JFK LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at the Toronto
Alex is an associate at the Toronto office. He is a member of the Wolastoqiyik from Kingsclear First Nation in New Brunswick.
He completed his undergrad degree at St. Thomas University and graduated from the Schulich School of Law in 2021. After being called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2022, he worked at the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, representing the Minister of Opportunities and Social Development in child welfare litigation where he gained extensive courtroom experience. During law school, he completed a clinical term at the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, providing legal services to low-income individuals in family, child protection, youth criminal justice, and residential tenancy matters.
Prior to law, Alex worked for several years for his First Nation community in the public school system as a cultural and educational support worker, and then as a youth prevention worker.
Aria Laskin is a partner at JFK Law LLP in Vancouver. Her practice focuses on Aboriginal, administrative, and constitutional law, and on advancing Indigenous jurisdiction.
As a litigator, Aria specializes in public law issues concerning the rights and powers of Indigenous clients, including Aboriginal and Treaty rights, division of powers (including Indigenous, Canadian, provincial, and territorial governments), and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Nunavut, as well as the Federal Court, the Supreme Court of Canada and various administrative forums and arbitral panels.
Outside litigation, Aria supports clients on complex negotiation and governance matters. She has expertise on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Indigenous self-determination and law-making in the sectors of gaming, education, and child welfare.
Aria is also committed to learning and teaching. She presents podcasts and writes on emerging Aboriginal and public law issues. Among other topics, she has provided commentary on the application of the Charter to Indigenous laws, the application of UNDRIP in Canada, and the role of the Canadian legal system - and lawyers - in actively advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Aria is originally from Vancouver and clerked at the BC Court of Appeal in 2014-2015. Outside of work, when her nose is not buried in a book, Aria can be found on the soccer field or in the woods, inexpertly identifying edible mushrooms.
Education and Professional Affiliations
JD, Hons - University of Toronto, 2014
MPhil - University of Cambridge, 2009
BA, Hons - Harvard University, 2008
Job Titles:
- Member of the ACEDS Vancouver Chapter
- Paralegal & EDiscovery Specialist
Aryanna Hartley (she/her) is a Paralegal & eDiscovery specialist based out of our Vancouver office.
She joined JFK Law in 2017 as a Legal Assistant and has taken steps to advance her career to becoming a Paralegal and eDiscovery professional. As a Paralegal working in many jurisdictions of court within Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nunavut, Federal Courts, and Supreme Court of Canada), Aryanna is knowledgeable of the requirements and court rules that assist with implementing effective and efficient work planning to ensure our clients' needs are met. Aryanna is passionate and committed to the importance of our work in advocating for our clients.
Aryanna is a member of the ACEDS Vancouver Chapter, Women in eDiscovery, the BC Paralegal Association, BC Legal Management Association, and the Project Management Institute.
When she is not working and studying, Aryanna enjoys being at home, working on DIY projects, being in the presence of her family, and her mini-dachshund, Richy.
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Maya Ollek, Whitney Morrison, Isidora Todorovic and Juliana Lafit
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant
Blair holds a Juris Doctor with a specialization in Aboriginal Law and Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia.
Blair acts for First Nation, Métis, modern treaty groups, and Indigenous organizations throughout Canada, with a particular focus on Alberta and British Columbia. Blair's work includes providing legal support in negotiating agreements with government and resource industry proponents, supporting clients in the consultation and regulatory process for resource extraction projects (with a primary focus on coal, forestry, and oil and gas infrastructure), developing and implementing governance mechanisms, and advocating for client interests in the drafting of federal and provincial law and policy.
Prior to law, Blair worked at a public consultation and community engagement consulting firm. In this capacity, he performed a public- and client-facing role in contentious environments ranging from housing policy to water treatment to large scale resource and infrastructure projects. This work ignited Blair's passion to work at the intersection of the environment, natural resources, and Indigenous rights and economic development.
In Blair's spare time he loves to travel and enjoy the outdoors. Excited to learn about the area he calls home, Blair runs, paddles, and explores the Pacific Northwest whenever he can.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at JFK 's Toronto
Brendan Schatti is an associate at JFK's Toronto office. Both a Swiss and Anishinaabe citizen (Lac Seul First Nation), Brendan holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and is a graduate of its renowned Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources & Governments.
Brendan began working with JFK Law as a Debwewin Program summer student in 2022 and returned for his summer articles in 2023. After graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School, he rejoined JFK as an articling student in early 2024.
