Matthew J. Van Den Hooven, Barrister & Solicitor, Family & Immigration Lawyer in Nanaimo

Mission & Values Statement

To help families, children, parents, and grandparents, thrive through the process of growth and opportunity created by marriage and permanent residence and survive the hardships and challenges created by separation and divorce - one client at time.

Areas of Expertise

Matthew's areas of expertise are:
- Family law, especially:
​- Parenting issues;
- Parenting time; and,
- ​Parental responsibilities.

Immigration law, especially:
- ​Visitor visas;
- Grandparent super visas; and,
- Spousal sponsorship.​

Common law, especially:
- ​As it applies to family and immigration law.

Technology, especially:
- ​As it applies to the practice of law.

Mental health issues and psychology, especially:
- ​As it applies to family and immigration law.

Background

​Matthew is a lawyer focused on the areas of family and immigration law. He serves his clients from his home-based office in North Nanaimo.  He completed his articling in the Comox Valley and was called to the BC Bar in 2012 in Vancouver. He returned to practice on Vancouver Island in 2016.

​Matthew was born, raised, and has lived in many different cities within the Metro Vancouver area. He has lived in Courtenay, Comox, Saanich, Parksville, and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Prior to starting university, he spent a number of years living in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Growing up, he often spent summers in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in Sioux Narrows, Ontario.

Matthew's family has roots on Vancouver Island tracing back to the 1950s when his father, uncle, and Oma & Opa immigrated to the Comox Valley area from the Netherlands. Today, his family is spread mostly throughout Vancouver Island, the Metro Vancouver area, and the Interior. Lately, he, his wife, and two young children have enjoyed exploring different parts of Vancouver Island including San Josef Bay, Botanical Beach, and Rathtrevor Beach.

Matthew was naturally drawn to the practice of law as he was close to his late grandfather, Alan A. Adams, who was also a lawyer. As a lawyer for over eight years, he enjoys helping his clients resolve their family related legal problems. He is a member in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia.

Education

Matthew received his Juris Doctor degree from Robson Hall Law School at the University of Manitoba in 2011. Prior to graduating from law school, he received a Certificate from the University of Western Ontario for French studies in Trois-Pistoles, Québec in 2009 and completed his undergraduate studies in arts and science with a focus on psychology at the University of Saskatchewan in 2008.

Professional Involvement

Matthew is a member in good standing with the:
- Law Society of British Columbia;
- Canadian Bar Association;
- Nanaimo County Bar Association;
- Nanaimo City Bar Association; and,
- Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.
​
Matthew has represented clients from Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island in front of tribunals, at disciplinary hearings, at Provincial Court, and at the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He provides his clients with clear, concise, and understandable legal advice and he prepares potential witnesses for court and deals with witnesses, victims and their families in a considerate and courteous manner.

Matthew has represented clients with complex family claims involving spousal and child abuse. He has skillfully litigated, mediated, and negotiated claims in the Supreme Court and Provincial Court of British Columbia. He has effectively conducted discoveries, examined, and cross-examined sophisticated parties.

​Matthew has accumulated over ten years of legal related experience since 2010 and has worked with many individuals, families, professionals, societies, and businesses. He has experience as a pro bono volunteer, human rights and poverty advocate, property assistant, barrister, and solicitor. He is talented at solving his clients' legal problems and helping his clients better understand the law. ​

Community Involvement

Matthew enjoys supporting and promoting community-based development activities and initiatives that help newcomers to Canada integrate into the community. He has helped international students, new economic immigrants, and refugees settle in Canada since 2005. He has worked with newcomers to Canada as a barrister, solicitor, English instructor, ESL activities coordinator, and business advisor.

Matthew has volunteered and helped support the World University Service of Canada’s Student Refugee Program by helping campaign for the Society while in law school at the University of Manitoba. The result was that student body voted to significantly raise the amount of funding for the program and the university could bring one additional refugee student per year to study at the university.

Matthew has also worked to help individuals in need of housing or other assistance through his advocacy work with several organizations, including Access Pro Bono and St. Paul's Anglican Church Advocacy Office in downtown Vancouver. He has helped clients access federal and provincial programs, find temporary and more suitable permanent accommodations, and navigate the health care system.

Experience

Matthew has represented clients in front of the:
- Immigration and Refugee Board;
​- Residential Tenancy Branch;
​- Provincial Small Claims Court;
- Provincial Family Court;
- Supreme Civil Court; and,
- Supreme Family Court.

Matthew is comfortable working with translators and interpreters. He has provided invaluable legal advice to hundreds of clients.

Position	Organization	Location	Duration
Barrister & Solicitor	Law Office of Matthew J. Van Den Hooven	Nanaimo, BC	December 2012 – Present

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
University of Manitoba	J.D.	Law School	2011
Western University	Certificate	French Language and Literature	2009
University of Saskatchewan	Arts and Science	Psychology	2008

State / Court	Date
Law Society of British Columbia	2012

• - Law Society of British Columbia
  
  - Canadian Bar Association

• None noted.

• https://canlii.ca/t/gdq3q#par15
  Lin v. Wang, 2014 BCSC 1790 (CanLII) Supreme Court of British Columbia — British Columbia 2014-09-24 | 12 pages | cited by 2 documents claimant — bruises — parenting — autism — children

• https://www.vandenhooven.ca/blog

Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.
	9:00 am - 6:00 pm	9:00 am - 6:00 pm	9:00 am - 6:00 pm	9:00 am - 6:00 pm	9:00 am - 6:00 pm

 Closed holidays and weekends.

• www.vandenhooven.ca