Jonathan Lim is a Partner in Fasken’s Vancouver office and Co-Leader of the Firm’s National Litigation Management Team.
Jonathan is a leading insurance defence litigator whose practice is focused primarily on representing Canada’s national and regional life and health insurance carriers. He acts as defence counsel in a wide range of litigated claims involving life insurance, disability benefits, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, long-term care, travel insurance, creditor insurance, extended health benefits, and other individual and group health insurance products.
In addition to defending claims, Jonathan regularly advises life and health insurers on policy wording, coverage issues, subrogation, claims management, and group benefits matters. He is frequently retained to assist insurers with group policy drafting and interpretation and to provide strategic advice on emerging legal developments affecting the life and health insurance industry.
Jonathan is regularly sought out by insurers and claims management teams to provide specialized legal training on litigation, claims handling, coverage, and risk management issues. He is also a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events, including those hosted by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA).
In addition to his life and health insurance practice, Jonathan has significant experience in the following areas:
- Product liability litigation, acting for manufacturers, distributors, and their insurers across a broad range of industries, including motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, industrial equipment, marine products, medical devices, processed foods, firearms, personal electronics, and other consumer products. His experience includes claims involving personal injury, property damage, fire loss, failure to warn, and alleged manufacturing and design defects.
- Personal injury and tort litigation, including motor vehicle, occupiers' liability, property damage, cargo loss, and transportation-related claims. Jonathan also acts for commercial transportation clients, including a major Canadian railway company.
- Insurance coverage, subrogation, debt collection and enforcement, and related commercial disputes.
Jonathan has significant courtroom and mediation experience. He has represented clients at all levels of court in British Columbia, including as lead trial counsel before the Supreme Court of British Columbia and lead appellate counsel before the British Columbia Court of Appeal. He has also successfully mediated and negotiated hundreds of settlements, helping clients achieve efficient, practical, and cost-effective resolutions. Clients value his ability to provide timely, strategic advice and deliver predictable litigation outcomes.
Jonathan regularly writes and speaks at conferences, conventions, and client seminars on insurance and civil litigation topics. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Bar Insurance Association from 2018 to 2023, representing the British Columbia branch of the Canadian Bar Association. During his tenure, he chaired the Audit and Risk Management Committee and helped guide the organization's strategic initiatives.
Jonathan was recognized as one of Lexpert's Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 in 2020 and was named a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation in 2019.
