Who We Are

Mark is a Métis lawyer whose family originates from the historic Métis community of Lac St Anne, Alberta. He has a Masters of Law from the University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Law from McGill University, and Master of International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. His deep spiritual beliefs come from his mother and the time spent in India.

Mark was the 2016 Indspire Award (formerly National Aboriginal Achievement Award) for Law and Justice. In 2009 Mark received the Indigenous Peoples’ Counsel (IPC) designation from the Indigenous Bar Association, which recognizes outstanding accomplishments achieved with honour and integrity.

Mark’s career began in 1982 at the Privy Council in Ottawa working on Indigenous constitutional matters. He then worked as Legal Counsel for the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat from 1987 to 1991, and as a Chief Treaty Negotiator with the Government of British Columbia from 1991 to 1998, when he entered private practice to work with First Nations in the British Columbia Treaty Process.

In addition to his work in treaty negotiations, Mark has negotiated a wide variety of agreements on behalf of Indigenous People including Oil, Gas and Mineral Revenue Sharing Agreements, Pipeline Agreements, Forestry Agreements, and Impact Benefit Agreements linked with Hydro mega projects. He was also instrumental in the development of the First Nations Financial Management Act, the settlement legislation for the Tsawwassen Final Agreement.

Mark is a past President of the Indigenous Bar Association as well as the founding president of Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto. Mark also served as a commissioner for the Law Commission of Canada, and is a board member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Mark has published numerous articles on aboriginal law issues, and in particular on Métis Rights issues.

In addition to managing a corporate law practice for over 15 years, Kimberly is a passionate horsewoman and artist. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor degree in Art History, also from the University of Victoria.

Albert is a Victoria based lawyer who has been in practice in British Columbia since 1993. His legal career began as a law clerk to The Honourable Mr. Justice Lambert at the BC Court of Appeal. During his tenure with Justice Lambert, Albert worked on several of the leading cases on Aboriginal rights and title, notably Delgamuukw v British Columbia, Van der Peet v Her Majesty The Queen and R. v. Gladstone.

Albert’s current practice continues to focus on issues of importance to the Aboriginal community. He advises First Nation clients on a wide range of matters, including issues related to the Indian Act, treaties and Aboriginal title, consultation and accommodation requirements and constitutional development.

Albert has also assisted First Nation clients with environmental assessments, treaty negotiations, trust agreements and governance issues. He has successfully negotiated significant economic and governance agreements involving both government and large-scale resource companies, which span the mining, forestry and energy sectors.

In addition to his expertise in constitutional issues and Aboriginal rights, Albert is able to provide the benefit of his practical experience to his clients.

Michael was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1984 and to the British Columbia Bar in 1997.

He is an experienced business lawyer who advises a wide variety of companies, business owners and entrepreneurs in the area of corporate and commercial law. His practice includes assistance in matters ranging from initial acquisitions and set-up, through to corporate restructuring, succession planning and dispositions.

Michael’s Aboriginal law practice focuses primarily on economic development strategies, acquisitions, joint ventures and the associated due diligence and corporate structuring. He regularly advises First Nation clients on commercial agreements and assists them in selecting and establishing appropriate business entities, such as limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations, joint ventures, societies and trusts.

In advising First Nations on business and economic development matters, Michael’s approach is to work in conjunction with the Nation’s governance body and other advisors to ensure that the business structure is not only commercially effective, but also meets the particular needs and goals of the Nation.