Brendan grew up on a farm in rural Ontario where his family raised Rocky Mountain Elk. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in 2010 and earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts with high distinction (philosophy specialist). Prior to entering the legal field, Brendan spent nearly a decade working for some of Toronto's best restaurants and bars, consulting on food and beverage programs, and competing in international cocktail competitions. Spurred by a desire to promote meaningful change for Indigenous communities, he pursued a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School with a focus on Aboriginal and Indigenous law. In early 2023, he interned with SGCETC, an Oklahoma-based consortium of Tribal Nations dedicated to advancing self-governance legislation and education throughout the United States. Brendan also had the good fortune of serving as a student board member of the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada between 2021 and 2023.
Brendan is passionate about advancing Indigenous self-determination, combatting assimilation, and protecting natural ‘resources' throughout Turtle Island. In his spare time, you can find him camping deep in the bush, honing his rudimentary wood and metalworking skills, emerging from deep Wikipedia rabbit holes, or spending time with his beloved four-legged companions.
Brock is a solicitor that practices corporate/commercial and Aboriginal law, focusing on land matters, economic development, and modern Treaties.
As a solicitor, Brock helps First Nation clients with their governance and economic development needs. He has acted for First Nations in a variety of industries related to commercial leasing, natural resource development (oilsands, mining, oil and gas, renewables), utilities, hotels and tourism, and fishing. Brock also helps First Nations deal with complex transactions and related land matters under the Indian Act, First Nations Land Management Act, and modern Treaties.
Brock was born and raised in Treaty No. 8 territory in Fort St. John, British Columbia, and is an affiliate (Bill C-31) with the Bigstone Cree Nation. He enjoys science fiction, the outdoors, and amateur astronomy in his spare time.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in JFK Law 's Dispute Resolution Group
Brodie Noga is an associate in JFK Law's Dispute Resolution Group, based in the firm's Vancouver Office. Brodie is a sharp, practical minded, and solutions-oriented lawyer.
Before joining JFK Law in 2025, Brodie spent several years at a national law firm in Vancouver, where he worked on complex, high stakes matters involving a range of practice areas, including public law, regulatory law and administrative law practice. He previously practiced at a Toronto litigation boutique specializing in appellate advocacy.
Brodie has represented a diverse array of clients-from individuals to municipal and provincial governments, as well as non-profit organizations. He is passionate about advocating for Indigenous and First Nations clients and is committed to a collaborative approach to achieve strategic and practical results using the tools the legal system provides.
An experienced and versatile litigator, Brodie has argued at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and has appeared as counsel in jurisdictions across Canada, as well as before arbitral tribunals and regulatory bodies. He is also deeply committed to pro bono work and was recognized on Pro Bono Ontario's Honour Roll in both 2023 and 2024.
Brodie clerked for the Hon. Justice Clément Gascon at the Supreme Court of Canada and received numerous awards in law school, including the Aimé Geoffrion Medal for second highest standing in his graduating class. Prior to law school, he completed a master's degree in Anthropology, contributing to a global research project focused on Indigenous communities affected by resource industries.
Outside of work, Brodie can be found deeply engrossed in weird sci-fi, out hiking, or trying to decipher the mystery of what his cat wants.
Bryce is an associate at JFK Law in the Toronto Office. Bryce graduated from McGill University's dual common law and civil law program in 2024, receiving a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law.
While studying at McGill, Bryce was greatly inspired by the first-year course Indigenous Legal Traditions, taught by Professor Aaron Mills. After his first year, he sought out opportunities to continue to learn about Indigenous legal traditions, completing a summer internship with the Indigenous Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, and writing term papers on Anishinaabe and Crown treaty paradigms with Professor Nandini Ramanujam as well as on the applications of copyright to Indigenous traditional cultural expressions with Professor Kirsten Anker. Bryce is grateful to his professors of Indigenous Legal Traditions Aaron Mills and Kirsten Anker, as well as the Elders, knowledge keepers, and scholars who have guided his journey thus far in coming to understand reconciliation and his place within this. He looks forward to continuing to learn, engage with Indigenous peoples, and offer his own gifts at JFK.
