Jeff Langlois practices civil litigation and Aboriginal law in JFK’s Vancouver office, focusing on constitutional litigation, Crown consultation and environmental law.
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.
Year joined firm: 2013
Recent matter/case highlights:
- Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated v. Canada (Fisheries and Oceans), 2024 FC 649: represented Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in challenging a federal decision to transfer commercial fishing licences to non-Nunavut interests. This judicial review raised complex arguments about the Minister’s obligations to implement the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in the context of a billion dollar transaction through which commercial fishing licences in Nunavut adjacent waters were transferred to non-Nunavut based fishing interests. JFK Law was successful in this case, with the Federal Court granting the application for judicial review in April 2024.
- Fort McKay Métis Nation Association v. The Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations and Métis Nation of Alberta Association: represented Fort McKay Métis Nation, a Métis community located in northeast Alberta, in seeking judicial review of a self-government agreement entered into by Canada with the Métis Nation of Alberta, a provincial organization that purports to represent Métis throughout Alberta. Fort McKay argued that the Crown had failed to consult the Fort McKay Métis and that the agreement The court quashed key sections of the agreement that recognized the Métis Nation of Alberta as representative for all Métis in Alberta, prompting new federal processes to protect Fort McKay Métis’ self-governance rights.
- Gladue, et al. v. His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of Alberta (ABKB Action No. 2203-10939): Duncan’s First Nation filed a lawsuit alleging Treaty 8 rights infringement due to the cumulative impacts of resource and land development. On a practical level, this case has the potential to greatly impact the framework for resource development in Alberta and Canada more broadly. Treaty 8, along with Treaty 6, covers the heart of oil and gas territory in Alberta, and its interpretation will greatly impact those developments and the role of Treaty First Nations in managing their lands.
Key practice areas:
Academic qualifications:
- BA History, University of Calgary
- LLB, UBC Law
Bar Admissions:
- LSBC, 2009
- LS Alberta, 2016
- LS Yukon, 2018
- LS Saskatchewan, 2020
- Nunavut bar, 2024
