Karey Brooks KC

Karey Brooks KC is a Vancouver-based trial lawyer with JFK Law LLP, recognized nationally for her expertise in Aboriginal law and public interest litigation. She represents First Nations in landmark Aboriginal rights and title cases, treaty infringement claims, and regulatory hearings, and has appeared as lead counsel at the Supreme Court of Canada. A King’s Counsel and Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, she is also a frequent speaker on Indigenous rights, litigation strategy, and reconciliation.

Practice Focus Areas:

Aboriginal rights litigation

Duty to consult and accommodate

Regulatory hearings

Land use planning

Band governance

Charter rights

Commissions of inquiry

Karey is widely recognized for the major contributions she has made to aboriginal law and the legal profession generally. As lead litigation counsel, Karey is recognized as a fearless advocate who has advanced a number of unique claims in pursuit of a legal remedy to the complex issues her clients face, which recently include:

representing Kwikwetlem First Nation in its Aboriginal title claim in the context of multiple fee simple grants over the land, raising novel extinguishment issues; and Charter claims for failing to institute an Aboriginal land title registration system;

representing Snaw-Naw-As Nation for return of lands that are no longer being used for a railway purpose;

representing Beaver Lake Cree Nation in its Treaty Infringement claim from cumulative effects of development;

representing the Okanagan Indian Band in its Charter claim for safe drinking water on reserve;

representing a number of individuals review the decisions of Peters Nation Band Council denying them membership;

representing the DFN Glendale Band Council a leadership dispute

representing Mandy Lewis in her claim against WestJet for its failure to implement an anti-harassment program,

She has acted a co-counsel with Robert Janes, KC on a number of landmark Aboriginal cases from trial to the SCC including: Mikisew v Canada (consultation on legislation); Keewatin v. Ontario (division of powers); Behn v. Moulton Contracting (treaty rights as defence to tort). Karey has also appeared as lead counsel at the SCC for a number of interveners in: Keewatin v. Ontario; Daniels v. Canada; and TWU v. Law Society of BC. She also acted as Associate Commission Counsel in the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (2010-2012).