Prior to studying law, Bryce worked as a pianist and music educator. He received a Master of Music from McGill University as well as a Bachelor of Music from Western University, helped to found two not-for-profit music programs, and toured as the pianist for two operatic productions with Jeunesses Musicales Canada. Bryce continued his engagement with the arts throughout his time studying law, working as a policy analyst for both the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
- Financial Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Karey Brooks and Aria Laskin
Job Titles:
- Negotiation Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Robert Janes
Christina Gray is an associate at JFK Law LLP, specializing in Indigenous rights advocacy. She holds the Sm'algyax name ‘Aɬaxsgaaxsiɬ Gaax Aganɬaak, meaning "the raven caws its name early in the morning." Christina is a member of the Ts'msyen community of Lax Kw'alaams, BC, and Dene from Łutselkʼe, NWT. Based in Prince Rupert, she collaborates remotely with clients and colleagues across Canada.
Christina's legal practice focuses on nation-building and the recognition of Indigenous rights and self-determination. She supports Nations through legal advocacy at recognition of rights and self-determination tables, affirming and implementing their section 35 rights. She provides legal support for communities in the addition to reserve process, helping align land expansions with community aspirations. She is also involved in developing Land Codes to empower First Nations in land governance.
Christina actively contributes to the implementation of Bill C-92, advocating for Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services to ensure alignment with Indigenous laws and contexts. Additionally, she assists in law-making for Indigenous nations, crafting legal frameworks that blend Indigenous laws with contemporary needs.
In addition to these efforts, Christina is engaged in work related to Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), ensuring Indigenous stewardship over lands and natural resources. This work supports ecological preservation while aligning with their Indigenous cultural values, including laws and practices.
Through her work at JFK Law, Christina Gray makes significant contributions to advancing Indigenous rights and empowering communities across Canada. Her dedication is evident in her commitment to supporting Indigenous peoples in achieving their goals of self-governance and the development of their laws for current and future generations.
Christina is an Associate at the Vancouver JFK office, with experience in dispute resolution and litigation. She is passionate about working collaboratively with clients to advance their interests, particularly in relation to Specific Claims, clean drinking water, water governance and cumulative effects litigation.
Prior to joining JFK Law in 2023, Christina clerked for six Justices at the British Columbia Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, Christina worked at a leading national firm, focusing her practice in litigation, both in court and before administrative tribunals.
Christina holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria, with a concentration in Environmental Law and Sustainability. Throughout her time at the University of Victoria, Christina worked with the Indigenous Law Research Unit ("ILRU") to create learning tools centered around Indigenous legal orders. Christina also worked with the Environmental Law Centre and as a Research Assistant, focusing mostly in water governance and its intersection with Aboriginal rights and Indigenous law.
Prior to engaging in the practice of law, Christina completed her MSc in Water Science, Policy, and Management at the University of Oxford. Christina's dissertation took a regulatory approach, examining how environmental assessments can be improved from a multi-stakeholder perspective within the larger framework of watershed-based governance.
Outside of work, Christina can be found skiing, kayaking, hiking, and enjoying all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
- Director of People & Culture
Claire practices Aboriginal, environmental and constitutional law at JFK's Vancouver office with a focus on litigation, modern treaty negotiation and Indian registration (Indian status). She is passionate about pushing the law for greater recognition of Indigenous rights and self-determination, offering her clients advice that is both practical and creative. She works to make court and tribunal processes more transparent and accessible for Indigenous leadership and community members.
Claire advises Indigenous governments and individuals on a variety of legal issues. She has particular expertise in fisheries, water rights and governance, legal interests in reserve land and land management, Indigenous membership or citizenship, and Indian registration (Indian status). She also advises First Nations on these issues in modern treaty negotiations.
Claire pursues justice for her clients at courts and tribunals in specific claims, judicial review, trial and appeal proceedings on matters of Aboriginal and treaty rights, consultation and accommodation, jurisdiction, Charter rights, breach of fiduciary duty, and disputes under the Indian Act. She has appeared at the Specific Claims Tribunal, British Columbia Supreme Court, British Columbia Court of Appeal, Alberta Court of King's Bench, Alberta Court of Appeal, Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench, Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, Federal Court and Supreme Court of Canada. Claire is experienced intervener counsel, having appeared on behalf of interveners at the Supreme Court of Canada four times, and twice at other appellate courts.
Prior to joining JFK, Claire was a judicial law clerk at the Ontario Court of Appeal where she worked on a wide range of criminal and civil law issues for Justices Watt, MacFarland, Juriansz and Strathy. Claire had the honour of assisting Justice Harry LaForme of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the first Indigenous person appointed to an appellate court in Canada, with a paper on the development of Aboriginal rights under section 35 of the Constitution.
