Called to the Bar: August, 1993 (British Columbia)
BACKGROUND
Jeff has over ten years of experience working directly with and for First Nation communities and individuals on a range of legal issues and social development initiatives.
Before joining our team in November of 2006 he worked for five years as staff lawyer for a First Nation-operated legal clinic in BC’s central interior, representing First Nation individuals and their communities at all levels of court in BC and managing several social development projects. He has also operated his own law practice and for several years has worked closely with a large First Nation providing managerial and legal support for a traditional justice, conflict resolution and community building initiative.
Jeff has experience with:
- Complex litigation and legal research
- Government negotiations
- Specific claims
- Reserve lands issues
- Additions to reserve
- Self-government and governance issues
- Implementing traditional systems of dispute resolution and governance
- Legal drafting and review of documents
- First Nations cultural intellectual property issues
- Family, employment law and general civil litigation
LITIGATION
Jeff has appeared at every level of court in British Columbia and was co-counsel on:
- Joseph v. Canada (Federal Court – Advance Costs)
- Joseph v. Canada (Federal Court – Litigation)
- Wii’litswx v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), (BC Supreme Court)
- Ke-Kin-Is-Uqs v. British Columbia (Minister of Forests), (BC Supreme Court)
- Cook v. Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (BC Supreme Court)
EDUCATION
LLB - Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia, 1992
BA - University of Toronto, 1998
Family Law Mediation Certificate, Continuing Legal Education Society of BC - 2004
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Mediation and the Child, Family and Community Services Act – Continuing Legal Education Society of BC, Vancouver, March 2005
First Nation Justice and Conflict Resolution Program Operations – People of the River Conference, Chilliwack, April 2005
Legal education workshops to First Nation communities and lay advocates
