Firm Profile

JFK Law LLP

Canada Guide 2024

Ranked departments
Ranked lawyers
Canada

JFK Law LLP

JFK Law LLP

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About

Provided by JFK Law LLP
Canada

Firm Details

  • Managing Partner: Robert J. M. Janes, KC
  • Partners: Karey Brooks, KC, Tim Dickson, Sara Mainville, Jeff Langlois, Mark Gustafson, Brock Roe, Erin Thomson-Leach and Claire Truesdale
  • Senior Legal Counsel: Clayton Leonard and Karen Drake
  • Number of partners: 9
  • Number of other fee-earners: 26
  • Number of firm members: 60
  • National Offices: Victoria, Vancouver and Toronto


Firm Overview

JFK Law provides a full range of services to Indigenous clients and is widely recognized as leaders in litigation and regulatory proceedings, consultation and negotiations, and in corporate and governance practice. It was founded as JFK Law Corporation by three Principal share-holders in 2009 in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As JFK Law LLP (circa 2021), its mission continues to be to represent Indigenous communities throughout Canada. Driven by a passion for justice, it offers creative legal solutions and works towards meaningful change.


Main Areas of Practice


  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution: JFK Law's lawyers have significant trial and appellate experience, including over 40 appearances at the Supreme Court of Canada. They have been lead counsel on landmark cases including Gitxaala Nation v Canada (FCA), Mikisew Cree First Nation v Canada (SCC), Taseko Mines Limited v Tsilhqot’in National Government (BCCA), Anderson v Alberta (Attorney General) (SCC) and Grassy Narrows First Nation v Ontario (Natural Resources) (SCC), and Behn v Moulton Contracting (SCC). They represented interveners on major cases such as Southwind v Canada (SCC), 2022’s reference regarding the federal Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families (SCC), Ahousaht Indian Band v. Canada (Attorney General) (BCCA), and Daniels v. Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) (SCC). Its strength in Aboriginal law builds on experience in other areas of litigation, including administrative and constitutional law.


  • Consultation, Accommodation and Regulatory Review: JFK Law advises its clients on the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate. This includes consultation on specific projects and assisting clients to establish their own consultation processes. It develops methodologies for assessing and mitigating impacts to rights. Its litigation team reinforces its advisory work, as they have a demonstrated success challenging decisions where the Crown fails to live up to its duties.


  • Complex Negotiations: JFK Law's reconciliation-focused negotiations include various Indigenous groups negotiating modern day treaties in both urban and remote areas, including leading tables in the BC Treaty Process such as the Te’mexw Treaty Association. It also advise clients involved in multi-party negotiations in areas of common interest and have secured incremental agreements to deliver early benefits to nations involved in otherwise lengthy processes. Its team has a growing practice in both specific claims and treaty land entitlement. It also advises clients on accommodation and impact benefit agreements, particularly related to major resource projects such as in the oil sands region of Northern Alberta. This ranges from project-specific environmental monitoring to comprehensive arrangements where nations become partners in major industrial projects or secure revenue sharing agreements with project proponents.


  • Economic Development and Governance: Recognizing increased opportunities for our clients’ economic development, JFK Law has intentionally grown its solicitor’s practice to serve this need. Its solicitors support clients in real estate and commercial transactions, including land assembly, development, leasing on and off-reserve, and servicing agreements. It assists clients developing businesses in various industries, including hotel and tourism, fishing, environmental, cannabis, and software development. JFK Law's solicitors also support its clients to develop governance and administrative structures. They assist their clients in developing their own laws and bylaws under the Indian Act, the First Nations Land Management Act, the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, self-government agreements and treaties, and their inherent jurisdiction. In this context, JFK Law supports implementation of laws and treaties, including by ensuring staff and leadership have clear policies for decision-making based on administrative fairness principles. It also advise clients on government-to-government relationships with all levels of government and other First Nations.


Offices


Victoria Office

  • P: 250 405.3460
  • F: 250 381.8567
  • Address: 816-1175 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2E1
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: https://jfklaw.ca/


Vancouver Office

  • P: 604 687.0549
  • F: 604 687.2696
  • TF: 1 888 687.8388
  • Address: Suite 260, 200 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: https://jfklaw.ca/


Toronto Office

  • TF: 1 888 687.8388
  • F: 604 687.2696
  • Address: Suite 1100, 65 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2M5
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: https://jfklaw.ca/

Ranked Offices

Provided by JFK Law LLP

Canada - Head office
  • Victoria
    816 - 1175 Douglas Street , Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8W 2E1
  • View ranked office

JFK Law LLP rankings

Canada Guide 2024
Nationwide - Canada
Aboriginal Law - Representation of Indigenous Peoples
1 Department
3 Ranked Lawyers
Department
Aboriginal Law - Representation of Indigenous Peoples
1
Aboriginal Law - Representation of Indigenous Peoples
1
Band 1
Lawyers
Robert Janes KC
1
Robert Janes KC
1
Band 1
Karey Brooks KC
U
Karey Brooks KC
U
Up and Coming
Tim Dickson
U
Tim Dickson
U
Up and Coming