Outside of her work Claire enjoys the beautiful outdoors of BC by running, hiking, camping, skiing and playing soccer with a great team of other women over 30 just waiting for their knees to give out. Claire is a former university athlete and acted as Chair of the University of Victoria Vikes Women's Rowing Alumni Chapter to support the next generations of student athletes. She is also a past Chair of the Aboriginal Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association (2021-2022) and former Chair of the Aboriginal Law - Vancouver Island Subsection (2016-2018).
Claire Truesdale, "Gender Discrimination and Indian Status" (delivered to the Aboriginal Law - Vancouver Island Section of the Canadian Bar Association, 25 November 2016)
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Aboriginal Communities and Land Owner Clients
Clayton Leonard advises Aboriginal communities and land owner clients on resource projects and government policy and legislation.
A significant amount of Clayton's practice relates to water management and allocation, Treaty and Aboriginal water rights and other water issues facing First Nations and other stakeholders. Clayton also has significant experience regarding First Nation Treaty and Aboriginal rights matters, Métis Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal governance issues, negotiating impact benefit agreements with industry and influencing government decisions regarding major projects, policy and legislation. Clayton also represents landowners impacted by major projects.
Clayton was named one of Canada's Leading Lawyers in The Canadian Lexpert Legal Directory - Aboriginal Law and in 2002 Clayton was recognized with the Harris Gillespie Field, Q.C. Prize in Environmental Law.
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Erin Thomson - Leach and Robin Phillips
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Office Clerk and Administrative Assistant to Christine Edelmann
Administrative Assistant Elena Demelo 604-687-0549 (Ext. 100) edemelo@jfklaw.ca
With over 20 years of litigation experience, Elizabeth Fimio assists clients with motions, e-discovery, legal document drafting and trials. She has experience assisting with the management of complex, multi-party and document intensive litigation. She has contributed to matters in all levels of provincial and federal courts.
Elizabeth received the Osgoode Certificate of E-Discovery, Information Governance and Privacy, and has completed the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario's eDiscovery Advanced Theory & Practices Fellowship Program. She is a member of Women in eDiscovery, the International Legal Technology Association, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario.
Outside of the office, Elizabeth can be found working on her latest creative project or camping with her family.
Emma is an associate at JFK Law in the Toronto office. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2022 and holds a JD from Queen's University and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from McGill University.
Emma is excited to expand her practice to include dispute resolution, nation building, and governance. In her previous work, Emma supported Indigenous organizations in legislative engagement processes, including conducting community education sessions and drafting submissions to the federal government. During law school, she helped coordinate trilateral negotiations under Bill C-92 for Cowessess First Nation, supporting the development of the first Indigenous-led child and family services legislation in Canada.
Prior to joining JFK, Emma articled and practiced as an associate at a leading litigation boutique firm in Toronto. While there she maintained a varied practice across Indigenous, constitutional, labour, employment, civil, and corporate litigation matters. She has appeared as junior counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Court of Appeal and represented clients before various administrative tribunals and arbitration bodies.
While at law school, Emma was recognized with multiple academic and mooting awards and gained clinical experience at the Queen's Legal Aid.
Outside of work, she can be found exploring Toronto, organizing outdoor movie nights in her tiny backyard garden, and making wonky pottery.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Assistant
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Board
- Associate at the Toronto JFK
Erika is an Associate at the Toronto JFK office. She is Métis and her family hails from Red River. Erika grew up in Alberta and is a citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. She holds a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Aboriginal Legal Studies from the University of Toronto. Erika also holds a Certificate in Negotiation from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Prior to being called to the Ontario bar, Erika summered and articled at a leading national Toronto law firm where she focused on a broad range of commercial litigation matters. Since then, Erika has exclusively worked in the area of Aboriginal law representing Indigenous communities, both at a nationally recognized Aboriginal law boutique firm and a full-service law firm in Toronto, prior to joining JFK.
Erika has experience advising Indigenous communities, governments and nations on Aboriginal and treaty rights-related matters, including advancing their visions of self-determination through the negotiation and implementation of self-government agreements and modern-day treaties. She has also advised clients on the duty to consult and accommodate, partnerships between industry and Indigenous peoples, environmental stewardship, and opportunities for Indigenous peoples to help advance their economic prosperity goals. She has worked on negotiating innovative relationship and economic reconciliation agreements, including impact benefit agreements and other accommodation arrangements that recognize and respect Indigenous rights across traditional territories.
