Throughout her career, Soudeh has been committed to dispute resolution in and out of the courtroom and has gained extensive experience in mediation and arbitration. While her primary focus is on the recognition and implementation of Aboriginal and treaty rights and the various aspects of management of cumulative environmental effects of development on those rights—including the governments’ consultation and accommodation duties—Soudeh’s work has also encompassed a variety of reserve land and surrender-related litigation and the recovery of damages for breaches of the Crown’s fiduciary duty.

In addition to her litigation practice, Soudeh advises First Nation and Inuit governments on matters relating to rights assertion, community governance—including law and policy development, consultation protocols, administration of reserve lands, implementation of modern treaties (land use planning, conservation and co-management), as well as participation in comprehensive environmental impact assessments in partnership with non-Indigenous governments and the industry, and enforcement of industry agreements and IBAs.

Soudeh is from Montreal, Quebec, and maintains a bilingual, multi-jurisdictional practice.

For the past decade, Soudeh has had the privilege of working for First Nation and Inuit governments and organizations in Quebec, British Columbia, Yukon, and more recently in Ontario and the Prairies, where she successfully represented clients in complex matters and developed a strong knowledge base and skillset for strategic, high-stakes advocacy.

Prior to joining JFK Law, Soudeh practiced as a senior associate at another leading Aboriginal law firm in Victoria, B.C. and a national firm in Montreal, where she honed her expertise in different areas of specialized dispute resolution. Soudeh began her legal career as a judicial law clerk at the Federal Court of Canada before being called to the Quebec Bar in 2012. She has since also been called to the British Columbia and Yukon bars.

Drawing on her experience in international law and human rights advocacy, Soudeh is committed to assisting Indigenous governments in their efforts to achieve effective implementation of their inherent right to self-government and self-determination. She is particularly interested in supporting clients in projects focused on cumulative impacts assessments, renewable energy development, co-governance regimes, environmental stewardship and climate resilience capacity building as platforms for reconciliation and relationship transformation.

Practice Focus

• Self-government and self-determination
• Aboriginal and treaty rights litigation
• Resource development and regulatory proceedings
• Crown consultation and accommodation
• Environmental assessments
• Land use planning
• Impact benefit agreements: monitoring and enforcement
• Community governance
• Reserve lands
• Membership and citizenship
• Judicial review of governmental action
• Constitutional litigation and Charter rights

Qualifications

• Called to the Law Society of British Columbia (2021)
• University of Ottawa, J.D. (2013)
• Called to the Barreau du Québec (2012)
• McGill Faculty of Law, B.C.L./LL.B. (2010)
• Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Licence and Master I in International Law (2007)