Clifford G. "Cliff" Proudfoot KC

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 prosecutions.

Cliff provides strategic advice on environmental laws and regulations, due diligence and environmental auditing, as well as assisting clients develop corporate environmental policies, contingency plans, operating manuals, and standard operating procedures. He is highly experienced in contaminated sites matters, regularly advising clients in the oil and gas, forestry, mining and chemical industries as well as private landfill operations.

A seasoned litigator, Cliff has successfully defended clients in regulatory and environmental prosecutions and has appeared before courts in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also represented clients in administrative proceedings before numerous tribunals, including the BC Environmental Appeal Board, BC Forest Appeals Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Board of Alberta, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal of BC, and the BC Tobacco Control Act Administrative Board.

Cliff also acts for resource developers in major Indigenous litigation cases, including land claims and infringement of treaty and Indigenous rights. He has represented industry in numerous court and administrative actions in which First Nations have challenged regulatory permits or launched appeals. His experience includes negotiating and drafting co-operation agreements, consultation protocols, and impact benefit agreements.

Prior to becoming Managing Partner in 2016, Cliff served as the Head of the firm’s Litigation Group and was Lawson Lundell’s Chief Inclusiveness Officer, leading the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. He is a member of the Executive Committee.