At law school, Erika was Co-President of the Indigenous Law Students' Association and Out in Law. She received the Dean's Leadership Award and the Gordon Cressy Award for her contributions to student life at the faculty. Prior to law school, Erika earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Certificate in Indigenous Governance from the University of Alberta.
Outside of law, Erika is a Board Member of the 519, a City of Toronto Agency that promotes the full participation of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and beyond. In her free time, Erika can be found working on her novice beadwork skills, taking her golden retriever Gus around Toronto, soothing herself with The Office reruns, and laughing at her partner's jokes.
Erin assists clients involved in Treaty negotiations in the BC Treaty Process. She also advises First Nations involved in Crown consultation and negotiations with industry, and provides advice regarding band governance issues, the application of the Indian Act and many other matters. Erin has developed broad experience working on a variety of issues including resource development, fisheries, forestry, land use planning on and off-reserve, environmental assessments and regulatory hearings. As a former officer in British Columbia's Ombudsperson's Office, Erin also has significant experience with administrative fairness issues and administrative law principles.
Erin believes in collaborating with Indigenous governments to strategically advance their communities' rights and title in a variety of contexts. She is passionate about assisting clients to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into Crown decision-making processes and has experience working with community members to gather and present traditional land use information.
Erin is drawn to the practice of Aboriginal law because she believes non-Indigenous settlers must actively engage in reconciliation. Part of this is ensuring that governments recognize and respect Aboriginal rights and title and honour treaties. Erin believes meaningful reconciliation also involves community capacity building, supporting clients in negotiations and consultation and in establishing strong governance structures. A journalist in her past life, Erin also collaborates with clients on strategies for building public profiles and interacting with the media.
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Jeff Langlois, Kaelan Unrau, and Verukah Poirier
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Tim Dickson, Christina Gray and Christina Joynt
Isabelle is an Associate at JFK Law in the Vancouver office. She holds a JD from UBC with a specialization in environmental and natural resource law.
While there, she volunteered her time through Pro Bono Students Canada at West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund working on gender equality issues and at Community Legal Assistance Society working on residential tenancy issues. She also served as an assistant editor at the UBC Law Review. After completing law school, Isabelle clerked at the BC Supreme Court.
Prior to law school, Isabelle earned a BA in literature from McGill University, and a master's degree from the University of Victoria in interdisciplinary studies in the Law Faculty and Indigenous Governance department. Her thesis examines the ongoing capitalist and colonial appropriation of Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions, including exploring this problem within Indigenous legal orders to offer suitable remedies.
During the last year of her graduate work, Isabelle had the privilege of working at the Indigenous Law Research Unit at UVic, collaborating with the Cowichan and Lower Similkameen Nations and their oral stories to identify and articulate those communities' water management laws. During law school, she worked at West Coast Environmental Law, where she further developed her interest in the intersection between Indigenous legal orders, Aboriginal law, and environmental justice.
Isabelle is a settler living on Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam territory. In her spare time, she can be found walking with her dog Gus.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at JFK 's Toronto
Isabelle Simard is an associate at JFK's Toronto office, currently working from Québec. She has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2022 and holds both a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sherbrooke. Isabelle has also enriched her education by completing summer courses in Indigenous laws, legal orders, and ecological governance at the University of Victoria in 2022.
Isabelle Simard est avocate salariée au bureau de JFK Toronto, et est actuellement basée au Québec. Membre du Barreau du Québec depuis 2022, elle détient un baccalauréat en droit et une maîtrise en administration des affaires (MBA) de l'Université de Sherbrooke. Isabelle a également complété sa formation en suivant des cours d'été sur les lois et les ordres juridiques autochtones et la gouvernance écologique à l'Université de Victoria en 2022.
Ivan is an Associate in the Kahnawake JFK office. He has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2019, and his degrees include a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Université de Montréal, a Juris Doctor (JD) from Dalhousie University and Master of Laws (LLM) from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. His practice focuses both on litigation and assisting Indigenous peoples in exercising their right to self-determination.
Ivan joined JFK Law LLP after working in local legal project development with Inuit and First Nations peoples with Justice Pro Bono. He has a keen interest in the self-determination and self-governance progress of Indigenous peoples, as well as all litigation initiatives undertaken to that end.
Ivan is a non-Indigenous person living on the traditional unceded territory of the W8banaki Nation. Ivan speaks seven languages, including French and English. He is currently learning Inuktitut.
