Our Lawyers - Profile of Brian Brooke

Brian Brooke
Brian was born and raised in Penticton, British Columbia, and moved to Victoria for university after high school. Brian’s younger brother practices law in the Okanagan, and his father and an uncle were also lawyers. During the course of his twenties, Brian lived and worked in a number of cities and towns in BC and Alberta. For several years he worked in Banff National Park, and also spent years doing landscaping and commercial fishing. Prior to law school and entering the practice of law, Brian understood the value of hard work and physical labour.

In 2001, Brian joined Murphy, Battista while completing his articles. Prior to joining Murphy, Battista, Brian had studied law at Robson Hall in Winnipeg and at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, from which he graduated in June, 2000.

While he was at law school, Brian developed a keen interest in medical malpractice and personal injury, and in particular, cases involving traumatic brain injuries.

Since being called to the British Columbia bar in September, 2001, Brian has co-counseled a number of high profile cases, performing work at the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has represented victims of assaults, accidental falls, dog attacks, mountain biking and ATV accidents, and people who were injured or lost loved ones as a result of police chases gone wrong. He has represented drivers, passengers and pedestrians who have been injured in motor vehicle collisions, and has worked with Joe Murphy, Q.C. to obtain some of the largest judgments in the history of British Columbia for the survivors of traumatic brain injuries.

These cases are often difficult, complex and fiercely defended by insurance companies who are trying to minimize the monetary damages paid to the injured person. There are three principal keys to success in these cases.

The first key is ensuring that the injured person and their family get access to the best rehabilitative and medical support that is available, and to ensure that this is paid for by ICBC or through other insurance funds. First rate rehabilitation is the best possible foundation for good recovery.

The second key to success in these cases is in understanding just what the injured person and their family have lost because of an injury—in short, knowing your client and their family. Sometimes the changes that follow a serious injury are devastating and obvious, and other times they are more subtle. In every case however, the true impact of such an injury can only be fully understood after gathering information from a wide variety of sources, including family members, friends, co-workers, and others. Merely looking at paperwork and medical records only gives an inkling of the impact of these sorts injuries upon the injured person and their family.

The third key component to the successful prosecution of these complex claims is accessing the expertise and services of a wealth of the most qualified medical specialists in North America. Obtaining access to a wide range of potential specialists for the injured client ensures that the medical issues, no matter how complex, are covered carefully and thoroughly for presentation at trial.

Brian has been closely involved in two cases which resulted in trial awards exceeding $6 million dollars. The greatest reward, however, is helping injured people and their families put their lives back together, and ensuring that they have all the resources and assistance possible to help them to do that.

Brian lives in North Vancouver with his wife and their twin baby boys. He loves being a lawyer almost as much as he loves being a dad.