We’re a full-service law firm with offices in Invermere and Golden, British Columbia. In Golden, we practise as Fairley & Blakley (it makes us sound fancier). We provide practical legal advice to individuals, families, businesses, non-profit organizations and Indigenous Nations throughout British Columbia.
How we practice
We explain the law in understandable terms, give clients a realistic assessment of their options and try to match the legal work to the importance of the problem. We negotiate when a practical agreement is available and litigate when the circumstances require it.
When you call us, you won’t get a robot or a phone menu that goes on forever — you’ll get a real human being (sometimes even a lawyer, though we don’t recommend it before coffee).
We try not to live up to the worst lawyer stereotypes: we pay living wages, keep a healthy workplace, and give back to charities and non-profits around Invermere and across BC.
The Lawyers
Morgan Blakley
Principal Lawyer – Invermere
Morgan has practised law in British Columbia since 2012. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, construction disputes, property disputes, appeals and public-law matters. He represents individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and Indigenous Nations in simple and complex proceedings.
Before making the questionable decision to attend law school, Morgan worked in construction, forestry, oil and gas, and first aid. Outside the office, he can usually be found gallivanting in the mountains or surfing his canoe down a river.
Derrick Murphy
Lawyer – Golden
Derrick Murphy maintains a broad community-based practice. He assists clients with most legal problems and opportunities including real estate, wills, family law, civil litigation, and uncivil litigation. When he’s not prospecting for statutes in the law mines, Derrick can be found hiking in our national parks (at least, we hope we can find him again, he might have gotten lost). Derrick is also a volunteer firefighter recruit with the Nicholson Fire Department.
Kieran Simpson
Lawyer – Invermere
Kieran advises clients on civil litigation, estate planning and administration, real estate and business matters. He approaches legal problems carefully and practically, helping clients understand both their legal position and the available path forward. Outside the office, Kieran is committed to the long-standing runner tradition of casually mentioning running, complaining about running injuries, and then going running again anyway. You will know he is a runner because, sooner or later, he will tell you he is a ruuner.
Malcolm Soles
Lawyer – Golden and Invermere
Malcolm assists clients with legacy planning, estate administration, real estate and business matters. He has a talent for making complicated legal and procedural requirements understandable—or at least less alarming. Outside of work, Malcolm enjoys the outdoors, delicious food, and weight training. The weight training is useful when Morgan’s litigation binders need to be carried into court.
Katelynn Tomalty
Lawyer – Invermere (On leave)
Katelynn practises primarily in real estate law. She advises clients on residential and commercial transactions, real estate development, subdivisions, strata matters and compliance with British Columbia’s Real Estate Development Marketing Act. Outside the office, Katelynn enjoys disc golf, soccer and judo. Her claim to the world disc-golf championship remains under review.
The People Who Keep the Firm Running
Mariia Mokanyk
Mariia is our litigation assistant and she is responsible for keeping the litigators on task and on time — no small feat! Originally from Ukraine, she brings warmth, precision, and a touch of Ukrainian stubbornness to everything she does. Outside of work, Mariia enjoys exploring the Columbia Valley and proving that no Canadian winter can out-freeze someone who grew up in Ukraine.
Madeline Smart
Madeline is our sharpshooting receptionist in Invermere, always ready with a quick smile and quicker aim at getting clients where they need to go. She keeps the front desk running smoother than a well-oiled six-shooter. Outside the office, Madeline enjoys life in the Columbia Valley, where she splits her time between family, community events, and reminding the lawyers that she comes to work to get away from children.
Phyllis Titus
Phyllis is the old person in the Golden office that answers the phone and keeps the office running. In her past life, she did many things like wharfinger, camp cook, and procrastinating. Now in her dotage, her days are filled with keeping the young people in the office in check and reminiscing about the good old days, when it was up hill both ways in 10 feet of snow.
Brooke Topic
Brooke Topic is a conveyancer at Columbia Legal. Brooke really likes plants, sometimes she remembers to water them, and well… sometimes she buys new ones. Brooke also has a rescued cat named Garbage, or is it Bandit? In either case, she isn’t dating Angela.
Trudi Wells
Trudi is our estates and legacy planning assistant, skilled at organizing documents and gently reminding the lawyers they probably won’t inherit anything but more files. She loves dogs far more than is reasonable and somehow drives the nicest vehicle in the firm – apparently the dogs demanded leather seats.
Samantha Wolstenholme
Say that two times fast! Sam is our bookkeeper and the magician who keeps the lights on and the bills paid. Without Sam, the lawyers might still be arguing over who last bought coffee filters. When the numbers are balanced, Sam enjoys a good laugh and making sure the office doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Our Offices
Invermere
Columbia Legal
PO Box 639
1309 7th Avenue
Invermere, BC
Telephone: 250-342-6904
Email: reception@columbialegal.ca
Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Closed on statutory holidays.
Golden
Fairley & Blakley
PO Box 989
#102 – 509 9th Avenue North
Golden, BC V0A 1H0
Telephone: 250-344-2241
Email: reception@goldenlaw.ca
Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Closed on statutory holidays.
Not Sure Who You Need?
You do not need to determine which lawyer or practice area applies before contacting us. Tell our staff briefly what you need help with, and we will direct your inquiry to the appropriate person.
Columbia Valley Law Corporation is within the territories of the Ktunaxa and Secwépemc Nations.