Christine Kowbel

Christine excels in the fields of environmental and Indigenous law, offering seasoned guidance on the intricacies of major project developments. Her expertise spans environmental evaluations, permitting processes, operational issues, and the acquisition and disposal of industrial ventures. A vital part of her role involves steering mining sector clients through the maze of permitting and regulatory requirements that accompany the lifecycle of mining projects, from exploration and development to operation and eventual closure.

A substantial portion of her advisory work is dedicated to projects within the Canadian North, where she has honed a keen awareness of the unique political, cultural, and commercial landscapes. This insight affords her a deep understanding of the perspectives of various stakeholders, including Inuit communities, government bodies, and industry players.

Christine's clientele extends beyond the mining sector to encompass entities within the energy, port, forestry, and broader natural resource sectors. She also lends her expertise to banking institutions and real estate developers, guiding them through the legal complexities of their operations.

In her legal practice, Christine is known for her collaborative approach with environmental consultants and engineers, ensuring her clients are well-informed about their legal responsibilities and risk management strategies. She is proficient in conducting environmental due diligence and excels in negotiating and crafting agreements that touch on Indigenous and environmental issues. Christine advises on jurisdictional matters across federal, provincial, and territorial levels, environmental assessment procedures, public consultations, regulatory licenses, and permits.

Moreover, Christine's expertise includes drafting legal opinions on a range of environmental law aspects such as regulatory compliance, emergency response, waste management, land restoration, and liability issues. Her temporary assignments in the mining sector as in-house legal counsel have further enriched her experience, particularly in environmental assessments, project permitting, and relations with government and Indigenous groups.

As a regular voice in the Project Law Blog, Christine keeps project proponents updated on legal and policy developments affecting major project development in Canada.

Her professional involvement extends to several prestigious associations and educational endeavors. She is a member of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's Lands Committee, the Canadian Bar Association across several sections, a guest lecturer at Douglas College, and a member and reporter for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

Christine's legal practice is authorized in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon, following her LL.B. from the University of Victoria in 2000. Her areas of practice cover a broad spectrum, including climate change, environmental and regulatory compliance, Indigenous law, litigation, mining, project permitting, and regulatory compliance, showcasing her comprehensive expertise in navigating the legal challenges of the natural resource sector.