Vera Syrma

Biography 

Vera joined League and Williams as an associate in October 2024. Her practice is focused on maritime matters and litigation.  Vera is a dedicated lawyer who provides quality legal advice to her maritime clients.

Vera graduated from the University of Law in Bristol, England, and has pursued postgraduate studies at KU Leuven, Oxford University. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in European Politics from the University of Leeds, England. She completed her Certificate of Qualification in Law from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and articled in the Vancouver office of an international law firm. During her studies, she obtained specific experience in maritime and admiralty law in India and was involved in the arrest of ships, court-ordered sales of those ships and litigation over the proceeds of the sale.

Prior to pursuing her legal studies and commencing practice as a lawyer, Vera was a paralegal with a Vancouver Island firm specializing in insurance defence. Vera’s family originates from Eastern Europe, and she spent her childhood in a large port city on the Black Sea. Her family remains active in the international shipping industry. Vera has lived and studied in Russia, Cyprus, England, Belgium and Canada. Vera enjoys live music, travel, skiing and sailing with family.

Vera is fluent in Russian.

Professional and Other Affiliations

• Called to the Bar of British Columbia
• Law Society of British Columbia, Member
• Canadian Bar Association, Member
• Canadian Bar Association, Maritime Law Section
• Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners, Member