Chris has extensive experience representing business, government, and First Nations organizations on a range of partnerships, commercial arrangements, and governance matters.
As the western regional lead for our Indigenous Law Group, Chris works to build strategic and durable relationships between government, industry and Indigenous organizations.
Prior to joining BLG, Chris served as the Director General for the western negotiations branch of Crown-Indigenous Relations. In that role, he led a large team of federal negotiators at more than 60 sets of tables across British Columbia and the Yukon.
From 2014 to 2018 Chris was a senior counsel at BC Hydro, leading many different aspects of their First Nations engagement. From 2001 to 2014 Chris was in private practice where he represented dozens of Indigenous organizations on a range of matters including treaty negotiations, governance, lands and economic development, aboriginal rights and title, consultation & accommodation, and specific claims.
Experience
- Representing a coalition of First Nations in the negotiation of compensation from Canada for a failure to update or deliver treaty annuities, and in the creation and management of trusts to manage such compensation.
- Represented Hemlo Mining Corp in the successful negotiation of an Impact Benefit Agreement with Biigtagong Anishnabeg First Nation, and associated implementation matters.
- Represented Marcel Colomb First Nation in the successful negotiation of an Impact Benefit Agreement with Alamos Gold.
- Supporting developers and lenders in multiple major housing and infrastructure projects on First Nation lands.
- Advising several territorial governments and Crown corporations on Indigenous procurement policies, practices and issues.
- Advising several major forest companies in Western Canada on consultation & accommodation issues and the creation of limited partnerships and other business structures with First Nations.
- Advising several major construction companies on joint ventures and limited partnerships with Indigenous organizations in support of securing contracts on major projects.
- Advising private and public developers on the creation and implementation of structures to allow First Nations to participate in ownership and development of significant ($500M+) real estate development projects on private, public and First Nation lands.
- Advising on the creation of regulations and associated agreements pursuant to the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act in the context of a major ($2B+) real estate development project on First Nation lands.
- Advising independent power producers on limited partnerships and other business arrangements with First Nations in support of solar and wind projects.
- Provided advisory support to the Government of the Northwest Territories on policy intentions in support of the Mineral Resources Act.
- Advised proponents and First Nations on environmental assessments, impact benefit agreements, and consultation/engagement matters in the context of multiple mining projects across Canada.
- Representing several indigenous governing bodies in the assertion of jurisdiction, and associated funding agreements with the Crown, in the context of education and child and family services.
- Led federal teams in high profile negotiations under the BC Treaty process and other reconciliation initiatives.
- Represented a Vancouver Island First Nation in establishing a limited partnership and acquiring a major forestry tenure and related assets.
- Represented a lower mainland First Nation in negotiating impact benefit agreements and associated commercial ventures for multiple major infrastructure projects.
- Represented more than a dozen First Nations in establishing or updating bylaws, constitutions, and related governance matters
- Advised Indigenous Groups, developers, and provincial crown corporations on the acquisition and management of tenures on First Nation lands.
- Representing a coalition of First Nations in the negotiation of compensation from Canada for a failure to update or deliver treaty annuities, and in the creation and management of trusts to manage such compensation.
- Represented Hemlo Mining Corp in the successful negotiation of an Impact Benefit Agreement with Biigtagong Anishnabeg First Nation, and associated implementation matters.
- Represented Marcel Colomb First Nation in the successful negotiation of an Impact Benefit Agreement with Alamos Gold.
- Supporting developers and lenders in multiple major housing and infrastructure projects on First Nation lands.
- Advising several territorial governments and Crown corporations on Indigenous procurement policies, practices and issues.
- Advising several major forest companies in Western Canada on consultation & accommodation issues and the creation of limited partnerships and other business structures with First Nations.
- Advising several major construction companies on joint ventures and limited partnerships with Indigenous organizations in support of securing contracts on major projects.
- Advising private and public developers on the creation and implementation of structures to allow First Nations to participate in ownership and development of significant ($500M+) real estate development projects on private, public and First Nation lands.
- Advising on the creation of regulations and associated agreements pursuant to the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act in the context of a major ($2B+) real estate development project on First Nation lands.
- Advising independent power producers on limited partnerships and other business arrangements with First Nations in support of solar and wind projects.
- Provided advisory support to the Government of the Northwest Territories on policy intentions in support of the Mineral Resources Act.
- Advised proponents and First Nations on environmental assessments, impact benefit agreements, and consultation/engagement matters in the context of multiple mining projects across Canada.
- Representing several indigenous governing bodies in the assertion of jurisdiction, and associated funding agreements with the Crown, in the context of education and child and family services.
- Led federal teams in high profile negotiations under the BC Treaty process and other reconciliation initiatives.
- Represented a Vancouver Island First Nation in establishing a limited partnership and acquiring a major forestry tenure and related assets.
- Represented a lower mainland First Nation in negotiating impact benefit agreements and associated commercial ventures for multiple major infrastructure projects.
- Represented more than a dozen First Nations in establishing or updating bylaws, constitutions, and related governance matters
- Advised Indigenous Groups, developers, and provincial crown corporations on the acquisition and management of tenures on First Nation lands.
