Breaking New Ground
PERMINDER
S. TUNG
Perminder S. Tung, is the first Indo-Canadian and the
youngest lawyer to make Partner at Lindsay Kenny LLP, a
leading BC law firm. In our interview with Perminder, he talks
about his personal experience and the current achievements
in the South Asian legal community.
Tell us about the law firm of
Lindsay Kenney LLP:
We are a full service law firm with large
offices in downtown Vancouver and in the
new financial centre in Langley. Our firm aspires
to service everyone: ICBC injury claims, divorce,
child custody, wills, and estate planning to buying/
selling a business, complex business transactions
and commercial litigation. We have 15 Partners and
usually around 35 – 40 total lawyers.
judgement for over $500,000 in a case involving
a Law Student who was injured in two car
accidents and suffered a debilitating shoulder
injury (J.D. v. Chandra et al., 2014 BCSC 466).
Both judgements are public record and can
be found on the LK Law website and also on
the BC Supreme Court website with the case
citations provided.
You’re the first Indo-Canadian
and the youngest lawyer to
make Partner at your firm – tell
us about the journey.
What area of law do you practice?
I practice exclusively in the area of ICBC
personal injury claims, acting only for
injured persons seeking compensation for their pain
and financial losses.
Tell us about a recent win or case
you were involved in?
We recently obtained judgement in a car
accident case involving an Indo-Canadian Medical
Student. Liability was disputed as he was making a
left-hand turn near Guildford Mall and he sustained
soft-tissue injuries. We obtained judgement for just
over $400,000 (Kathuria v. Wildgrove et al., 2014
BCSC 1274). A few months before that, we obtained
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I can’t believe I am saying this, because
recently they were my bosses, but my Partners
have been incredibly supportive in developing
my practice. I joined the firm as a first year
Associate five years ago and they supported
every marketing effort, client development
idea, and above all, they set a high standard for
the legal services we deliver. In other words,
they encouraged me to seek new business and
develop my own clients, while also putting me
around high calibre lawyers with extensive
experience. Then, they made me a Partner
and welcomed me into the business. It takes
good people that trust you and believe in you.
TM
Interview by Tarana Rana
What does this mean in terms
of advancements for IndoCanadians in the legal profession
today?
It’s difficult to think of oneself as breaking new
ground. I tend to think more about the people
around me and other significant events in 2014.
Jeevyn Dhaliwal and Pinder Cheema, Q.C.,
were elected as Benchers of the Law Society of
British Columbia. The Law Society regulates the
legal profession and those appointments were
the first to achieve those posts. Also in 2014,
Neena Sharma was appointed as a judge to the
BC Supreme Court. This was also the 100-year
Anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident.
I honestly hope that a young Indo-Canadian
student reading this story is inspired by the fact
that it is possible to dream big, because each
person that believes in that dream will pave the
way for my children and future generations.
What was one of the challenges
you faced as a lawyer and
how did you overcome it?
I always wanted to be a Corporate
Lawyer. I was articling in early 2009 and the
financial markets crashed, which meant jobs
were scarce. I changed practice areas and
became a courtroom litigator. That is one of
the beauties of this profession – it is somewhat
recession proof. Lawyers practice in many
fields: private practice, in-house counsel at
corporations, and all levels of government.
Perminder with his wife Priya, daughter Amira
and son Jovin.
What role does diversity play?
Are law firms supportive of
diversity?
One would hope that law firms are
supportive of diversity, but it is an ancient profession
that is somewhat resistant to change. Given the
success of the Indo-Canadian community at large
and sheer population in this province, businesses
need to be progressive and inclusive.
On May 22, 2014 Mr. Ajay Banga, President
and CEO of MasterCard, gave a commencement
address to the graduating class at NYU Stern
School of Business, a highly regarded university.
MasterCard is a global company and Mr. Banga
is an accomplished and proud turbaned-Sikh. He
says “Diversity is what drives better insights, better
decisions, and better products. It’s the backbone
of innovation. It’s what defines a great leadership
culture …” Mr. Banga is basically telling the business
world to adapt or risk failing.
Growing up, who was your
inspiration?
Without a doubt, my parents: Kulwant
Singh and Baljit Kaur Tung. To truly succeed in any
job or career, you need inspiration and motivation.
People find it in different places. We were not poor
growing up, but my parents worked incredibly
hard in low paying jobs to save aggressively and
provide my brother and I with all of the opportunities
Canada had to provide. I often laugh at the
expression that “We came to this country for you
… so make us proud” – but that was probably my
biggest inspiration.
Education &
Training Highlights:
► Juris Doctor, cum laude (2008) –
University of Detroit, Michigan
► Bachelor of Laws (2008) –
University of Windsor, Ontario
► Bachelor of Arts (2004) – Simon
Fraser University, BC
What do you do for fun or to get
away from the stresses of work?
The most entertaining person in my
world is my wife of over 10 years, Priya.
She is a Chartered Accountant and another busy
professional, so work-life-balance is important to
both of us. We have two little rug-rats, daughter
Amira and son Jovin. They are the best way to
remind us what is most important in life … family.
► Summer Intern (2006): Miller,
Canfiled, Paddock & Stone (Detroit,
Michigan)
► Summer Intern (2007) and
Articling Student (2008/09): Farris,
Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP
DARPAN
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BC)G U S T
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