Kelowna LawyerPaul J. Hergott B.Admn., LL.B.

Paul grew up in Saskatchewan and achieved his Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Regina. He has lived in British Columbia since attending the University of Victoria for his Law Degree, which he received in 1995. Paul has practised Law in the Okanagan since 1996, when he came on board with Bassett & Company in Westbank. After over 11 years of a rewarding affiliation with the Lawyers of Bassett & Company, Paul founded his own firm, Hergott Law.

Paul joined Bassett & Company as a junior litigation lawyer, he was soon heading up Bassett & Company's litigation department, and his practise developed to having the focus in Personal Injury and Collection work, including Foreclosures. Paul has one of the largest personal injury practises in the Okanagan, is on retainer with leasing companies in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and has a number of lenders who utilize his services for Foreclosures.

With the assistance of Terri Hergott, one of the most senior conveyancing secretaries in the Okanagan, Paul has a rapidly growing conveyancing practise, serving the purchasers, sellers and mortgagees with prompt, efficient work.

Paul has distinguished himself with excellence in customer service, having been presented with a Customer Service Excellence award by the Westbank Chamber of Commerce. Paul is also proud to have achieved his grade 10 piano certification with the Royal Conservatory of music, and has received various awards through his previous service with the Canadian Military Reserves

Paul is a founding member of Okanagan Business to Business, a well established business group, having a growing membership of more than 60 mainly Westside businesses.

In January, 2007, at the request of the newspaper, Paul began writing a weekly column entitled "Achieving Justice", which is published in the Westside section of the Sunday Capital News.

Jeffrey Zilkowsky, Lawyer

Jeff grew up in West Kelowna and achieved his Bachelor of Arts from what is now UBC-O; he graduated with distinction and in the top 1% of his graduating class. Jeff, then, began his legal education at the University of Alberta, where he was the recipient of the Merv Leitch, Q.C. Memorial Scholarship for leadership and academic achievement. Not being a fan of Edmonton winters, Jeff transferred to the University of Victoria (UVic) to complete his legal studies, graduating in 2009. After this, he articled at a well-respected criminal defense firm in Vancouver.

Before law school, Jeff spent several years volunteering for Westside Community Policing, the Kelowna General Hospital, the Salvation Army, the SPCA, Canadian Blood Services, and Okanagan University College's Japanese Conversation Program. During law school, Jeff gained valuable experience as a participant in the University of Alberta's Student Legal Services, UVic's Legal Information Clinic, and UVic's Law Centre. Since returning to Kelowna, Jeff has been generous with his time. He has attended several career fairs and secondary schools, speaking to students who are considering law as a career. He has provided and continues to provide advice and assistance in criminal and civil matters through the Okanagan Advocacy Resource Centre's Access Pro Bono Program and the Salvation Army's Pro Bono Clinic. Jeff is involved in the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club's Restorative Justice Program, which, among other purposes, is aimed at repairing harm caused by young adults. Jeff has also continued to volunteer for the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle Program.

When not working, Jeff enjoys exercising, golfing, biking, and enjoying the four season activities of the Okanagan.

Since joining Hergott Law, Jeff's time is primarily spent prosecuting personal injury claims, but his practice also includes real estate conveyancing, wills/estates, and foreclosures.

Kelowna Real Estate LawTerri Hergott, Legal Assistant

Terri has lived on the Westside for 33 years.

In 1989 Terri began her legal career working with Lyle Brown, a prominent Westbank Lawyer.

Over the following 10 years, she developed an expertise in real estate conveyancing and mortgages, to the extent that she programmed conveyancing software that she continues to use today. Terri also developed her administrative and accounting skills, managing Mr. Brown's firm.

Terri left Lyle Brown's firm in 2000, but continued her conveyancing work at other firms until 2005, when she started her own business providing freelance conveyancing services to various law firms in the Okanagan and elsewhere in British Columbia.

It was through Terri's well rounded experience that the vision of Hergott Law became a reality.

While Terri continues to provide freelance conveyancing services, her priority will be towards providing excellent service to Hergott Law's growing conveyancing practise. She has become distinguished in her ability to make deals happen quickly and efficiently.

Three young children inhabit the Hergott residence bringing all the love and entertainment that two daughters and a son can. Terri also has an older daughter studying at the University of British Columbia Okanagan.

Kelowna Legal ServicesRachel Green, Litigation Assistant

Rachel has worked in the Okanagan as a legal assistant since graduating from the Legal Secretarial Program 15 years ago.

Before joining the personal injury team at Hergott Law, Rachel had worked a number of years doing primarily ICBC defence work, most recently at Pihl & Associates. That exposure to the ICBC defence side of personal injury litigation gives Rachel a valuable perspective in her work at Hergott Law, where we act only for crash victims and never for ICBC.

Rachel and her husband are long time residents of the Westside, and are the proud parents of a 6 year old son.

When not serving our clients at Hergott Law or volunteering at her son's school, Rachel and her family enjoy entertaining, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the Okanagan outdoors.

Kelowna Legal ServicesMartha Gatehouse, Legal Assistant

Martha joins our firm after working as a Legal Assistant in Vancouver for 15 years.

Before joining the personal injury team at Hergott Law, Martha worked primarily in ICBC defence work, at a boutique Vancouver firm. That exposure to the ICBC defence side of personal injury litigation gives Martha a valuable perspective in her work at Hergott Law, where we act only for crash victims and never for ICBC.

When not serving our clients at Hergott Law Martha enjoys hiking.

