Best Law Firms in Ontario for Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice

Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success. With more than 1,500 legal professionals around the world, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.

Brief History

With roots tracing back to 1887, Gowling WLG grew to become one of the largest and most respected law firms in Canada, with a reputation for innovation in client-focused service delivery.

Building on its early strength in intellectual property, Gowling WLG diversified to offer a full suite of business law, litigation and intellectual property services in all of Canada’s key industries, including energy, mining, financial services, government, infrastructure, manufacturing, life sciences and technology.

Founded in 2009, JFK Law is Canada’s preeminent law firm that provides a full range of creative and innovative legal services to Indigenous peoples across Canada. We are widely recognized as the leaders in litigation and regulatory proceedings, consultation and negotiations, and in corporate and governance practice.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Our lawyers have significant trial and appellate experience, including over 40 appearances at the Supreme Court of Canada. We 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). We represented interveners on major cases such as Southwind v Canada (SCC), 2022’s reference re 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). Our strength in Aboriginal law builds on experience in other areas of litigation, including administrative and constitutional law.

Consultation, Accommodation and Regulatory Review

We advise our 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. We develop methodology for assessing and mitigating impacts to rights. Our litigation team reinforces our advisory work, as we have a demonstrated success challenging decisions where the Crown fails to live up to its duties.

Complex Negotiations

Our 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. We 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. Our team has a growing practice in both specific claims and treaty land entitlement.

We also advise 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, we have intentionally grown our solicitor’s practice to serve this need. Our solicitors support clients in real estate and commercial transactions, including land assembly, development, leasing on and off-reserve, and servicing agreements. We assist clients developing businesses in various industries, including hotel and tourism, fishing, environmental, cannabis, and software development.

Our solicitors also support our clients to develop governance and administrative structures. We assist our 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, we support implementation of laws and treaties, including by ensuring staff and leadership have clear policies for decision-making based on administrative fairness principles. We also advise clients on government-to-government relationships with all levels of government and other First Nations.