Influential lawyer recognized as leading expert in complex criminal litigation, white-collar defence
This article was produced in partnership with Narwal Litigation LLP
Joven Narwal, KC, has built a formidable reputation as a leading trial and appellate lawyer in Canadian criminal law. He is known for his legal excellence and relentless advocacy in some of the highest profile and notorious cases, domestically and internationally, where liberty and reputation are at stake.
In addition to acting for business and entertainment leaders, politicians, public health officials, athletes, and clergy, Narwal has worked with clients who have received intense media scrutiny, such as the Panama Papers Kingpin and others who the media has dubbed the “most prolific organized criminal in Canada.”
“I have had the privilege of representing successful and prominent people in the community who, given their visibility, are uniquely vulnerable to false allegations that carry devastating and long-lasting impacts to their reputations. The stakes can be extraordinarily high, and some of our greatest accomplishments have been defeating and resolving their matters before they draw public scrutiny,” Narwal says.
“When defending a client’s liberty from career-threatening enforcement action, our objective is to preserve and safeguard their life, reputation, dignity, and ultimately, their future and the future of their family.”
A remarkable career trajectory
After being called to the British Columbia bar in 2008, Narwal began his career as a Crown Counsel prosecuting criminal offences in Vancouver. He took a leave to obtain an LLM at Columbia University in New York City and, before long, launched his practice in downtown Vancouver, focusing on complex criminal litigation and other areas where individuals and entities come into conflict with the state, such as securities litigation, professional regulation, and other areas.
What started as a sole practitioner’s office became a thriving and award-winning boutique litigation firm, where managing partner Cheryl D’Sa, KC, and an elite legal team serve their expanding client base.
Narwal’s legal approach is profoundly influenced by his family’s legacy of resistance and resilience, from his great-grandfather’s fight against British rule to his grandfather’s efforts to challenge racist immigration policies.
Awards and advocacy
As one of Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers of 2024 and Narwal Litigation LLP being named to CL’s prestigious list of the Top Criminal Law Boutiques of 2024–2025, Narwal has also distinguished himself with the following accomplishments:
- appointed King’s Counsel by the Attorney General of BC for exceptional merit and contributions
- recognized as White-Collar Crime/Enforcement Lawyer of the Year by Benchmark Litigation Canada
- included in leading rankings and directories such as Best Lawyers, Chambers Global, and Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
- inducted as a life member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
- named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), a selective honorary society for exceptional trial lawyers
- inducted Fellow of the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, collaborating with the Basel Institute on Governance to advance financial crime litigation practices
His community service work has also garnered accolades. He received the Hands Against Racism Award for advocacy relating to systemic racism, served as an adjunct professor at the UBC Allard School of Law for over 12 years, and was the first BIPOC president of the Vancouver Bar Association in its 126-plus-year history.
