Best Bowen Island, British Columbia Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice Lawyers

Karin has done extensive legal work on behalf of First Nations in relation to treaty rights, consultation, environmental protection, and negotiating impact benefit agreements. She also practices in the area of environmental law, representing landowners, NGOs and companies, and served as the President of the Environmental Law Centre. As a trial lawyer, Karin has successfully represented clients in litigation in relation to the defence of malpractice claims, the protection of land and environme...

Maya Stano is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice and Environmental Law. Maya practices law in Vancouver, British Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Maya Stano since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Maya Stano is held by other lawyers.

Amy Carruthers is a corporate/commercial Partner in the Vancouver office with a solid background as a transaction lawyer and extensive experience in the energy industry. She is a member of the firm’s Global Energy and Climate Group and Indigenous Legal Matters Group. Amy drafts and negotiates complex commercial contracts regarding the purchase and sale of energy, investments in and other transactions involving resource projects, as well as relationships with Indigenous communities to fo...

Michael Manhas is a litigation, administrative law, and regulatory lawyer. He focuses on matters relating to the environment, energy, natural resources, economic regulation, and Indigenous law. Michael regularly represents clients before courts in British Columbia and Alberta, and has extensive experience in administrative proceedings before tribunals, including the British Columbia and Alberta Utilities Commissions, the Environmental Appeal Board, the National Energy Board, the Forest Appeal...

Cliff is the Managing Partner of Lawson Lundell and a leading practitioner in environmental and Indigenous litigation. He advises clients across a range of industries, including forestry, manufacturing, mining, real estate development, and hydro-electric power generation. Cliff has represented his clients in environmental prosecutions, administrative actions, permit appeals, environmental assessments and has helped clients respond to a wide variety of environmental investigations and prosecut...

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...

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,...

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...

Kevin O'Callaghan is a respected litigator in British Columbia and Leader of the firm’s Indigenous Legal Matters group. He is also the regional Lead for the Corporate Social Responsibility Law group and actively involved in our Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) initiative. Providing strategic advice on indigenous, regulatory, environmental and other CSR and ESG issues, Kevin advises clients throughout Western and Northern Canada, and around the world. Kevin provides strategic advice...

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...

John Doolan is a business lawyer, with a wide variety of experience in Aboriginal law and commercial real estate law. His experience includes advising on major projects and financings, infrastructure development, structuring transactions, acquisitions and dispositions, partnerships and joint ventures, real estate development and leasing. He is included in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, a guide to the leading law firms and practitioners in Canada, as a leading lawyer in the areas of abo...

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...

Arthur M. Grant is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice and Corporate and Commercial Litigation. Arthur M. practices law in Vancouver, British Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Arthur M. Grant since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Arthur M. Grant is held by other lawyers.

Mark Youden is a partner at Gowling WLG with a practice focused on environmental, regulatory, construction and Indigenous law matters in both an advocacy and advisory capacity. Mark is called to the bar in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Yukon, and services clients from industry, government and Indigenous groups. As an advocate, Mark regularly appears at the Federal Court and superior and appellant levels of court in British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon. Mark also frequently advocates o...

Saul is of Coast Salish descent and is a member of the Squamish First Nation (Skwxwú7mesh). His personal and professional experience allows Saul to be intuitive to clients’ needs, tailoring his services in order to effectively serve Indigenous communities. With his legal practice focused on developing and implementing economic development initiatives, Saul helps affirm Aboriginal and treaty rights, support sustainable environmental management, and create comprehensive policy and ...