Juhi Cuvelier
she/her
I was born in my grandparents’ home in a small village in India. At seven, my family left our safety net behind and struck out for Nairobi, Kenya, where I spent many years in the mild, equatorial climate. I moved to Ontario in my early teens; I found the cold a shocking contrast. I graduated from high school with so many stories to tell, so many friends scattered worldwide, and the irreplaceable experience of challenging the status quo across multiple continents and cultures.
I attended the University of British Columbia for my Bachelor of Science, taking courses not only in microbiology, calculus, and chemistry, but also in mythology, architecture and anthropology. I was inducted into the Golden Key Society for my all-round academic excellence. Following graduation, I attained certification in Information Systems, after learning coding, web development and 3D rendering. I have found that the skills I learned across the pure sciences, the liberal arts, and logical systems have uniquely equipped me to be a creative and persistent problem-solver, confidently able to tackle issues that intimidate others.
Passionate about justice, and not yet having found my calling, I attended the University of Victoria for my juris doctor degree. Before joining the Breakwater Law team, I practiced at another Victoria firm as a civil litigator for many years, developing a reputation as a strong and steadfast advocate.
A litigator at heart, I am also a skilled negotiator. While I love being in court, I also enjoy finding other avenues to value and success for my clients. My international adventures gifted me resilience and adaptability, and exposed me to many different ways of learning and of creatively approaching problems. I bring all of those qualities to my law practice.
When I get time to myself, one of my favourite activities is cozying up with a book with coffee in hand, while enjoying our rainy west coast through the window. I enjoy learning new things, especially crafts and information about the human psyche. I am a relatively new mom, a casual video gamer, and I am also fluent in Hindi. My partner is a member of the Royal Canadian Navy; I have personal experience of life and law within the Canadian Forces.
Called to the bar in 2014, I practice general civil litigation, including family law matters of divorce, contested parenting matters, support, property and pension division, child apprehension, and family law agreements. I also have substantial experience in estate planning, residential conveyancing, personal injury (plaintiff side) and in drafting various types of contracts for small to medium sized businesses.
Within my civil litigation practice, I frequently work with clients from the desi Indian community, the DND community, and the LGBTQ2IA+ and polyamory communities, to name but a few.
