Margaret PayneAssociate + lawyer

Margaret is a senior lawyer and joined MJB in 2025.  Her varied experience adds to the breadth of service options offered by MJB to its clients.   

Margaret was born in Nelson BC and, after moves to Victoria and Prince George, she completed her education in Kamloops.  She attended the University of Victoria initially, specializing in social work, before obtaining her law degree.  After graduating from law school, she took articles with a large Toronto firm and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1989 whereupon she worked as in-house counsel for Ontario Hydro working with engineers and specializing in energy supply and environmental hearing work.  Margaret returned to the West and was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1993 and the Alberta Bar in 1999.  After practicing for several years, Margaret enrolled at the Franklin Pierce Law Center in New Hampshire and obtained her Masters in Law, specializing in intellectual property and, in particular, trademark and copyright law. 

Margaret currently practices primarily in the areas of family law and administrative law with an emphasis on family law.  During her practice, Margaret has been involved in a broad range of file matters including assistance and advice regarding property division, guardianship, parenting time, child support, variation applications, divorce and separation and her work has included research and analysis of issues, negotiating settlements, preparing separation agreements, and court documentation (including affidavits, financial statements and asset lists), arranging adjournments, making motions and attending family case conferences.  Margaret has appeared before both the Provincial and Supreme Courts and, before governmental boards, on behalf of clients.  Margaret has a special interest in judicial reviews and appeals. 

Margaret has practiced extensively with legislation and family issues including the Family Law Act (guardianship, parental decision -making, parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division, protection orders and grandparent rights), the Divorce Act (divorce, spousal and child support and parenting time), the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act (enforcement of support orders), the Federal Child Support Guidelines (child support); the  Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act (variation of support orders from other provinces), Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act (for clients of aboriginal origin)  the Hospital Act (employee rights), the Employment Standards Act (employee rights),  the Local Government  Act (land use and density, by-law challenge, short-term rentals, heli-skiing , notice challenges), the Bankruptcy Act (creditor rights and employee rights), the Immigration Act (employee immigration to Canada), and the  Constitution  Act, 1982 (territorial waters, bankruptcy and  tax issues).

Examples of Margaret’s administrative law experience includes conducting a judicial review application on behalf of a residential water user in respect of a dispute with a private water utility provider under the Water Utility Act, representing a medical services employee in respect of a breach of a health authority’s “disrespectful behaviour” policy (including complaint resolution) and acting for one of British Columbia’s First Nations in conducting a judicial review application in a dispute concerning a housing society.

As part of her career Margaret has hosted a cable television program on family law issues, taught “Introduction to the Law in Human Service Practice” at Caribou College (before it became Thomson Rivers University) and headed the Attorney General’s pilot project for “Justice Innovation Transformation Initiatives”.  Margaret has served as a temporary Commissioner on the British Columbia Utilities Commission and has served on the British Columbia Forest Appeal Board.

Margaret is a clear communicator, and her goal is to provide effective and practical problem solving and to deliver the kind of strategic legal advice that enables sound decision making and successful outcomes. Margaret is respectful of client’s short term and long-term goals.