Biography
Donald Yule retired in 2021 after practicing almost exclusively in the area of insurance law for over 40 years. His extensive experience as defence counsel in personal injury, property and professional E&O claims, as coverage counsel, and in providing coverage opinions, made him one of the leading practitioners in British Columbia.
The author of many CLE papers on diverse insurance topics, Mr. Yule was an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law, from 1984 to 2008 where he taught automobile insurance. He has been a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Practice Manual, published by the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, since its inception in 1992.
Mr. Yule has been the legal advisor to the disciplinary panel of a professional association. Mr. Yule has extensive experience as an arbitrator of personal injury and insurance disputes and particularly as arbitrator of Underinsured Motorist claims under s.148.2 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Regulation.
Mr. Yule was appointed Queen’s Counsel in December 2001, and in 2009 he was appointed JP Adjudicator of the Provincial Court of British Columbia as part of a pilot project for simplified trials in Vancouver and Richmond, BC.
Mr. Yule was recommended counsel in the areas of personal injury and insurance law, recognized regularly by such publications as Best Lawyers, Lexpert, Benchmark Litigation, and Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Yule is a recipient of the Vancouver Bar Association’s Peter S. Hyndman Mentorship Award, conferred annually in recognition of a lawyer who has distinguished themselves as an outstanding mentor British Columbia.
Mr. Yule continues as a senior partner with Guild Yule in a non-practicing role.
- Stroszyn v Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd. 2014 BCCA 431
- Wells v. Canadian Northern Shield Insurance Company (2007 B.C.S.C. 1844)
- Sneddon v. B.C. Hydro & Power Authority, (2003) 16 B.C.L.R. (4th) 254 (B.C.S.C.); (2004) 35 B.C.L.R. (4th) 212 (C.A.)
- British Columbia v. Surrey School District No. 36, (2003) 20 B.C.L.R. (4th) 359 (B.C.S.C.); (2005) 21 C.C.L.I. (4th) 157 (C.A.)
- K.P. Pacific Holdings Ltd. v. Guardian Insurance Co., (2000 B.C.S.C. 673), (2001) 92 B.C.L.R. (3d) 26 (B.C.C.A.); [2003] S.C.C. 25
- Babichuk v. Verlaan (2000) 73 B.C.L.R. (3d) 7 (C.A.)
- Pavlovic v. Economical Mutual Insurance Co. (1994) 28 C.C.L.I. (2d) 314 (B.C.C.A)
- Babichuk v. Verlaan (2000) 73 B.C.L.R. (3d) 7 (C.A.)
- K.P. Pacific Holdings Ltd. v. Guardian Insurance Co. (2000 B.C.S.C. 673), (2001) 92 B.C.L.R. (3d) 26 (B.C.C.A.); [2003] S.C.C. 25
- B.C.I.C. v. Kraiger(2002) 41 C.C.L.I. (3d) 10 (B.C.C.A.)
- British Columbia v. Surrey School District No. 36 (2003) 20 B.C.L.R. (4th) 359 (B.C.S.C.); (2005) 21 C.C.L.I. (4th) 157 (C.A.)
- Sneddon v. B.C. Hydro & Power Authority (2003) 16 B.C.L.R. (4th) 254 (B.C.S.C.); (2004) 35 B.C.L.R. (4th) 212 (C.A.)
Education
- 2001 Appointed Queen’s Counsel, British Columbia
- 1971 Called to the Bar in British Columbia
- 1970 Bachelor of Laws, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
- 1967 Bachelor of Arts, Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia
Professional Affiliations
- Past Member, Canadian Bar Association Automobile Insurance Committee
- 1996 – 1998, Chair, Canadian Bar Association Fair Automobile Compensation Committee
- 1992 – Present, Editorial Board of the CLE Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Practice Manual
- 1983 – 1996, Chair, Canadian Bar Association/ICBC Liaison Committee
- Member, Defence Research Institute
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia
- Member, Canadian Bar Association – B.C. Branch
- Member, Vancouver Bar Association
- Arbitrator associated with BCICAC in arbitration of insurance coverage disputes, agency disputes and underinsured motorist protection claims
- Mediator of insurance disputes, disability claims
- December 2015: CLEBC Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Basics course presenter
- CDL – October 20, 2014 – “ICBC UMP Arbitration – The Basics”
- CLE – Insurance Law Conference – September, 2013 – “Arbitrating the UMP Claim”
- Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. – “October 26 2012 – “Anatomy of an UMP Claim – Out of Jurisdiction Accident”
- CLE – Insurance Law Conference – September 11, 2009 – “The Role of Excess Insurer’s Counsel”
- CLE – Winning Advocacy Skills Workshop – Instructor – July 2009
- ICBC – Presentation to Claims Examiners – June 9, 2009 – “UMP Claims”
- CLE – Discovery Practice – November 6, 2008
- CLE – Winning Advocacy Skills Workshop – Instructor – July 2008
- B.C. Society of Fellows – May 28, 2008 – “Health Care Costs Recovery Act”
- Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. – Damages Conference – February 15, 2008 “How Does UMP Work?”
