Brian E. Rudy*(B.Sc. McGill 1989, LL.B. UBC 1994) is a founding partner of Synergy Business Lawyers. He is an experienced corporate lawyer who practices corporate commercial law, with a focus on privately-held corporations and entrepreneurs. Brian assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, business succession, technology licensing, distribution channels and franchising, internet and software law, corporate governance, private equity financing, employment law, commercial leasing, foreign worker recruitment, and other legal matters that arise in the course of business.

Brian was chair of the course "Private Company Structuring" in 2005, he was a speaker at the Advanced Mergers and Acquisitions Course in 2009, both for the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, and Brian regularly lectures throughout British Columbia on the topics of structuring businesses, purchasing businesses and preparing businesses for sale. Brian's clients range from professionals and emerging software companies, to construction companies and multinational resource companies.

*Incorporated Partner

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Carl P. Jacobson (B.Sc. 1989, M.B.A. 1993, LL.B. 1993) is a founding partner of Synergy Business Lawyers. He is an experienced business lawyer who works with businesses, business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals from a variety of professions in the set up, operation, management, growth and sale of their business. Carl's has particular experience in the area of structuring and restructuring of private companies, including the associated business, personal and family planning, trust and estate planning issues. Carl has a demonstrated ability to work effectively with his client's team and enjoys seeing his clients succeed in their personal and professional lives.

Outside of the office, as a former multiple time British Columbia champion road cyclist, Carl spends his free time on the Board of one of Canada's largest amateur cycling teams. He also enjoys skiing, fishing and road and mountain biking.

*Incorporated Partner

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Howard D. Wong (B.Sc. 1977, LL.B 1981) is an experienced commercial and real estate lawyer. In addition to assisting business people with their ongoing operational matters, Howard assists clients with sophisticated real estate issues, business transactions and trusts. Howard's work includes real estate development, heritage residential, low and high rise residential, shopping centres, mixed-use projects, air space subdivisions, commercial leasing, and sales and acquisitions of real estate and businesses. Howard also enjoys applying his experience to estate planning and wealth management.

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Kristi M. Zychowka (B.Sc. 1999, P.B.D. 2003, LL.B. 2008) practices corporate commercial law. Kristi has experience in a variety of industries, including the fuel cell and pulp & paper industries, and has completed studies in small business development. While concentrating on corporate-commercial and intellectual property law at the University of British Columbia, Kristi was on the team to the Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot. She was the recipient of the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Prize in Advanced Corporate Law, the Davis LLP Prize in Alternative Dispute Resolution and a Law Foundation Award. Kristi's business experience and interest make her particularly well suited to technology-based start-up companies and other small businesses. She assists clients with license agreements, corporate reorganizations, employment law and general business advice. In her spare time, Kristi enjoys trail running, cycle-touring and most other outdoor activities.

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Sarah A. Pivnick (B.Ap.Sc 2002, B.Sc 2002, LL.B. 2008) practices corporate commercial law and worked as in-house counsel for a Vancouver biotechnology company before joining Synergy. In her pre-law life, Sarah worked as a chemical engineer in the field of industrial water treatment, gaining experience in diverse industries such as gold and copper mining, biological pest control and cold storage. While attending law school at the University of British Columbia, Sarah focussed on corporate law and was awarded the Stan Smith Memorial Prize in Contract Law. In her spare time Sarah enjoys reading and hiking with her dog.

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Kelsey K. McDermott (B.B.A. (Hons.) 2003, LL.B. 2009) is a chartered accountant and business lawyer practising corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and estate planning and administration. Kelsey combines her financial accounting and business valuation experience with her legal training to allow her to provide comprehensive legal analysis to her clients' business issues.

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David Compton-Harvey (B.A. SFU 2006, J.D. UVIC 2010) practices corporate commercial law. David has experience working with management boards of companies, co-ops and other business structures. David was the recipient of several law school awards including the Lawson Lundell Law Prize in Business Associations.

Email:  dcompton-harvey@synergylaw.ca