JFK Law LLP

About

Provided by JFK Law LLP

Canada

Firm Details

Managing Partner: Sara Mainville
Partners: Robert J. M. Janes, KC, Karey Brooks, KC, Tim Dickson, Jeff Langlois, Mark Gustafson, Brock Roe, Erin Thomson-Leach, Claire Truesdale and Aria Laskin
Senior Legal Counsel: Clayton Leonard and Bernd Christmas
Number of partners: 10
Number of other fee-earners: 30
Number of firm members: 75
National Offices: Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary 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 in 2009 in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Today, as JFK Law LLP (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