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Blair Feltmate, Emily Peiffer, and Tiffaney Metheral
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at the Toronto
Jade is an associate at the Toronto office. She is a member of Xaxli'p First Nation and holds a Juris Doctor with a specialization in Aboriginal law from the University of British Columbia.
Prior to joining JFK Law, Jade clerked for the Honourable Justice Paul Favel at the Federal Court. She assisted on administrative law cases while clerking, including matters related to election disputes, treaty rights, and the duty to consult. She also articled in-house at a utility company where she gained experience in regulatory, environmental, and municipal law.
During law school, Jade was a student clinician at the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic where she helped Indigenous clients with criminal, civil, family, and Aboriginal matters. She was also a research assistant on a project for the Tŝilhqot'in National Government focusing on jurisdiction and emergency management during COVID-19, which culminated in the Dada Nentsen Gha Yatastɨg report.
In his Aboriginal law practice, Jeff strives to support his clients' efforts to protect and advance their Aboriginal and Treaty rights and expand First Nations' self-determination over their lands and waters. Jeff advances his clients' interests in a broad range of contexts, including through the courts, consultations with the Crown and negotiation with industry including, in regard to regulatory decisions, land use and strategic planning, oil and gas, mining, hydroelectric development and the implementation of land claims agreements.
Jeff has acted for First Nations, modern Treaty groups and other Indigenous organizations throughout Canada, with a particular emphasis on British Columbia, Alberta and Northern Canada. He has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia and Yukon, as well as the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Jeff also acts for non-Indigenous clients in civil litigation matters, with a focus on public, administrative and property law matters. Prior to joining JFK Law, Jeff practiced at a national law firm in Vancouver where he represented clients in a broad range of issues, including commercial and public litigation, insolvency and administrative law.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at the Victoria JFK
Jessica is an associate at the Victoria JFK office cultivating a practice strong in Aboriginal, environmental and administrative law. She joins us after completing an articling term at White Raven Law.
Jessica holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Victoria and is a recipient of the Lucien Ukaliannuk Award. As a Nunavummiut, Jessica brings her extensive lived experience and an inherent understanding of the unique issues faced by communities. She was appointed to the Nunavut Law Society executive as its sole public representative where she served a full 4-year term, and continues her dedication to building a legal profession that is accessible and contributes to the North and its peoples.
Now an alumni of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship, Jessica co-authored a collaborative research project investigating options for a Yukon self-governing First Nation's justice system and providing recommendations for meaningful implementation. Prior to law, her years as a senior justice policy analyst for the Government of Nunavut help inform her strategic analysis and legal skills.
In her spare time, Jessica loves creative pursuits and being outdoors. She particularly enjoys artistic expression, fishing, hiking, cycling, surfing, and using her smoker to make delicacies.
Kaelan is a spirited advocate who is dedicated to advancing his clients' interests, both inside the courtroom and beyond.
Kaelan routinely represents First Nations and Indigenous clients in civil litigation matters, from Treaty infringement lawsuits to judicial review proceedings to reserve land disputes. He has appeared before various levels of court as both junior and lead counsel, including the Alberta Court of King's Bench, the Federal Court, and all levels of court in British Columbia and Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Member of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
Karen Drake is a member of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Counsel at JFK Law's Toronto office, and an Associate Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School. Her focus is on helping Indigenous nations exercise their inherent rights through the implementation of their Indigenous laws, and on using Aboriginal and Treaty rights to advance Indigenous self-determination.
Karen has experience working with elders to support First Nations in renewing and revitalizing their traditional legal orders. She is committed to furthering her knowledge of Anishinaabe law and constitutionalism, for example, by working toward learning Anishinaabemowin. Her focus also includes the application of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights within Canadian law, the duty to consult and accommodate, and Indigenous dispute resolution.
After articling in Toronto with a leading Canadian law firm, Karen completed a clerkship with the Ontario Court of Appeal and subsequently served as a part-time judicial law clerk with the Federal Court. She previously served as a Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, on the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Bar Association, and on the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Legal Support Centre. Karen currently volunteers as a member of the legal advisory panel for RAVEN and as a member of the Policy and Stakeholder Relations Committee for Covenant House Toronto. As a full-time faculty member at Osgoode Hall Law School, Karen teaches courses on Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law, Indigenous Legal Traditions, Property Law, and Legal Process; she has also served as Co-Director of the Osgoode Mediation Clinic.
