Rina is a solicitor with over 10 years experience in commercial, banking, finance and municipal law. Having obtained her Law and Master’s degrees in England, Rina was first called to the Bar in England in 1998, and subsequently in Kenya and British Columbia.  Rina provides advice on a range of local government matters, including contract and bylaw drafting, servicing and other business agreements, taxation and land management agreements. Her recent work includes:

 

• advising on geothermal and alternative energy sources for municipal utilities
• drafting, reviewing and advising on memoranda of understanding, servicing agreements and joint venture agreements between local governments and with First Nations
• providing advice to local governments on a variety of financial issues, including financial disclosure requirements, loan and security agreements
• advising on municipal elections bylaws and issues
• advising on local government rights and options under bankruptcies and insolvencies of debtor tax payers, before and after tax sales and private sales
• advising on the establishment and governance of municipal corporations
• advising on permissive tax exemptions, including drafting revitalization exemption bylaws and agreements
• drafting and structuring partnering and other agreements to facilitate community facilities and services, including affordable housing, recreational facilities
• preparing various leasing and other agreements relating to management of local government lands
• preparing and advising on legal agreements covering a variety of diverse areas, including professional services, composting, recycling, transportation,  climate change and sponsorship.

 

Rina has spoken at several conferences and seminars held for local governments, including the LGMA Annual Conference in 2010, the Kootenay-Boundary chapter of the LGMA in April 2011 and the LGMA Clerks & Corporate Officers Forum in October 2011. Rina is also a regular co-presenter in planning law at Capilano University’s Municipal Law course.