Biography

Spotlight

Brad regularly assists clients with environmental assessment reviews, including the public hearing phases. He is well versed in acting for mining and oil pipeline companies, particularly with regard to projects located in the Canadian North.

- Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide

Brad has extensive experience in civil litigation, Indigenous law, administrative and constitutional law, and environmental law. He represents clients involved with land use issues, project development, regulatory approvals, environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation, and litigation, in a range of natural resource industries including mining, forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, energy, independent power projects, oil and gas, and transportation. His practice extends through Western Canada and the North (including Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut).

Brad acts as counsel in court hearings and in public review hearings, in all levels of the British Columbia Courts and the Federal Courts, and before federal, provincial and territorial boards, panels and commissions.

Brad also has extensive experience in corporate and commercial litigation, injunctions, and environmental prosecutions, as well as competition law.

Brad was the firm’s Managing Partner from 2000 through 2003.

Brad is also a regular contributor to the Project Law Blog, a resource that updates proponents on developments in the law and policy that applies to the development of major projects in Canada. 

Brad also teaches a course at the University of British Columbia – Natural Resources Law (2010-2011 and 2017-present), Oil and Gas Law (2013-2016).

Professional Activities

  • Canadian Bar Association, Member
  • Canadian Bar Association, Administrative Law Section (BC Branch), Chair (1990-92)
  • Canadian Bar Association, Constitutional Law Section (BC Branch), Co-Chair (1992-93)
  • Elected Member of the Provincial Council of the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association from 1999 through 2001
  • Project Law Blog, Contributor

Community Activities

  • Chairman, St. George’s School Foundation, 1990 to 1992 (Director, 1988-1992)
  • Chairman and President of Family Services of Greater Vancouver Society, 2004 to 2006 (Director, 1998-2007)
  • Member of the Environment Committee of the British Columbia Business Council
  • Member of the Board of Governors of Crofton House School and Chair of the Risk Management Committee (2010-2016)
  • Geoscience BC, Board Member (2014-2018)

Recognitions & Rankings

Recognitions & Rankings

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024recommended as a leading practitioner for Aboriginal Law and Environmental Law
  • Chambers Canada 2024: recognised for Aboriginal Law - Nationwide (Band 3); and Environment - Nationwide (Band 1) 
  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2006-2024: recognised for Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice and Environmental Law
  • Chambers Global 2023-2024: recognised for Aboriginal Law - Nationwide (Band 3); and Environment - Nationwide (Band 1)
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023: recommended as a leading practitioner for Aboriginal Law and Environmental Law
  • The Legal 500 Canada 2021-2024recommended as a Leading Individual in the Environment category
  • Who's Who Legal:
    • recommended in Environment & Climate Change (Global Guide) 2024
    • recommended in Environment & Climate Change (Canada) 2023; Energy (Canada) 2023
  • Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2019-2021: recognised as a Litigation Star
  • Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada 2022-2023: recognised for Environmental Law
  • Lexpert Special Edition 2020: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Energy
  • Lexpert Special Edition 2016-2017: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining
  • Lexpert Zenith Award 2011: recognized for Corporate and Law Firm Social Responsibility for his contributions to Family Services of Greater Vancouver
  • Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated

Experience

Experience

  • Represented a major diamond mining company in environmental assessment and project approval in the Northwest Territories
  • Advised government agencies in connection with the regulatory review process for hydroelectric projects in Nunavut
  • Represented a major marine transportation agency in Federal Court proceedings involving Indigenous and environmental issues
  • Represented a major industrial company in an extensive public environmental review of a hydroelectric project
  • Represented a mining company in Federal Court proceedings respecting federal environmental assessment compliance
  • Represented various industrial corporations in defending charges under environmental laws and regulations
  • Represented a mining company in environmental assessment and project approval in Nunavut
  • Represented various resource and industrial companies, and governments, in litigation involving First Nations, Indigenous law, treaty law and constitutional law
  • Represented various natural resource companies in obtaining injunctions to prohibit interference with project development and activities
  • Represented corporate and shareholder interests in litigation concerning contractual issues, amalgamations and arrangements, take-over bids, proxy materials and oppression remedies
  • Represented various businesses in litigation and compliance issues relating to the Competition Act

News & Publications

News & Publications

Blog Posts

Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagements

  • The Real Effect on an Aboriginal Title Declaration: Damages, Remedies, Judicial Review and Beyond, Aboriginal Title Litigation: Best Practices and Essential Legal Considerations conference, February 26, 2016, Co-speaker
  • "Cooperation Agreements and Benefits Agreements with First Nations", Major Business Agreements Conference, Insight Information, Vancouver, BC, September 26-27, 2013, Speaker
  • "Environmental Assessment Process", Environmental Law: Managing Risk, November 18, 2011, Speaker
  • "The Duty to Consult in the Context of a Modern Treaty (A Summary of the Supreme Court of Canada decision in the case of Beckman v. Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, 2010 SCC 53)", February 23-24, 2011, Speaker
  • 2nd Annual Northeast BC Natural Gas Summit, September 29, 2010, Co-Chair
  • "Canadian Environmental Assessment Act", The National 2010 Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Summit: A New Environment - 2010 and Beyond, Canadian Bar Association, Montreal, QC, April 16-17, 2010, Speaker
  • "BC Legal Issues Workshop - Developing Resources in BC", Northeast BC Natural Gas Summit on Maximizing Oil & Gas Development Opportunities in Northeast BC, Insight Information, September 30-October 1, 2009, Speaker
  • Northeast BC Natural Gas Summit, September 30, 2009, Speaker
  • "Jurisdiction: Various Issues", February 5, 2009, Speaker
  • 2nd Annual Environmental Law & Regulation North of 60°, November 13, 2008, Speaker
  • "First Nations and the Environment; Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Quality Standards; and Environmental Monitoring", May 15-16, 2008, Speaker
  • "Project Challenges, Blockades and Injunctions", March 13, 2008, Speaker
  • "Legal Issues and Risks in the Project Review Process", May 30, 2007, Speaker
  • 2nd Annual Western Canada Aboriginal Law Forum: Understanding the Changing Legal and Business Horizon, Insight Information, Vancouver, BC, May 8-9, 2006, Co-Chair
  • "Aboriginal Issues in the Forest Sector", March 10-11, 2006, Speaker
  • "Roles and Responsibilities for Industry and Federal/Provincial Regulators", March 8, 2006, Speaker
  • "Regulatory Approaches to Air Emissions: Practical Impacts", February 8-9, 2006, Speaker
Brad Armstrong, KC, Lawson Lundell Photo
Vancouver
t 604.631.9126
f 604.669.1620

Assistant Contact

Bar Admissions

  • British Columbia (1981)
  • Northwest Territories (1998)
  • Nunavut (1999)
  • Yukon (2006)
  • Queen's Counsel, British Columbia (2002)

Education

University of British Columbia (B.A., 1976)

London School of Economics and Political Science (M.Sc., 1977)

McGill University (LL.B., 1980)

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