595 Burrard St, Suite 2600, PO Box 49314, 3 Bentall Ctr, Vancouver, BC
Year called to bar: 2006 (BC)
Sam is a corporate commercial lawyer primarily serving clients in the resource sector, with a strong focus on Aboriginal and project development matters. His practice is national in scope, acting for clients across Canada on a wide range of Aboriginal law issues, including consultation, negotiation and the regulatory process. Sam has significant industry expertise in the energy and mining sectors, and has represented clients on commercial and transactional matters across all project phases. He provides effective, timely and practical advice informed by his experience working both for and within industry. Sam was also previously a director and vice-chair of the Association for Mineral Exploration (British Columbia). He is a frequent speaker and commentator on Aboriginal law issues in Canada. In 2019, Sam was recognized for Aboriginal Law in Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business, and in 2020 for Indigenous Law in The Legal 500 Canada.
Legislative and policy shifts in climate change environmental regimes, both federally and provincially, have all affected the energy sector, which must adapt to those changes
Courts have emphasized that the Indigenous consultation standards on both governments and proponents of pipeline and other infrastructure projects are high but achievable