Retired Salmon Arm lawyer banned for 10 years over client harassment

Retired Salmon Arm lawyer Ian Frank McTavish has been prohibited from practising law for 10 years after admitting to sexually harassing a former client. The Law Society of British Columbia accepted his proposal on Nov. 5, 2026, and the ban begins on Nov. 9, 2026.

McTavish, 79, worked as a sole practitioner in Salmon Arm for most of his 50-year career. He focused primarily on family and criminal law before retiring in 2024.

“the lawyer/client thing keeps us separate, but I can't lie: I wish it were different.”

The Law Society cited McTavish on Aug. 5, 2026, for alleged sexual harassment of a client in a family law matter. According to the society, he entered a contract with Legal Aid B.C. on Sept. 9, 2023, to represent a client in a case involving her 13-year-old daughter and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

During the retainer, McTavish gave the client his cell phone number so she could contact him directly. He then began texting her, and she found some of his messages inappropriate, unwanted, and uncomfortable.

Recorded exchanges include a June 3, 2024, conversation about veterinary expenses for her dog, during which he said the lawyer-client relationship keeps them separate but he wished it were different. On June 21, 2024, he texted her asking how things were, later calling her lovely and saying he needed some attention.

On July 10, 2024, the client sought his help regarding concerns about her daughter's well-being, including fears that her daughter may die by suicide. The sources end at this point without describing further messages or the final disciplinary decision details.