Aboriginal Law
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+1 416 362 2111About
Provided by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler provides comprehensive and national services to clients dealing with indigenous legal matters, both as part of the regulatory approvals process, agreement negotiations and other matters. The team has extensive experience advising clients in every jurisdiction in Canada on the full extent of Indigenous law, consultation, benefits agreements and related litigation issues, which includes the drafting of hundreds of agreements with indigenous groups in almost every province and territory in Canada.
Osler’s indigenous law practitioners are industry leaders and have also represented numerous industry clients in a wide array of Indigenous law related litigation before all levels of court and regulatory boards across Canada. In addition, Osler frequently provides strategic government relations and negotiation-related advice to industry clients on indigenous matters.
Chambers Review
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt is a well-reputed national law firm that provides assistance to a number of large energy and oil companies in connection with Aboriginal, environmental and regulatory matters; clients also include electricity transmission companies and utilities, provincial governments and their entities. The firm offers notable experience of major project development in multiple jurisdictions, advising on an array of matters relating to the duty to consult, impact and benefit and economic participation agreements. It is also active on the litigation front, representing clients before courts and regulatory boards across the country. Work also includes mandates in the forestry and offshore drilling industries.
Work Highlights
- Osler acted for the Government of Manitoba on judicial review proceedings brought by Interlake Reserves Tribal Council relating to the permitting of critical flood mitigation infrastructure.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They possess the expertise and experience to understand the work and provide timely responses and solid advice."
"Osler demonstrates a very good use of resources to gather information and provide well-reasoned and effective approaches to the work."
"Osler has depth at every level and can bring in expertise from additional offices to ensure full coverage."
"The firm is always incredibly responsive and timely."
"They possess the expertise and experience to understand the work and provide timely responses and solid advice."
"Osler demonstrates a very good use of resources to gather information and provide well-reasoned and effective approaches to the work."
"Osler has depth at every level and can bring in expertise from additional offices to ensure full coverage."
"The firm is always incredibly responsive and timely."
Notable Practitioners
Operating out of the firm's Toronto office, Richard King is a seasoned lawyer in the Indigenous law space, with extensive experience representing clients regarding energy and infrastructure projects.
"Richard knows when to provide guidance and when to push. He is very insightful and has strong subject matter knowledge."
"Richard is indispensable for unprecedented projects."
Calgary-based Sander Duncanson co-chairs Osler's Indigenous and environmental group. He provides counsel to ongoing projectsand provincial governments, regularly handling Aboriginal law obligations, regulations and contentious matters, with additional experience in negotiating impact benefit agreements.
"Sander understands our business, which results in a strategic vision that is unmatched. He is a strong and hard-working advocate."
"He provides an extremely sophisticated level of service in a very timely and responsive manner. His advice is always practical, solution-focused and provides excellent value."
"Sander is practical, communicates very well and provides sound and reasoned advice on difficult issues."
Maureen Killoran KC is a highly regarded litigator who currently acts as Osler's national co-chair. Practising out of the firm's Calgary and Vancouver offices, she is especially skilled at representing clients from the energy sector as well as governmental entities on cases relating to Indigenous land title infringements.
"Maureen consistently provides outstanding service and representation."
"Maureen is excellent. She often thinks outside the box and provides sound, thoughtful and practical advice."
Calgary-based Sean Sutherland continues to build a notable reputation for litigation. In particular, he is experienced in representing oil and gas clients in cases brought by Aboriginal groups concerning injunction applications and consultations.
"Sean is responsive and provides very balanced and diverse insights into issues, which really helps us understand the matters."
Ranked Lawyers at
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Nationwide - Canada
Members
Provided by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP