Best Lawyers in Canada for Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice

Alex O'Reilly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice. Alex, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alex is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brent Olthuis is an experienced litigator with a broad practice. He represents individual and corporate clients in civil and commercial matters and also regularly acts for regulated professions and their member professionals, as well as for other public bodies. He has acted as external counsel to the Auditor General of Canada in respect of the 2015 audit of the Senate and for the Attorney General of British Columbia in constitutional proceedings. He presently acts for the City of Richmond in ...

Nick Kennedy is Partner at OKT with a broad litigation and advisory practice. In addition to his Indigenous law work, which includes matters related to the interpretation of modern treaties and the Duty to Consult, Nick has experience in constitutional (especially the division of powers), administrative, anti-money laundering, contract, construction, energy and freedom of information law matters. Nick has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, the Quebec Court of Appeal, the Supreme ...

Judith Rae is a Partner at OKT committed to advancing Indigenous peoples’ goals. Her focus areas include governance, child welfare, health and education. She has also worked on protecting Indigenous lands and resources, developing Indigenous laws, constitutional and human rights, and a number of other strategic, negotiation & litigation matters. In addition to her legal background, Judith also has a Masters in Social Work and experience working with youth at risk. She offers inter-d...

Darla Rettie is a trusted legal advisor offering practical and effective advice in the areas of commercial financing, business structuring, designing trusts and documenting First Nation laws. Her aim is to assist her clients and their partners realize their goals, while navigating the complex web of laws that apply to First Nations and their businesses. This includes the constitutionally protected right to be consulted, as part of the project development and implementation processes. Darla br...

Randall Kahgee is Senior Counsel to Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP and specializes in Indigenous rights law, with an emphasis on community-based processes and government-to-government negotiations. Randall has worked with Indigenous governments across Canada and participated in significant agreements between Indigenous communities and provincial and federal governments on energy matters, including issues relating to the development of nuclear facilities, transmission lines, renewable energy proj...

Denis Blanchette is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice, Administrative and Public Law and Environmental Law. Denis, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Denis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christine practices environmental and Indigenous law, providing advice in respect of major project development, environmental assessment, permitting, operational matters and acquisition and sale of industrial projects. She provides mining industry advice, representing clients with respect to permitting and regulatory aspects of exploration, development, operation and closure of mining projects. A significant amount of Christine's practice is focused on advising clients with projects in Canada...

Matthew Sherrard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice. Matthew, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Adam Chamberlain is an active member of Gowling WLG's Environmental Law, Indigenous Law and the Canada North Practice Groups. Certified as a Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada, Adam has practised environmental and energy law for most of his career, focused on infrastructure development. Adam's practice encompasses diverse matters related to the environmental and other regulatory requirements involved with project development. Adam is also extensively involved i...

François G. Tremblay is a partner with the firm and has been practicing for 41 years in commercial, corporate, international, and First Nations affairs, as well as in constitutional law. He handles a range of major merger, acquisition, and consolidation cases and has substantial business experience from having served on the boards of a number of private and public corporations. François has been closely involved in developing business partnerships between various public and priv...

Frank Mariage is a partner in the Montréal office of Fasken, practising in the areas of securities, corporate law and mining law. Frank represents mining companies and guides them during the discovery, sale, and processing of mineral deposits, in Canada and elsewhere. He has extensive experience in the legal aspects of the mining industry, representing investment banks as well as government agencies and mining companies, both in Canada and internationally. Frank’s in-depth knowle...

Adrienne practices in the areas of labour, constitutional, administrative, and national security law, as well as in Aboriginal law and Indigenous rights. She has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, the Federal Courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada. She provides strategic legal advice to clients on a range of issues, and advances their interests through negotiation, litigation, and oral and written advocacy before courts, tribunals, and in other forums. Adrienne's labour law pra...

Jules Brière has been in private practice in Quebec City since 1976. He has acquired a strong reputation in constitutional law, administrative law, health law and the law governing public lands (production, transmission and distribution of hydro-electricity; forestry and land management). Mr. Brière has on many occasions advised governments, various ministries and public and parapublic agencies on the legal aspects of resource management and development in the public domain, the...

Renée Pelletier is a Partner at OKT. Her practice focuses on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights litigation and negotiation. Renée has extensive experience litigating Aboriginal title claims: having served as lead counsel both in Saugeen Ojibway Nation’s Aboriginal title claim to their water territory and currently in the Wolastoqey Nation’s Aboriginal title claim to their territory in New Brunswick. She has also developed significant experience in claims and legal matters ...

Dan Bennett's practice is focused in the areas of trial, arbitration, hearing and appeal work in commercial and administrative litigation. As a member of our litigation group, Mr. Bennett has conducted a broad range of cases in commercial, real estate, and natural resource matters in British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon superior courts and courts of appeal as well as the Federal Courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He also appears regularly before a number of administrative boards de...