Elisabeth Sadowski

Elisabeth Sadowski is a litigation lawyer whose main areas of practice are plaintiff personal injury, and civil sexual assault litigation.

Elisabeth has extensive experience in civil sexual assault litigation, and her practice focuses on supporting survivors in pursuing accountability from institutional defendants (such as, the Ministry of Child and Family Development, Scouts Canada, religious organizations, and schools/universities across BC) while advocating for justice and dignity for survivors of sexual assault.

Additionally, Elisabeth represents clients who have been seriously injured as a result of assaults, slips and falls, and occupiers’ negligence (injuries on someone else’s property) claims. Before joining Hammerco, she practiced at a plaintiff-only injury firm and a prominent midsize firm practicing civil litigation, both in Vancouver.

Elisabeth’s familial background in medicine (a neurologist father) and her own experience surviving a car accident (and subsequent legal process) inspired her to become a lawyer. As a result of her experiences, she is uniquely able to empathize and takes a supportive role with her clients. In her role as counsel, Elisabeth has appeared as an advocate before all levels of court in British Columbia (the Provincial and Supreme Courts of British Columbia and the British Columbia Court of Appeal).

Born and raised in Vancouver, Elisabeth strongly believes in giving back to her local and legal communities. She has served on several executives and boards, including nearly a decade on the board of CLICK: Contributing to Lives of Inner City Kids, along with her current roles with Parkinson Society British Columbia (since 2017) and the discipline committee of The Vancouver Club (since 2022).

In 2023, Elisabeth was the president of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia after serving on the board from 2017 to 2024. In 2024 and 2025, she was appointed to the Credentials Committee of the Law Society of British Columbia (the committee is responsible for overseeing the enrolment, education, examination, and call to the bar of articled students, the transfer of lawyers to BC, and the reinstatement of former lawyers).

More recently, Elisabeth was recognized with the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ Award in Personal Injury Litigation (2026) and the Collingwood School Alumni Association Honours Award (2024).

Assistant

• Kelsey Galvani
  Paralegal
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: 1.604.269.8520
• Mateus Veloso Viana
  Legal Administrative Assistant
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: 1.604.269.8587

Education

• Admitted to the Bar of British Columbia, 2016
• LLB, City University of London, 2014
• BA (Double major – English literature, political science), University of British Columbia, 2009

Memberships and Affiliations

• Member, Law Society of British Columbia
• Law Society of British Columbia, Credentials Committee (appointment January 2024 – December 2024; January 2025 – December 2025)
• Member, The Advocates’ Society
• Member, The Medical Legal Society of BC
• Member, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch
• Member, American Association for Justice
• The Vancouver Club, Discipline Committee (2022 – present)
• Board Member, Parkinson Society BC (2017 – present)
• Governor (2017 – 2024), Past President (2023), Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
• Board Member, CLICK: Contributing to Lives of Inner City Kids (2014 – 2021)
• Committee Member, Young Lawyers Advisory Committee, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (2018 – 2019)
• Vice-Chair of Marketing & Communications, BC Women Lawyers Forum, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (2017 – 2018)
• Executive Member, Civil Litigation Vancouver Section, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (2016 – 2018)

Publications

• “The Horrors of No Fault Insurance in BC,” Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association: The Barrister, 2024
• “Overview of the Legal Provincial and Federal Committees in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC: The Verdict, 2020
• “Compassion in the Time of COVID-19,” Vancouver Bar Association: The Advocate, 2020
• “Amendments to the Employment Standards Act in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Canadian Bar Association – BC Branch: BarTalk, 2020
• Author and Speaker, “Guide to the New Galaxy of “Minor Injury and “Serious Impairment,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC: Life After CAPS: “Minor Injuries,” 2019
• “It’s Never Too Early to Start Giving Back,” Vancouver Bar Association: The Advocate, 2019 ·
• Co-Author, “Personal Injury Update on Case Law and Legislation,” Continuing Legal Education Society of BC: Personal Injury Conference, 2017
•  “From Plaintiff to Personal Injury Lawyer,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC: The Verdict, 2017
• Co-Author, “Personal Injury Update on Case Law and Legislation,” Continuing Legal Education Society of BC: Personal Injury Conference, 2016 ·
•  “The Growing Demand for Articling Positions,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC: The Verdict, 2016

Conferences and Lectures

• Co-Chair, “Mastering Civil Jury Trials” webinar series, Trial Lawyers Association of BC, 2025 – 2026
• Co-Chair, “Medicine Bootcamp for Lawyers’” conference, Trial Lawyers Association of BC, 2022
• Moderator, “Nothing But the Truth: A Conversation with Marie Henein,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC, 2021
• “Harnessing Opportunities: Career Transitions during COVID-19”,  Canadian Bar Association BC Branch: Women Lawyers Forum, 2020
•  “Speed Coaching: How to Market Yourself Outside Your Firm to Build Your Practice and Your Value to Your Firm,” Canadian Bar Association BC Branch: Women Lawyers Forum, 2019
• Speaker & Mentor, “Collaborative Mentorship Workshop,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC: New Lawyers Retreat, 2019
• “The Business of Law: Marketing,” Trial Lawyers Association of BC: New Lawyers Retreat, 2018

Awards and Achievements

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™, Personal Injury Litigation (2026)
• Collingwood School Alumni Association Honours Award (2023-2024)

Media Coverage

• The Financial Impact of ‘No Fault’ Car Insurance in British Columbia
  Mind Your Money Podcast with Mehul Gandhi | July 2024

Personal Interests

• Volunteering, travel, tennis, skiing, windsurfing

Home Region

• North Shore/Vancouver