Vancouver-based Indigenous law boutique Ratcliff LLP is routinely instructed by First Nation groups in British Columbia, the Yukon and other Canadian provinces. Matters concerning Indigenous rights, the duty to consult, and land use, natural resources, and environmental disputes are core areas of focus for the group. Practice head Kate Blomfield is well-versed in advising Self-Governing Yukon First Nations on treaty and self-government agreement interpretation. Litigator Lisa Glowacki is an additional key contact. Ex-practice co-head Maegen Giltrow KC was appointed to the judiciary of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in February 2024.

The expertise of the practice group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP takes in litigation, M&A transactions, project and real estate financing and tax work. The team is regularly called upon by natural resources players, developers of pipelines, LNG and energy projects and consumer goods companies operating in First Nation territories, as well as First Nations governing bodies and First Nation-owned businesses. Vancouver-based Roy Millen and Sam Adkins share leadership of the department. Millen specializes in Indigenous rights, commercial litigation and international trade matters. Adkins, for his part, routinely assists natural resource-sector clients with Indigenous consultation, negotiation and regulatory matters. Also noted are Calgary-based Terri-Lee Oleniuk (regulatory, environmental and Indigenous law issues); and Vancouver-based Rochelle Collette, who is the key associate-level contact.

The ‘strategic’ team at Fasken is routinely instructed by clients in the energy, oil-and-gas, mining, forestry, real estate, transportation and aquaculture sectors for its expertise in M&A, securities and tax transactions, as well as litigation involving Indigenous issues. The practice is directed by Vancouver-based Kevin O’Callaghan, who specializes in litigation, Indigenous consultation and regulatory mandates, and environmental assessments. Additional names to note include Quebec City-based associate counsel Pierre-Christian Labeau, who majors on legal and policy issues relating to mining, forestry and energy development, including the duty to consult; and Calgary-based Brenden Hunter (energy regulatory, Indigenous and environmental matters). ‘Collaborative, solutions-oriented’ Kai Alderson, who is based in Vancouver, focuses on corporate transactions and joint venture agreements, as well as on project development mandates. The practice was strengthened with the January 2024 arrival of former Justice Minster of Canada Hon. David Lametti KC.

Gowling WLG's practice group specializes in advising First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments on self-government agreements, resource development projects, tax matters, environmental assessments and mining resource agreements. The team has additional experience in litigation. Practice lead Paul Seaman splits his time between the firm’s Toronto and Vancouver offices and majors on assisting Indigenous clients with high-profile resource development projects, including those involving mining, oil & gas pipelines, LNG, forestry and electricity generation.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's practice group assists Indigenous governments, governmental agencies and private companies with environmental assessments, procurement matters, the financing of projects on Indigenous lands and litigation. The national department is directed by Toronto-based Cherie Brant, who specializes in energy and transmission, land development on First Nations lands and infrastructure and construction mandates. Also noted are Vancouver-based counsel Chris Roine, who frequently assists First Nations organizations with a range of partnerships, commercial arrangements and governance matters; and Montreal-based Nadir André, who handles land claims’ negotiations, litigation and natural resources development matters involving Aboriginal communities and businesses.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP's practice group frequently assists federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments, as well as corporate clients, with the financing and development of infrastructure and energy projects on Indigenous lands. Core areas of practice for the team include consultation matters, negotiating and drafting agreements, consultation protocols, access agreements and treaty land entitlement agreements. Vancouver-based Thomas Isaac directs the national department and specializes in Indigenous-related regulatory, environmental assessment and constitutional matters. Also noted are Toronto-based Sandra Gogal (environmental law and mining, renewables, forestry and oil-and-gas regulatory matters); Calgary-based Jeremy Barretto (regulatory and environmental work); and Vancouver-based Emilie Lahaie (Indigenous matters and litigation).

Lawson Lundell LLP‘s practice group regularly handles energy and infrastructure development projects, including mining projects, oil sands projects, transportation and shipping infrastructure projects and LNG projects on behalf of governmental and Indigenous organizations. Vancouver-based Keith Bergner, who co-leads the department, specializes in Indigenous, energy and power and regulatory mandates across western and northern Canada. Alongside him, Calgary-based John Olynyk majors on advising oil sands developers, oil-and-gas companies and mining companies on environmental regulatory matters and Indigenous consultation issues. Corporate and commercial specialist Lana Shipley and litigator Brad Armstrong KC, both of whom are based in Vancouver, are additional key contacts.

McCarthy Tétrault‘s practice group handles a range of Indigenous law-related mandates, including litigation, the duty to consult, Aboriginal and treaty rights, risk management, the assessment of right assertions, matters arising from the Indian Act and the financing of Indigenous-owned projects. Bryn Gray KC co-leads the national department and specializes in working for project developers and governments on Aboriginal legal and policy issues across Canada. Alongside him, Daniel Bornstein focuses on project development and transactions in the mining space, as well as M&A, joint ventures and environmental law. All individuals mentioned are based at the firm’s Toronto office.

Bennett Jones LLP‘s practice group frequently assists corporate clients with the negotiation of agreements with Indigenous groups relating to communications, benefits sharing and joint economic ventures, as well as handling related disputes. In addition, the team advises Indigenous groups on land and resource development policies, wealth management and internal governance mandates. Vancouver-based David Bursey and Sharon Singh specialize in regulatory, environmental, governance and infrastructure work and share leadership of the department. Also in Vancouver, environmental practice co-head Radha Curpen is noted for her work in the Indigenous law space.

Dentons' practice group handles a range of advisory and contentious Indigenous law mandates, including representing industry clients in litigation; advising on land claims and treaty rights, as well as the implications of the governments’ duty to consult and accommodate; and the negotiation and drafting of commercial agreements on behalf of industry clients with Aboriginal groups. Calgary-based Bernard Roth (administrative and energy matters) and Laura Estep (energy and regulatory matters, land acquisitions) share leadership of the department.

The expertise of the practice group at Torys takes in M&A transactions and energy and infrastructure projects, involving Indigenous communities, as well as related litigation. The team is regularly instructed by Indigenous communities, governments and companies alike. Toronto-based Valerie Helbronner and John Terry share leadership of the department. Helbronner specializes in the development of infrastructure projects involving Indigenous interests and parties. Terry focuses his practice on litigation for public law cases involving Indigenous issues, constitutional and treaty rights. Former Supreme Court Justice and senior counsel Frank Iacobucci KC is an additional key contact. Associate Brianne Paulin left the firm in October 2023.