Ariyana Dhawan
COUNSEL | BARRISTER
PRACTICE AREAS
Ariyana’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including securities and regulatory disputes, administrative and professional discipline matters, intellectual property enforcement, and tax litigation. She has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and has represented clients in trials, appeals, class proceedings, arbitrations, injunctions, and complex chambers applications
CONTACT
Ariyana earned her JD from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, where she participated in the Harold G. Fox Moot, Canada’s premier intellectual property moot, gaining experience addressing appellate-level intellectual property issues. She articled and practiced as an associate at one of British Columbia’s leading commercial litigation boutiques before joining Jiwaji Law as part of the firm’s founding litigation team.
Ariyana has been actively involved in the legal community throughout her career. During law school, she worked as a research assistant on projects relating to corporate law, sustainability, and climate governance.
She also volunteered as an Assistant Editor of the UBC Law Review and served as a researcher and co-project coordinator with the Consent Project through Pro Bono Students Canada, delivering legal education programs to high school students. In 2025, she served as faculty for CLEBC’s A Litigator’s Arsenal program.
Originally from Toronto, Ariyana holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph. Her scientific background provides valuable insight when working on matters involving technical subject matter, including intellectual property and technology-related disputes.
Education
University of British Columbia, J.D., 2022
University of Guelph, B.Sc. (Honours), 2018
Bar Admissions
British Columbia, 2023
Speaking Engagements
A Litigator's Arsenal, CLEBC, June 2025
Publications
Pleadings Dos and Don'ts: The Court of Appeal's Decision in Mercantile Office Systems Private Limited v. Worldwide Warranty Life Services Inc., CLEBC, June 2025, Co-Author
Memberships & Affiliations
Law Society of British Columbia
The Advocates’ Society
NOTABLE CASES
Cambie Surgeries Corporation v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2026 BCCA 267
Appellate Practice/Costs
Counsel for the appellants at the British Columbia Court of Appeal on the legal test for determining whether the normal costs rule should apply to public interest litigants unsuccessful at trial.
West Vancouver (District of) v Este, 2026 BCSC 479 (CanLII)
Municipal Law / Injunctions
Counsel for a co-owner respondent on a municipality’s successful petition for a permanent statutory injunction under the Community Charter to enforce a remedial action requirement to demolish a derelict structure.
Leean International Corp. v CF Energy Corp., 2026 BCSC 387 (CanLII)
Shareholder Disputes / Derivative Actions
Counsel successful in obtaining leave for a minority shareholder to prosecute a derivative action Act to enforce a loan discharge agreement on behalf of the respondent corporation.
Frost v. Li, 2026 BCCA 72 (CanLII)
Appellate Practice / Shareholder Disputes
Counsel for the respondent shareholder at the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The appeal was granted in part: the Court of Appeal upheld the chambers judge’s interpretation of the company’s articles and the finding regarding the interpretation of the quorum requirement for a shareholder’s meeting.
Frost v Li, 2025 BCSC 2499 (CanLII)
Shareholder Disputes / Derivative Actions
Counsel for a shareholder respondent on applications to strike oppression and breach of fiduciary duty claims and for leave to bring a derivative action.
Saunders v. Ciammaichella, 2025 BCSC 1888 (CanLII)
Interim Remedies and Injunctions
Counsel for the defendants on an application for an interlocutory injunction in a dispute between two dentists in respect of the interpretation of a cost sharing agreement between them.
The Owners, Strata Plan LMS 3905 v Crystal Square Parking, 2025 BCSC 1017 (CanLII)
Contractual & Commercial Disputes
Counsel for the parking corporation, successful at trial in determining quantum and recovering on a counterclaim for unpaid fees under an air space parcel agreement.
Argo Mezzanine Financing No. 1 Ltd. v. Plaza 88 Development Ltd., 2025 BCCA 73 (CanLII)
Appellate Practice / Contractual & Commercial Disputes
Counsel for the appellant lender at the British Columbia Court of Appeal on the interpretation of loan and participation agreements governing the financing of a real estate development.
Argo Mezzanine Financing No. 1 Ltd. v Plaza 88 Developments Ltd., 2024 BCSC 1994 (CanLII)
Contractual & Commercial Disputes
Counsel for the plaintiff lender at trial on a contractual interpretation issue considering whether disputed profit participation, interest, and project management costs were deductible in calculating the funds to which the lender is entitled.
Argo Mezzanine Financing No. 1 Ltd. v. Plaza 88 Developments Ltd., 2023 BCSC 2134 (CanLII)
Contractual & Commercial Disputes
Counsel for the plaintiff lender on a summary trial application concerning the interpretation of funds owing under a developing financing participation agreement.
Wistom Capital FP LP v Fountana Plaza LP, 2023 BCSC 2018 (CanLII)
Interim Remedies and Injunctions
Counsel for the plaintiff, successful in obtaining a Mareva injunction restraining the defendants from dissipating assets pending a summary trial to enforce a settlement agreement.