Indigenous law

Roy Millen

Roy has particular experience in Indigenous rights and title, and litigation involving commercial and administrative matters. Clients appreciate Roy's ability to provide prompt, straightforward and business-savvy advice in areas of the law that are complex and continually evolving. In the area of Aboriginal law, Roy advises private-sector clients across Canada on the development of energy, mining and other major projects, and relationships with Indigenous peoples. He negotiates commercial agreements, impact benefit agreements, consultation protocols and other arrangements with First Nations, Métis and other Indigenous groups. He also assists clients in navigating the regulatory processes necessary to secure project approval, including the implications of UNDRIP, and defends proponents from litigation challenges brought by Indigenous communities and individuals.

Emily Chan

Of Counsel

Rochelle Collette

Associate

Daniel Bornstein

Partner

Terri-Lee Oleniuk

Terri-Lee’s practice focuses on project-related issues concerning natural-resource development with a specialization in regulatory, environmental and Aboriginal law issues. She acts for a variety of companies in environmental assessments and regulatory proceedings to obtain approvals for major developments in the oil and gas, pipeline, mining (including metal, potash and diamond), natural-gas processing, petrochemical, electricity transmission, hydro, solar, wind and storage sectors. Terri-Lee has appeared before the Canada Energy Regulator, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the British Columbia Utilities Commission, the Alberta Natural Resources Conservation Board, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, and federal-provincial joint review panels in respect of environmental assessment proceedings.

Lana Shipley

Lana practices corporate and commercial law with a particular emphasis on energy, Indigenous and environmental law. She works with public and private companies in a wide range of industries, including mining, energy, natural resources, technology and manufacturing. Within her corporate and commercial energy law practice, Lana negotiates and structures complex commercial arrangements for hydroelectric utilities and energy companies, including tariff arrangements, power purchase and sale agreements, and renewable energy credits. She also conducts a variety of transactions, including asset and share acquisitions and dispositions, reorganizations and various other corporate proceedings, and advises public companies on regulatory matters, continuous disclosure and corporate governance practices. Lana’s Indigenous and environmental law practice involves assisting clients with the negotiation of impact benefit and other agreements with Indigenous groups in relation to proposed developments in the energy and mining industries and other sectors, as well as permitting and regulatory matters that arise throughout the development of both large and small projects. She also provides assistance in obtaining, amending and transferring environmental and other authorizations issued by federal and provincial regulatory authorities.

Sharon Singh

Associate

Sam Adkins

Sam is recognized as a leading lawyer in Canada with 18 years of experience advising clients in the resource sector, with a strong focus on Indigenous and project development matters. His practice is national in scope, acting for clients across Canada on a wide range of Indigenous law issues, including consultation, negotiation and the regulatory process. Sam has significant industry expertise in the energy and mining sectors, and has represented clients on commercial and transactional matters across all project phases. Previously, Sam held a senior position with an international energy company overseeing all Indigenous-related matters on a proposed liquefied natural gas project in Kitimat, British Columbia. Sam provides effective, timely and practical advice informed by his experience working both for and within industry. Sam is a frequent speaker and commentator on Indigenous law issues in Canada.

Keith Bergner

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 projects. His practice extends throughout Western Canada and the North (Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon). In the area of Indigenous law, Keith advises governments, Crown corporations and private sector clients on the extent of the duty to consult and, if necessary, accommodate, in respect of potential adverse effects to Indigenous rights or title by major industrial projects. He advises on the development of consultation programs and has negotiated several dozen impact-benefit agreements with First Nations. Keith acts as hearing counsel for proponents seeking regulatory permits and approvals. He also represents project proponents and governments in appeals and judicial reviews challenging project approvals. In the area of regulatory/energy law, Keith acts as counsel for proponents and users of energy, mining and other natural resource projects. He appears regularly before administrative tribunals, including the National Energy Board and the British Columbia Utilities Commission. He also appears as counsel on appeals or applications seeking judicial review of decisions by administrative boards and tribunals.

Bryn Gray

Partner with extensive experience advising industry proponents and governments on Aboriginal law matters across Canada, including Aboriginal rights and title, the duty to consult, the negotiation and implementation of agreements with Indigenous groups, and litigation and dispute resolution. Previously served as a Ministerial Special Representative for the federal government on consultation and accommodation and has acted as counsel in matters relating to Aboriginal rights and title, the duty to consult, and revenue sharing arrangement disputes.

John Olynyk

John is a member of Lawson Lundell’s Indigenous, Environmental, and Project Development practice groups. His practice includes advising private sector and government clients throughout Canada on Indigenous, environmental, regulatory and natural resources matters. John advises oil sands developers, conventional oil and gas companies, railways, mining companies, utilities and other resource developers on environmental regulatory matters and on Indigenous law matters, including Indigenous consultation issues and negotiation of cooperation protocols and impact benefit agreements related to natural resource project development. John is also the firm’s General Counsel.

Paul Seaman

Partner National Practice Group Leader – Indigenous Law