Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / The exterior of Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors at 9245 Main Street in downtown Chilliwack. A sign indicates the building is now for lease sign has been mounted to the exterior. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Law firms merge

Chilliwack law firm founded over 60 years ago merges with Fraser Valley law office

Jan 12, 2026 | 10:03 AM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack law firm founded over 60 years ago has merged with a Fraser Valley law office, resulting in a downtown Chilliwack law office going up for lease.

Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors, which was founded in 1964 by Donald Patten, has merged with Waterstone Law Group LLP, effective January 1, 2026, according to an automated email reply that was produced after Fraser Valley Today sent an email inquiry over the weekend.

The automated email states that as part of the merger, Patten Thornton’s lawyers and staff will relocate to Waterstone’s Chilliwack office at 201-45793 Luckakuck Way in Chilliwack. Moving forward, Patten Thornton can now be reached at 604-824-7777, and its regular office hours commenced effective Monday, January 5, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

The automated email states that its current office at 9245 Main Street in downtown Chilliwack permanently closed as of Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.

A similar sign has been posted outside the Main Street law firm office, indicating that the firm has merged with Waterstone and that its Main Street office would be permanently closed.

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Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A sign has been posted near the front entrance to Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors indicating the law office has merged with Waterstone Law Group LLP, and its downtown office has since closed.

According to its website, Patten Thornton has remained a cornerstone of the local legal community since 1964 and had been at its present location on Main Street since 1972. Its law practice features three distinguished partners.

Michael Thornton, a partner with the firm, launched his legal career in England, according to Patten Thornton’s website. He qualified as a solicitor and practiced in the West of England from 1979 to 1986. In 1986, he articled to Don Patten and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1988. Thornton has been a partner since 1991 and has practiced in many areas including criminal defense, matrimonial law, and civil litigation. For the past 15 years, his practice has been primarily focused on ICBC/motor vehicle accident and personal injury litigation. He has appeared in all levels of court in British Columbia, namely the Provincial Court, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeal.

Image: Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors

Andrew Briscoe became a partner with the firm in 2002. Briscoe was raised in the eastern Fraser Valley and he has numerous ties to the community. He earned his undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University in 1994 and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1997. He was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1998. He became a partner in 2002 and has worked primarily as a litigator, appearing before both the Provincial Court and the Supreme Court on a regular basis. His practice includes family law and civil litigation. Andy has also acted on behalf of the B.C. Ministry of the Attorney General in several different capacities.

Image: Patten Thornton Barristers & Solicitors

Peter Thornton, a partner in the law firm, grew up in the Chilliwack area and graduated from Chilliwack Secondary School in 2003. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in political science, from the University of British Columbia in 2007. He also attended the Faculty of Law at UBC and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 2011. Peter was articled to Andrew Briscoe in 2011-2012 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2012. In 2018, Peter became a partner with the firm.

Image: Patten Thornton / Patten Thornton law firm partner Peter J. Thornton.

According to its website, all three Patten Thornton partners live in or around the Chilliwack area and have extensive ties to the community. The firm also has one additional associate lawyer, Nicholas Cooper, who joined the firm in 2017.