Christine Kowbel

Practice Areas

Climate Change; Environmental & Regulatory; Indigenous Law; Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Mining; Northern Canada; Project Permitting; Regulatory Compliance.

Career

Christine practices environmental and Indigenous law, providing advice in respect of major project development, environmental assessment, permitting, operational matters and acquisition and sale of industrial projects.

She provides mining industry advice, representing clients with respect to permitting and regulatory aspects of exploration, development, operation and closure of mining projects. A significant amount of Christine's practice is focused on advising clients with projects in Canada's North. Through her work, Christine has developed an understanding of the political, cultural and business dynamics in the Canadian North, which provides her with rare insight into the various players' perspectives, including Inuit, government and industry.

Her other clients include energy, ports, forestry and other natural resource sector companies, as well as banking institutions and real estate developers.

In her practice, Christine:

Works closely with environmental consultants and engineers in providing her clients with practical advice respecting legal obligations and managing risk;

Regularly conducts and coordinates environmental due diligence;

Assists in the negotiation and drafting of agreements related to Indigenous and environmental matters;

Counsels project proponents on matters of federal, provincial and territorial jurisdiction, environmental assessment processes, consultation with the public and with Indigenous, public hearings, regulatory licences and permits and approvals; and

Prepares opinions for clients on various aspects of environmental law, including regulatory compliance, emergency notification, waste transportation and disposal, land rehabilitation, director and officer liability, environmental risk management, and corporate disclosure.

Christine has also been seconded to clients in the mining sector on a part-time basis to provide in-house legal advice, primarily in the areas of environmental assessment and project permitting, environmental compliance, and government and Indigenous relations.

Professional Memberships

Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), Lands Committee Member

Canadian Bar Association: Environmental Law, Administrative Law, and Natural Resources, Member

Environmental Law for Environmental Specialists, Douglas College, Guest Lecturer

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Member

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Newsletter, Reporter - Canada