Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Partner

Chris has extensive experience representing business, government, and First Nations organizations on a range of partnerships, commercial arrangements, and governance matters.

As the western regional lead for our Indigenous Law Group, Chris works to build strategic and durable relationships between government, industry and Indigenous organizations.

Prior to joining BLG, Chris served as the Director General for the western negotiations branch of Crown-Indigenous Relations. In that role, he led a large team of federal negotiators at more than 60 sets of tables across British Columbia and the Yukon.

From 2014 to 2018 Chris was a senior counsel at BC Hydro, leading many different aspects of their First Nations engagement. From 2001 to 2014 Chris was in private practice where he represented dozens of Indigenous organizations on a range of matters including treaty negotiations, governance, lands and economic development, aboriginal rights and title, consultation & accommodation, and specific claims.

Education

• MA, Simon Fraser University, 1996
• LLB, University of Western Ontario, 1991

Bar Admission

• British Columbia, 2000
• Ontario, 1993

Community Involvement

• (Past) Volleyball and soccer coach for community, elementary, high school, club and university level teams
• (Past) Director, Volleyball BC