Robert Villani
Robert Douglas Villani was born in Powell River, British Columbia in 1963 and is married to Cindy Villani. They have two children, Cole, born in 2000 and Rylan in 2003.
Rob received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Victoria in 1986 and graduated from the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law, in 1989. He was called to the B.C. Bar in 1990. Rob articled and practiced with the Vancouver law firm of Tupper, Jonsson and Yeadon before returning to Powell River in 1993. He has practiced continuously in Powell River since that time, first as an associate, then in partnership and now as the principal of Villani & Company.
Rob practices mainly in the areas of real estate, company and commercial law, wills and estates and personal injury. He regularly writes a feature "The Law Corner" for the Powell River Peak Newspaper answering questions regarding real estate matters and has presented at many seminars on such topics as Real Estate, Company Law and Estate Planning.
Rob has for many years been involved with many local groups, societies and charities such as the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, United Way, Powell River Kings Society, Powell River Community Futures Foundation and coaching minor baseball, basketball and soccer. Rob is currently the co-chair of the Brad Bombardier Golf Classic which raises funds for both the Powell River Kings and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Rob's leisure time includes family, fishing, travel, spending weekends with the kids at the local hockey arena and puttering around his cabin on Powell Lake.
Milda Karen-Byng
Milda Karen-Byng was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
Milda received a B.A. from Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario in 1975, graduating "with distinction". She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Ottawa Law School in 1974 and was a Gold Medallist of the graduating class. She was called to the B.C. Bar in 1976 (and was a member of the Alberta Bar between 1981 and 1986).
She articled (and practiced briefly) with Davis & Company, in Vancouver and then spent ten years in Dawson Creek, becoming senior partner in a six lawyer firm. She moved to Powell River in January 1986 and started her own office in December of that year, and then joined Villani as Associate Counsel in 2001.
Milda practices mainly in the area of real estate, company and commercial law, wills and estates and has taken Family Law Mediation training. She offers estate planning and regularly prepares documents such as wills and trusts, enduring Powers of Attorney, Representation Agreements, deeds of gift and joint tenancy transfers.
She has been a member of the Provincial Advisory Council of People's Law School, and an ad-hoc Bencher for the Law Society Competency Committee (1992). She has given seminars on various aspects of wills and general estate planning to clients and to various community and charitable groups. Milda writes a regular feature "The Law Corner" for the Powell River Peak newspaper, answering questions regarding wills and estates.
Milda has in previous years been involved with various local groups or societies such as Home Support (Director), Scouts (Secretary), Powell River Aquatic Club (President), Hospital Ethics Committee (Member), Friends of Olive Devaud (Spokesperson) and currently assists with various activities at Myrtle Point Golf Club.
Stacey McCausland
Stacey McCausland was born and raised in Powell River. After graduating from Max Cameron High School she participated in the launch of Malaspina College's university transfer program and completed the first year curriculum. She then left to go traveling; living in the United States and then traveling Europe. Following her return to BC, she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree (Political Science) at the University of British Columbia in 1996. She went to law school at the University of Victoria and graduated in 2000.
After articling in Kelowna, Stacey returned to Powell River to practice law following her call to the Bar in 2001. She worked at Johnston & Company for seven years. She has been with VIllani as an associate counsel since the start of 2009. She practices in all areas of litigation, including personal injury, estate litigation and criminal defense. Stacey also has a large family law practice and is a qualified family law mediator.
Stacey is the vice president of the Powell River Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Directors for the Powell River Kiwanis Housing Society and the Powell River United Way. In her free time she loves being outdoors; camping and boating being two of her favourite activities.
