JFK Law has expanded considerably from its British Columbia roots (with offices in the capital city of Victoria as well as Vancouver) to flourish beyond the province with offices in Calgary and even Toronto. The original mission of the firm has been acting on behalf of indigenous peoples, although it is noted that not all of the firm’s work is devoted to “Aboriginal law” specifically. Much of this work is actually for indigenous governments. That said, JFK is recognized by all peers in the Aboriginal space, in BC and beyond. “They have superior knowledge of Indigenous Law and the trial process,” testifies an appreciative client. A peer confirms, “JFK is really strong and getting stronger. They have all the knowledge and the focus.” Another quips, “I should send them Christmas cards! They give me a lot of work.” Robert Janes, the “J” in the firm acronym, got his start in BC but has since migrated to its Toronto office. “He is a leader in the field,” states one peer. “He could practice anywhere.” A client concurs: “Robert Janes has superior knowledge of Indigenous Law and has excellent courtroom presence.” In one recent matter, Janes is counsel for the applicant in a challenge to the approval of the Near Surface Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility at Chalk River. The case raises the question of the application of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to administrative decisions given the language of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples.
Jeff Langlois represented the Fort McKay Métis Nation, located in the oilsands region of Northeast Alberta, in its efforts to obtain federal recognition of its community as a rights-bearing Métis collective. As part of this matter, the Fort McKay Métis Nation sought judicial review of a self-government agreement entered into with the Métis Nation of Alberta, a provincial organization that purports to govern Métis throughout Alberta. This litigation commenced in March 2023 and the matter was heard on an urgent basis in December 2023, in light of pending federal legislation implementing the challenged agreement. Langlois was successful in this case, with the Federal Court granting the application for judicial review in March 2024.
Claire Truesdale attends to a practice focusing on the resolution mechanism of “specific claims” against the Crown. “Claire has two massive ones of these on the go right now,” declares a peer. “She is also one of the firm’s more frequent flyers at the Supreme Court, and also does a lot of water litigation.” In one example of this observation, Truesdale acts for applicants in a judicial review of the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency’s relicensing of two large existing hydroelectric dams. The dams, built many decades ago, have since had very serious impacts on the Delta and the people of the Cree Nation’s Cumberland House. Acting with Truesdale on this matter is
Tim Dickson, who also has his share of fans in the community. “Tim joined [JFK] from [esteemed Vancouver firm] Farris several years ago and has really found his place and is doing great work.”