Education
University of Toronto, LL.M.
University of Toronto, J.D.
Queen's University, M.A. (Philosophy)
Lakehead University, B.A. (Hons) (Philosophy)
Karey primarily acts for First Nations and First Nations organizations in court and negotiations with government and industry on matters relating to Aboriginal rights and title, consultation, regulatory matters, including environmental assessments, and general governance matters, including status and membership issues. Karey also has experience in other public law related work, including with respect to Charter rights litigation and public inquiries.
Karey Brooks, KC, a partner at JFK Law LLP, was one of the original members of the firm in 2009. She specializes in civil litigation, focusing on Aboriginal, constitutional, and administrative law. She has represented clients at all levels of court across British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Karey's primary role involves advocating for First Nations and their organizations in both legal and negotiation contexts with governments and industries on issues related to Aboriginal rights and title, consultation, regulatory matters and general governance issues like status and membership.
In her extensive legal career, Karey has handled complex litigation involving Indigenous rights including:
Representing Beaver Lake Cree Nation in addressing the industrial impacts on traditional lands, enforcing treaty rights protections, and securing a landmark advance cost order for government-funded litigation costs.
Representing Kwikwetlem First Nation in its Aboriginal title claim, tackling novel issues of land rights extinguishment and Charter claims due to an absent Aboriginal land title registration system.
Representing Grassy Narrows First Nation in challenging the provincial authority's application of the "taking up" clause under Treaty 3.
Representing Snaw-Naw-As Nation in reclaiming lands no longer used for railway purposes and pursuing remediation damages.
Representing Ermineskin First Nation in a Charter claim for safe drinking water on the reserve.
Representing Mikisew Cree Nation in enforcing government consultation obligations on legislative changes affecting treaty rights.
Representing individuals challenging the Peters Nation Band Council's membership denial decisions.
Additionally, Karey has extensive experience in public law, including Charter rights and public inquiries, having served as Associate Commission Counsel for the BC Missing Women's Commission of Inquiry (the Oppal Commission). She is currently the lead counsel in a class action against WestJet Airlines, focusing on systemic breach of contract issues, particularly the adequacy of the airline's anti-harassment program.
Karey is highly regarded in the legal community, recognized by "Benchmark Litigation" and "Chambers and Partners" for her expertise in Aboriginal Law. She has been named one of The Best Lawyers in Canada in Aboriginal Law since 2017 and received accolades such as the UBC Law School Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 2016 and was listed as one of Canada's legal Rising Stars by Lexpert in 2015. Since 2017, she has also been ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Aboriginal Law by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
In 2021, Karey was appointed King's Counsel. In 2022, Karey was elected as a Fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Karey is regularly asked to chair and present in CLE programs on topics relating to aboriginal law and advocacy including for the CLE, Trial Lawyers, and PBLI. Karey also pursues continuous education, holding two Masters of Law degrees from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Katie acts for First Nations and Inuit across Canada, with particular emphasis on Ontario and Quebec.
Throughout her legal career, she has worked in private practice, as in-house counsel for a Modern Treaty organization, and in social and environmental justice organizations. She has appeared before trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Katie has worked extensively on Pre-Confederation, Historic, and Modern Treaties. She has represented Indigenous groups in negotiations regarding Indigenous governance, fiscal financing, co-management, land claims, land use planning, the development of nuclear projects and radioactive waste management, and commercial and real estate development.
Kelsey is a solutions-oriented litigator focused on delivering practical results that deliver a meaningful difference to her clients. She brings her broad experience in litigation to her advocacy for Inuit and Indigenous peoples.
Kelsey works collaboratively with her clients to develop innovative and practical litigation strategies that advance her Indigenous clients' real-world interests, as defined by her clients. She is committed to continuously improving her cultural competency and delivering services in a culturally safe, trauma-informed way.
Kelsey has successfully advocated for Inuit and Indigenous peoples in a variety of cases, including proceedings for breach of treaty, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the honour of the Crown, Aboriginal rights and title. She has frequently acted for Inuit and Indigenous peoples in complex litigation in natural resource disputes. She also defends clients in regulatory prosecutions.
Kelsey has appeared as lead counsel at all levels of court in BC, as well as the Ontario Court of Appeal and Alberta Court of King's Bench. She has also appeared at the Federal Court in Iqaluit and in Vancouver, and at various tribunals, including the Specific Claims Tribunal, BC Forest Appeals Commission, BC Securities Commission, Health Professions Review Board, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.
