Litigation and Dispute Resolution

JFK Law has a team of experienced litigators with extensive courtroom experience. We focus on trying to find a solution that achieves your goals in a manner that is cost-effective and maintains healthy long-term relationships.  This may mean reaching a negotiated solution, but in order to achieve that goal it is important to be prepared to go to court if negotiation is unsuccessful.

Our litigation team has argued cases in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Yukon Territory and all levels of the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. Our past and current cases cover a wide range of subject matters in the following areas listed below.

Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Litigation

The main focus of our litigation practice is in assisting Indigenous nations to use the courts strategically to protect and enhance their Aboriginal and Treaty rights. This can take many forms, from pursuing litigation to establish rights and title, challenging Crown decision making that impacts your Nations lands and way of life, and seeking redress when your rights have been infringed.

In all of these matters, we strive to provide timely and cost effective advice to allow your Nation access to justice and to build leverage to secure your Nation’s rights for both present and future generations.

Governance, Reserve Land and Commercial Disputes

In addition, our firm regularly represents Indigenous communities and individuals in litigation arising from the day-to-day administration of their communities. This includes:

• assisting in disputes over elections and governance matters;
• representing clients in litigation about on-reserve property rights and certificates of possession; and
• assisting Indigenous communities and economic development corporations with commercial and contractual disputes.

Specialized advice about these disputes is often required because of the unique statutory and customary aspects of these disputes.

Constitutional and Public Law

JFK Law has deep experience in litigation involving constitutional and public law beyond the realm of Aboriginal and Treaty rights.

We have litigated under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to challenge historic and ongoing discrimination, protect freedom of expression and freedom of association, and safe-guard security of the person. We also have extensive experience with other aspects of constitutional law, including the division of powers between the provincial and federal governments, and the constitutional protections of the superior courts and the rule of law.

A core aspect of our work is administrative law, which concerns the exercise by boards, tribunals and other decision-makers of the powers give to them in legislation. We have very substantial experience in challenging and defending such decisions in a wide variety of contexts.

First Nations Taxation Issues

There are numerous special protections and advantages provided to First Nations individuals and their businesses through the Indian Act and the Income Tax Act. Principally, Canadians who are “Indians” under the Indian Act are protected from federal, provincial and municipal taxes on their on-reserve property.

Taking advantage of these protections in order to advance business development is complex, and as a result many First Nations individuals and their businesses do not obtain their full benefit. Our firm has successfully litigated complex First Nations taxation matters, allowing our clients to fully realize the tax protections granted under the Indian Act and increasing the scope of these protections.