- CLE – Personal Injury Practice 2008 – February 27, 2008 (Panellist) “Uninsured Motorist Claims” and “UMP Update”
- CLE – Winning Advocacy Skills Workshop – Instructor – July 2007
- Trial Lawyers Association of BC – Presenter – “Summary of Some Changes in the Insurance (Vehicle) Act and Insurance (Vehicle) Regulation“
- CLE – Commentary in “Vehicle Insurance: B.C. Legislation and Commentary” – April, 2007
- UCIPP Conference – Risk Management for College Administrators – March 8 & 9, 2007 (Panelist) “Contracts and Coverage: Who Pays the Loss?”
- 20 Club – February 1, 2007 – “Are You [Really] Safer Than You Think? – a Reflection Upon Crime Statistics”
- Trial Lawyers Association of BC Advocates’ Circle Teleseminar – Presenter – “Changes to UMP Arbitration Under the Insurance (Vehicle) Regulation Effective 1 June’ 2007”
- CLE – Winning Advocacy Skills Workshop – Instructor
- CLE – Personal Injury Conference – May 27, 2005 (Panellist) “Responsibility of Out of Province Insurers”
- Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. – April 17, 2003 (Panellist) “Interface of Tort and UMP Proceedings”
- Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. – June 17, 2002 (Panellist) “Independent Legal Advice”
- CLE – Insurance Law Conference – March, 2001 (Panellist) “Duty to Defend”
- 20 Club – June 2000 Paper on Sexual Battery and Intentional Act Exclusion – No Coverage for the Perpetrator
- CLE – Personal Injury Conference – May 7, 1999 (Panellist) “UMP”
- CLE – The Year 2000 – Litigation Issues – May, 1999 (Panellist) “Insurance Issues”
- CLE – Personal Injury Damages – 1997 Update – October, 1997 (Course Co-ordinator and Panellist) “Case Law Developments”
- Canadian Institute – Insurance Policy Wording Disputes – October, 1994 (Panellist) “Contribution Between Insurers”
- Canadian Institute Insurance Law and Practice – November, 22, 1993 (Panellist) “The Future of B.C. Auto Insurance – The Impending Tide of No-Fault”
- Canadian Institute – “Injured Child Lawsuit” – May, 1993 (Panellist)
- Canadian Institute – “Denying Coverage in Insurance Claims” – June, 1992 (Panellist)
- Trial Lawyers of British Columbia – Insurance Law – November, 1992 (Panellist) “Pure No-Fault: Chance or Disaster”
- Trial Lawyers of British Columbia – Second Annual Insurance Law Seminar – February, 1991 (Panellist) “Recalcitrant Insurers”
- CLE – Third Party Practice and Procedure – December, 1990 (Panellist) “Actions Involving Insurers”
- Canadian Institute – “The Serious Personal Injury Lawsuit” – November, 1990 (Panellist) “Specific Case Studies in Personal Injury”
- Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. – No Fault Insurance – September 27, 1989 (Panellist) “No Fault Insurance”
- CLE – ICBC – Motor Vehicle Accident Claims – November, 1988 (Panellist) “No Fault Benefits”
- Canadian Institute – Insuring Against Corporate Risk – October, 1988 (Panellist) “Insuring the Business Corporation: Basic Points”
- CLE – Insurance Law 1988 – April, 1988 (Course Co-ordinator and Panellist) “Duty to Read the Policy”
- CLE – Insurance Litigation, 1987 – April, 1987 (Panellist) “Concurrent and Competing Insurances”
- CLE – ICBC Claims and Impaired Driving – November, 1985 (Panellist) “ICBC Claims”
- CLE – Current Issues in Insurance Litigation, April 13, 1985 (Panellist) “Limitation Matters”
- Law Society of British Columbia – International Symposium – Role of the Legal Profession in the 21st Century – 1984 (Panellist) “Justice in the System of Compensation of Personal Injuries and Summary of the Report of the Automobile Accident Compensation Committee, B.C., 1983”
- CLE – Insurance Law for General Practitioners – March, 1979 (Panellist) – “Misrepresentation & Non-Disclosure in the Policy Application”
- Guardian Underwriting Group (Speaker) Trends in U.S. Litigation