Kelsey has a background in complex civil litigation, including commercial, administrative, and health law. She has acted for both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of commercial matters, including contractual disputes, employment issues, disputes surrounding confidential information, claims against directors and officers, and shareholders disputes. She is experienced in cross-border litigation, having worked on many cases dealing with jurisdiction and the enforcement of foreign judgements in Canada. She provides free advice to sexual assault survivors through the CLASBC Stand Informed service.
Prior to joining JFK, Kelsey acted as Commission counsel for the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in BC (colloquially, the "Cullen Commission"), and practiced for several years at a leading Vancouver litigation firm. She also clerked for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in 2014-2015.
At law school, Kelsey participated in the Global Environment and Resource Law Externship Program, the International Law Journal, the Environmental Law Group, and represented UBC at the Jessup International Law Moot. She also spent a summer interning for the United Nations Environment Programme in Washington, D.C. Prior to law, Kelsey studied Environmental Policy, Political Science and English at the University of Toronto.
Job Titles:
- Litigation Support Specialist and Legal Administrative Assistant to Jessica Black
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at the Toronto JFK Office
Lara is an associate at the Toronto JFK Office. Lara works with Indigenous clients to advance the recognition and implementation of their Indigenous laws and the exercise of their inherent, Aboriginal and Treaty rights within Canada's legal system.
Lara is a committed Indigenous rights and women's human rights advocate who volunteers her time in support of Indigenous and settler feminist organizations and grassroots feminist and anti-racist organizers. She was on the Steering Committee of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) from 2015 to 2021 and is a Core Team member of Pima'tisowin e'mimtotaman / We Dance for Life. Lara also serves as a Board member of Terralingua. At FAFIA, Lara's advocacy work focused on the elimination of the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including the elimination of sex discrimination in the Indian Act. Lara worked with Human Rights Watch on the role of policing in the crisis of violence, contributing to Those Who Take Us Away (2013) and Police Abuse of Indigenous Women in Saskatchewan (2017).
Laura comes from a varied legal background, having worked previously for both firms and in in-house corporate roles.
Her work has extensively focused on legal writing and drafting, as well as having a previous history with regulatory compliance work in multiple industries. She brings a very analytical and business-oriented approach to her work, and she is passionate about ensuring that legal contracts are drafted so as to be accessible, while still ensuring that legal risks are fully mitigated.
Lauren is an Associate in the Toronto JFK office. She is a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation, and her ancestors took Métis scrip at Red River.
Lauren est avocate sociétaire chez JFK situé à Toronto. Elle est citoyenne de la Fédération Métisse du Manitoba et ses ancêtres ont reçu un certificat des Métis à la Rivière-Rouge.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
Job Titles:
- Manager, EDiscovery and Legal Technology
Lisa joins us as Manager, eDiscovery and Legal Technology. Lisa has extensive knowledge and experience in the legal industry, with a specific emphasis on eDiscovery. Lisa brings with her with more than 20 years' experience working as a paralegal and eDiscovery specialist on complex, multi-party litigation cases.
Lisa is committed to staying abreast of emerging legal technologies. She volunteers often in the eDiscovery and legal communities. Lisa is currently the President of the Vancouver Chapter of the Association of Certified eDiscovery Specialists. In the fall of 2024, Lisa was part of a nation-wide working group aiming to unify eDiscovery protocols across multiple jurisdictions in Canada.
In her down time, Lisa enjoys travelling, collecting wine and vinyl, yoga, and hiking.
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Emma Wall, Jade Dumoulin, Alex Tomer and Isabelle Simard
Job Titles:
- Office Clerk and Legal Administrative Assistant to Brock Roe and Shayla Praud
Job Titles:
- Accounting Assistant
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
- Director of Firm Vision & Operations
Job Titles:
- Office Clerk and Legal Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Discovery Specialist - Litigation
Job Titles:
- Negotiation Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Office Clerk, Assistant to Su Hutchinson Legal Administrative Assistant to Erika Voaklander and Bryce Lansdell
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
- Manager of Support Services
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Sara Mainville and Nadir André
Job Titles:
- Legal Administrative Assistant to Soudeh Alikhani, Milica Pavlovic, and Louise Kyle
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
Job Titles:
- Treaty Negotiations Paralegal
Job Titles:
- Litigation Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Management and Finance Team
- Firm Office Manager