John Olynyk*

John is the head of Lawson Lundell’s Aboriginal Law Group, and is a member of the firm’s Energy Law, Environmental Law and Climate Change Groups. John’s practice includes advising private sector and government clients on aboriginal, environmental, regulatory and natural resources matters across Canada.

Recognition and Ranking

• Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: repeatedly recommended as a Leading Practitioner in aboriginal law
• Best Lawyers in Canada: recognized for aboriginal law

Professional Activities

• B.C. Continuing Legal Education B.C. Real Property Assessment Manual, aboriginal property taxation chapter, Editor

Bar Admissions

• British Columbia (1996)
• Yukon Territory (1997)
• Alberta (2001)

Education

• University of Alberta (B.Sc. (Zoology), 1979)
• University of British Columbia (M.Sc. (Planning), 1984)
• McGill University (LL.B., 1995)

John’s representative experience includes:

• Advising clients on strategies for working with the Government of Alberta in the development and application of consultation and accommodation guidelines by the Province
• Advising clients on negotiations with aboriginal groups on a range of natural resource, utility and transportation matters
• Advising clients on permitting, regulatory and aboriginal issues for proposed developments in western and northern Canada
• Advising clients on matters related to negotiation and implementation of self government agreements, land claims agreements and treaties
• Representing a group of oil sands developers, power and gas utilities and other companies in the negotiation of a consultation and accommodation agreement with the provincial and federal governments and five First Nations in northeastern Alberta
• Helping a major Canadian oil and gas company successfully resolve aboriginal issues arising in the course of regulatory applications for an expansion to a heavy oil project in Alberta
• Advising a major Canadian oil and gas company on negotiation of access agreements and benefits plans for exploration activity in the Northwest Territories
• Advising major conventional oil and gas companies on aboriginal matters in Alberta and British Columbia, including issues arising on Indian reserves and on Métis settlements
• Advising a national railway company on aboriginal matters across Canada, including the negotiation and implementation of ground-breaking agreements on aboriginal property taxation jurisdiction, resolution of historic grievances and local issues, and acquisition of Indian reserve lands for right of way expansions
• Advising natural resource developers on the negotiation of a joint venture business arrangements with an Alberta First Nation
• Assisting a major public utility in negotiating and drafting impact benefits agreements with aboriginal groups affected by a proposed gas pipeline to Vancouver Island, with the result that aboriginal concerns were not an issue before the National Energy Board
• Acting as negotiator, facilitator and legislative drafter for a government client in the development of legislation implementing provisions of land claims agreements

John is a regular speaker at conferences on aboriginal and natural resources issues, and provides seminars for clients and industry associations on aboriginal law matters.