Clifford G. Proudfoot

Cliff’s practice is focused on environmental and aboriginal litigation. His clients include companies in the forestry, manufacturing, mining, real estate development, hydro-electric power generation industries. Cliff has represented his clients in environmental prosecutions, administrative actions, permit appeals, environmental assessments and has helped clients respond to a wide variety of environmental investigations and prosecutions.

Cliff advises clients respecting compliance with environmental laws and regulations, due diligence and environmental auditing. He also assists clients in developing corporate environmental policies, contingency plans, operating manuals, and standard operating procedures. Cliff advises clients faced with a variety of issues surrounding contaminated sites including those clients in the oil and gas, forestry, mining and chemical industries as well as private landfill operations.

He has successfully defended clients against numerous regulatory and environmental prosecutions and has appeared as counsel in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and before the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to this court work, Cliff has also conducted administrative hearings before the BC Environmental Appeal Board, BC Forest Appeals Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Board of Alberta, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal of BC, and the BC Tobacco Control Act Administrative Board.

Cliff acts for resource developers in a number of major aboriginal litigation cases including actions involving land claims and the infringement of treaty and aboriginal rights. Cliff has also acted for industry on numerous court and administrative actions in which First Nations are challenging regulatory permits or appeals. He also has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting co-operation agreements, consultation protocols and impact benefit agreements.

Cliff was the Head of the Litigation Group at Lawson Lundell in 2011. He is currently a member of the firm's Executive Committee.

Recognition and Ranking

• Best Lawyers in Canada: recognized for Environmental Law

Professional Activities

• BC Oil and Gas Commission, Statutory Advisory Committee Member (current)
• CBA Environmental Law Subsection, Executive Member (past)
• Environmental Law for Environmental Specialists Douglas College, Lecturer (past)

Community Activities

• Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, Board Member and Corporate Secretary (current)
• Integrated Vegetation Management Association, Board Member (current)
• Mount Seymour Little League, Coach and Manager (8years) (past)
• North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association, Coach (past)
• Seycove Secondary School, Cross Country Coach (current)
• Seycove Secondary School, Track Coach (current)

Bar Admissions

• Manitoba (1990)
• British Columbia (1992)

Education

• University of Manitoba (LL.B, 1988)
• University of Cambridge (LL.M., 1989)

Personal Interests

Cliff is married with two boys and is very active coaching and managing various sporting activities that his sons participate in.

Cliff is also a lifelong runner and ran competitively for two universities. Other interests include: music, wine, cooking and walking his two English Springer Spaniels, Phoebe and Farley.

Cliff has had considerable experience in complex litigation and was one of four trial counsel in one of the longest trials in B.C. history, Privest Properties Ltd. et al. v. W.R. Grace & Co. of Canada Ltd. et al. in which Lawson Lundell successfully defended W.R. Grace & Co. in a products liability suit.

Cliff also acts for industry clients in a number of major aboriginal litigation cases including actions involving land claims and the infringement of treaty and aboriginal rights.