The Honourable Wallace T. Oppal O.B.C., K.C., FCIArb is one of Canada’s most trusted senior counsels and a distinguished arbitrator and mediator. His career spans decades in the judiciary, public service, and dispute resolution. A former justice of the County Court, the BC Supreme Court, and the BC Court of Appeal, he served on the bench for 24 years, presiding over complex legal matters and shaping policy through landmark commissions of inquiry. He is senior counsel at Boughton Law Corporation.
Mr. Oppal has played a pivotal role in addressing critical issues in policing and justice. He led five commissions of inquiry, including a comprehensive review of policing in BC and the Pickton Inquiry into missing and murdered women, advocating for greater accountability and systemic reform. From 2005 to 2009, he served as BC’s Attorney General, overseeing major investigations into police conduct and criminal justice matters.
His expertise extends to high-level governmental transitions and international trade. He was appointed to lead the transition from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service and has served as a panel member for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. A trained mediator and arbitrator, Mr. Oppal attended the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University and is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. He continues to contribute to legal oversight as a Discipline Authority under BC’s Police Act.
A lifelong resident of British Columbia, Mr. Oppal’s dedication to social justice and community safety is well-recognized. His accolades include the Order of BC (2017) and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals (2012, 2022).

Degrees & certifications
University of British Columbia, LL.B.
Year of Call: 1967 (B.C.)
Certified as an International Arbitrator by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Houston TX (2016)
Certified as a Mediator by the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine, CA (2016)
Area of practice
- Commercial Litigation
- Wills, Trusts and Estates
- Personal Injury