Stewart McDannold Stuart (SMS Law) is a law firm of municipal law experts dedicated to serving local governments across British Columbia. Founded in 1988, we set out with one clear goal: to provide high-quality legal services to our clients at a fair price.
The firm’s name has evolved over the years—starting as Wilson Staples McDannold & Marley, then becoming Staples McDannold Stewart, and ultimately transitioning to Stewart McDannold Stuart. In 2025, recognizing that many of our clients affectionately refer to us as “SMS,” we rebranded to SMS Law, while keeping our full legal name.
Over the years, SMS Law has been home to some of the foremost pioneers of municipal law in British Columbia, including Lorena Staples, K.C., Guy McDannold, Colin Stewart, Robert Macquisten, Kathryn Stuart, and the late Galt Wilson, K.C.
We’re proud of our long-standing commitment to municipalities, regional districts, park boards, improvement districts, health authorities, provincial ministries, non-profit organizations, and other public entities.
Based in Victoria, the provincial capital, we’re fortunate to call Vancouver Island’s southern tip home, serving communities from the heart of this beautiful region.
