions to employment law and complex family disputes. Her in-depth experience lets her see the big picture while never losing sight of the people at the heart of it.

She focuses on resolving high-conflict parenting issues and high-net worth and highly complex financial issues in family law including trusts, corporations, multi-jurisdictional and tax issues.

She is most passionate about finding resolutions which she considers best achieved through parenting coordination, mediation and arbitration. These are areas she excels at and anyone using her as an ADR professional will be lucky to leverage her skills to find the right solution.

Lisa has been the successful counsel on numerous cases at the BC Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, some of which are as follows:

  • Kwan v. Wong  –successful counsel on proving her client’s asserted date of separation, which meant the spouse would not have any claims to numerous and significant assets. 
  • Johnson v. Johnson – successful counsel on having the court announce a marriage agreement binding and effective, included costs award in favour of Lisa’s client.
  • Hanson v. Dinney – a rare decision in which the court allowed interim relocation of a child for Lisa’s client in addition to a costs award; 
  • Harms v. Harms (x2) – over $20,000,000 in assets, client won on every major argument including valuation, excluded property and  a costs award. 
  • G.S.R. v. R.E.R. – successful counsel on resisting an interim application that sought shared usage of recreational property pending trial. Included costs award.

Approach

Lisa focuses on family law and her approach is practical and people-focused, with the best interests of children as her top priority. She uses her unique skills to tailor a resolution in any arena—whether that’s in court, at mediation, sitting as an arbitrator or as a parenting coordinator.

She’s trusted with tackling complex parenting disputes including high conflict parenting matters involving family violence, estrangement and/or parental alienation & support.

Lisa believes the best solutions come from empowering families to resolve conflict constructively. She is an avid proponent of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods to help people avoid unnecessary stress and cost, and keep the well-being of children at the centre of every decision.

Education
  • University of British Columbia, LL.B., 1993
  • McGill University, B.A. (Hons), Political Science, 1990 (Gold Medalist)
  • Collaborative Divorce Vancouver, Collaborative Lawyer (2016)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Family Law Mediator (2014)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Family Law Arbitrator (2019)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Parenting Coordinator (2019)
Languages
  • English and French (fluent)
  • Spanish (conversational)

Court Success

Education

  • University of British Columbia, LL.B., 1993
  • McGill University, B.A. (Hons), Political Science, 1990 (Gold Medalist)
  • Collaborative Divorce Vancouver, Collaborative Lawyer (2016)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Family Law Mediator (2014)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Family Law Arbitrator (2019)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Parenting Coordinator (2019)

Bar admission

  • British Columbia, 1994

Accreditation

  • Collaborative Divorce Vancouver, Collaborative Lawyer (2016)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Family Law Mediator (2014)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Family Law Arbitrator (2019)
  • The Law Society of British Columbia, Parenting Coordinator (2019)

Leadership/Volunteer

  • Variety The Children’s Charity of British Columbia, Director (2025)
  • Family Law Organizer steering committee (2025)
  • Vancouver Youth Soccer Association, former Director (2010 to 2013)

Membership

  • ADRIC Canada
  • Collaborative Divorce Vancouver
  • BC Parenting Coordinator’s Roster
  • Collaborative Divorce Vancouver
  • The Resolution Network

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’…

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

Lisa Newby grew up in Port Coquitlam, graduated high school in French Immersion, went on to attend SFU, and earned the Gold Medal in Political Science from McGill. From there she was offered a scholarship to do a Masters in Paris which she declined to pursue her passion and attend Law School. An exchange to Copenhagen’s School of Law sparked her lifelong passion for alternative dispute resolution.

After graduating from UBC Law, she settled down in the Fraser Valley with her farmer lawyer husband, raised three kids, and later made her way to Vancouver. After a hiatus at home raising her children, during which time passion as a gardener transformed her backyard from a jungle to an oasis, she returned to the legal field specializing in family law, where she could take her other passion—advocating for children—to the highest level. Now that her kids are grown, she’s always ready for her next adventure, whether it’s the hills, the ocean, or somewhere entirely new, her passport is ready to go.

She’s kept her book club running for over 20 years and still holds tight to her dad’s advice: When you’re lost, hug a tree — and you’ll find your way.

Having raised three children herself, and turned a backyard jungle into a garden oasis, Lisa understands resilience and brings that same grounded perspective to her clients.

Get to know Lisa:

Favourite hobby: gardening, my living canvas in 4 seasons

Longest club membership: 20+ year strong book club, organized by yours truly

Longest hike: Trek des Gazelles hike through the coastal desert of Morocco

Biggest pet peeve: losing things, with computer troubles as a close second

Athletic moments to cherish: half marathons and relay races with friends

Favourite Mantra: when you’re lost, hug a tree (and you’ll survive), a saying from my dad who has helped so many people through the toughest times

Favourite Movie: Out of Africa

Can’t live without: my cell phone

Biggest role models: my dad and my husband

Favourite travel destinations: the south of France, the parts where the French like to camp and vacation (Le Lavandou, les environs de Marseilles), and anywhere that she hasn’t been already

What makes you happy: the sound of the ocean, the birds and laughter, and that wonderful après-yoga peaceful feeling

What languages do you know: French (fluent), Spanish (less fluent) and some Danish

 

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