Raymond Derrick Phillips is one of four local lawyers who have been appointed the honorary title of Queen’s Counsel, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton announced on Dec. 22.
Phillips is duty counsel with the First Nations court in Kamloops, and travels to Pemberton Valley, Nicola Valley and in between to provide legal services and assistance.
He is a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation and the Lytton Indian Band. He was the founding board member for Nzen’man Child and Family Development Centre. He also lectures as a guest for Thompson Rivers University, fundraises and champions local activities and causes, and is a dedicated volunteer and coach for local youth basketball. Among the appointees are lawyers who have prosecuted high-profile criminal cases as well as family, civil and commercial law cases.
Also appointed were David Michael Rush from Kelowna, a founding partner of Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP and recognized as one of the top civil litigators in the interior of B.C; Dennis Katsumi Hori, a partner with Fulton and Company LLP, where he practices civil litigation; and Mary Elizabeth MacGregor, who has been practicing law in the Kamloops area for over 40 years.
The Q.C. designation is an honour conferred annually on members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution.
The successful candidates have been members of the B.C. bar for at least five years. A call for Q.C. nominations from the public was made in August. The appointments were made by cabinet through order-in-council.