Kelowna Legal ServicesJamie Newall, Paralegal

Jamie was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in the Fraser Valley. After graduating from University, she attended Capilano where she obtained her Paralegal Diploma. Jamie is a member of the BC Paralegal Association and began her legal career in litigation, focusing primarily on personal injury and family law. After two years, Jamie was hired at a large firm in the Lower Mainland doing Commercial litigation, personal injury and ICBC defence work.

In 2009, Jamie and her husband moved to the Okanagan to raise their young family. When she is not working, Jamie enjoys spending time with her son and daughter and camping with friends and family.

Kelowna Legal ServicesJenna Cass, Legal Assistant

Jenna was raised on the Westside, graduating from Mount Boucherie High School in 2005. After taking a year off to travel, she moved back to the Okanagan to start a family and an office assistant career at Benson Salloum Watts. After the birth of her daughter she completed a personal training certification focusing on prenatal and postnatal fitness. She now provides office assistance at Hergott Law while continuing to train clients on the side.

Jenna enjoys hiking around the Okanagan footpaths, camping, wakeboarding and spending time at various parks with her daughter.

Kelowna Legal ServicesIona Morrison, Litigation Assistant

Iona is the international member of our legal team, with a 14 year legal assistant career divided between her time in Nottingham, England, and the Westside.

She was born and grew up in Nottingham. She moved her young family to the Westside in 2006, and Hergott Law was lucky to snatch her up as soon as she was settled in. She now lives in Peachland with her husband, 10 year old daughter, and 5 year old son.

Iona began her legal career in litigation, doing primarily personal injury and insolvency work. After a few years, she moved from litigation in a small firm to large scale commercial solicitor work with a huge international law firm with 38 offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. Although she enjoyed this area of work and worked with a great team, she had always missed her work in litigation.

Her move to the Westside has brought her back to litigation with a small firm, and back to the areas of practice she initially enjoyed, namely personal injury and foreclosures. She is also our front line customer service person, giving all of our clients the opportunity to enjoy her accent.

Iona and her family are enjoying their new life here. They enjoy camping, quadding, and especially the lake in the summer. The children are enjoying activities that they would never have done in England, as well as the open spaces and outdoor lifestyle. This year, Iona is determined to master skiing, so she can keep up with her husband and daughter on their snowboards, and her son on his skis.

Kelowna Legal ServicesChelsey Hawkins

Bio coming soon!

Kelowna Legal ServicesTamara Perez

Bio coming soon!

Kelowna Legal ServicesLesley Jackman, Legal Assistant

Lesley was born and grew up in the Kootenays, but has lived in the Okanagan since 2006.

Lesley's post secondary education began in Calgary at Mount Royal College, and then continued on in Edmonton at Grant McEwan College, completing two years towards a B.A.

After moving to the Okanagan, Lesley worked from 2006 through 2008, doing administrative work for a telephone company, before returning to school in the beginning of 2009. She graduated from the one year Legal Secretary Program the end of 2009, and then began her legal assistant career at the former Benson Salloum Watts LLP. Hergott Law was fortunate to bring her on board in November, 2010.

Lesley and her husband were married in September, 2010, and are expecting their first child in July, 2011. Lesley enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their family, and reading the latest bestseller. The family owns a property on Kootenay lake where they enjoy camping, boating and fishing.

She is very much looking forward to the exciting adventure of motherhood, and while we will all wish her well, we will want her to return as soon as possible!

Kelowna law teamJulie Zeballos

As the newest member of Hergott Law, Julie is a Vancouver native whom has lived in Kelowna for 2 years and currently resides on the Westside. She graduated from Sprott Shaw College in Kelowna with a certificate in a Legal/Administrative Assistant course and is enjoying starting her career in the Legal field.

Her interests included travelling – most recently returning from Europe, and personal fitness. She plans to start a family in Kelowna with her fiancé and is kept busy at home with 2 cats and a dog.

Kelowna law teamJessica Harrison

Jessica was born and raised in Kelowna, and could not imagine living anywhere more beautiful than the Okanagan Valley. She made the big move to the Westside with her husband in 2002.

After graduating with distinction from what is now UBC-O with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Fresh Water Science, Jessica found that the job opportunities for environmental science were a little sparse in the Okanagan, so rather than leaving her home town, she opted to take administrative positions in different fields.

Jessica and her husband, Mark, have two little boys who have kept her busy the last handful of years, but Hergott Law has been coaxing her back into the paid work force. It is hoped that Hergott Law will be able to convince her to put her full time talents into the practice within the next short while. At present, her contribution is part time. Jessica has recently been heard to say that working at Hergott Law is the best job EVER...

Jessica enjoys volunteering her time at her eldest son's school. She also enjoys reading, gardening, camping with family and friends, and she is developing a passion for bridge.

Kelowna law teamNicole Fisher, Office Assistant

Nicole was born in and grew up in the Okanagan.

Her legal career started at Bassett & Company on the Westside, where she was a casual employee for approximately three years while completing high school at Mount Boucherie and beginning her university education at UBC Okanagan. When Paul Hergott branched off from Bassett & Company, Nicole joined the new team of Hergott Law.

Nicole is continuing her university education at the Sauder School of Business at UBC in Vancouver and provides her assistance to the Hergott Law team as her university schedule allows her. She has proven herself to be a conscientious, detail oriented worker and we take advantage of her availability as it occurs.

Nicole's career aspirations are not finalized, but her step-father, Paul, hopes to see her working beside him at Hergott Law before he's gone completely gray.