Best Lawyers in Canada for Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Province
Krista Nerland is a partner at OKT. Her practice focuses on litigation related to Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal title, and treaty rights; human rights and discrimination; and advancing Indigenous jurisdiction. Krista has particular expertise in appellate litigation and has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Krista holds a J.D. with honours from the University of Toronto, where she received awards for academic excellence and highest standing in constitution...
Environmental law is dynamic and as an experienced environmental and regulatory lawyer, Ron Kruhlak, K.C. enjoys the challenges of handling new environmental projects with novel issues. His focus is on resource development applications and commercial disputes. He has a knowledge base that covers a broad range of environmental matters, including energy, regulatory, and construction-related projects and conflicts. On the resource side, Ron assists with current and emerging issues in sectors inc...
Zach advises clients across Canada on a broad range of Indigenous and project development matters. Clients rely on Zach to provide timely and practical advice on the Aboriginal law aspects of major projects, existing facilities and M&A transactions. Zach has assisted regulated utilities, resource companies, project developers (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), lenders, investors and contractors with consultation and accommodation obligations, FPIC, environmental approvals, treaty issues, on...
Brenden Hunter practices energy regulatory, Indigenous and environmental law. Frequently appearing before regulatory tribunals, Brenden has extensive project experience, providing representation and assistance to clients in developing and defending applications. Brenden also advises on and assists regulated utilities with their rate related applications, both generic and utility specific. Brenden’s project experience includes acting for and advising clients regarding: electrical (high v...
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 ...
Caroline Briand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice. Caroline, 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 Caroline is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Cathy serves as the Chief Executive Officer and a partner at OKT. Her practice is focused on advancing Aboriginal and treaty rights through litigation and negotiation. Cathy has represented clients in applications and actions in Ontario and Manitoba, as well as in federal court and at the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also represented Indigenous clients in proceedings and tribunals regarding election processes, labour and employment, and environmental assessment. Cathy provides negotiation...
Bridget Gilbride is a partner in our Vancouver office. She is an experienced litigator focused on Indigenous legal issues and environmental law. Bridget advises on permitting, environmental assessments, and Indigenous and Aboriginal legal issues such as the duty to consult, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples , and section 35 of the Constitution. Bridget’s core focus is advising clients advancing projects, through provincial and federal approval processes,...
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...
Marc-Alexandre Hudon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice and Corporate and Commercial Litigation. Marc-Alexandre, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marc-Alexandre is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paul C. Wilson is Chair of the firm’s Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources group. His practice focuses on energy, infrastructure, transportation and natural resources projects, with an emphasis on environmental and Indigenous matters. Paul negotiates project contracts, concession agreements and deals with environmental assessments and permitting for major infrastructure, port infrastructure, energy and mining projects. Paul is also recognized for his experience related to project...
Keith advises private sector, public sector and government clients on Indigenous law and regulatory matters. He has appeared as counsel before numerous regulatory tribunals and all levels of Superior and Appellate Courts (both Federal and Provincial), including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has acted for clients in a number of natural resource industries including hydro-electric generation and transmission, oil and gas, mining, aquaculture, forestry, transportation and independent power pro...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.