Clifford Proudfoot

At the helm of Lawson Lundell as the Managing Partner, Cliff dedicates his expertise primarily to the realms of environmental and Indigenous legal battles. His clientele spans diverse sectors, including forestry, manufacturing, mining, and real estate, to name a few. Cliff's role involves steering these companies through the murky waters of environmental lawsuits, regulatory disputes, and permit challenges, alongside guiding them through environmental assessments and investigations.

His work doesn't stop there. Cliff plays a crucial role in ensuring his clients remain on the right side of environmental regulations. He offers advice on compliance, due diligence, and conducts environmental audits. Beyond these, he's instrumental in crafting corporate environmental policies, emergency response plans, and operation guides, ensuring businesses operate within legal confines while minimizing environmental impact.

Cliff's expertise extends to managing the complexities surrounding contaminated sites, serving clients across the oil and gas, forestry, and mining industries, among others. His courtroom victories span across Canada, defending clients in environmental and regulatory prosecutions with a notable presence in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, and even before the Supreme Court of Canada.

His legal acumen also shines in administrative hearings, representing clients in front of various boards and commissions. This is testament to his comprehensive grasp of the environmental legal landscape.

A significant portion of Cliff's work involves Indigenous litigation, where he represents resource developers in land claims, treaty rights infringements, and regulatory permit disputes involving First Nations. His negotiation skills have led to the formation of numerous agreements that respect the rights and interests of Indigenous communities while facilitating resource development.

Before rising to Managing Partner in 2016, Cliff led the Litigation Group starting in 2011 and contributed to the firm's executive decisions. His commitment to diversity and inclusion marked his tenure as Lawson Lundell's Chief Inclusiveness Officer, a role in which he spearheaded initiatives to foster an inclusive work environment.

Cliff's professional contributions extend beyond his firm, evidenced by his involvement in various legal and community boards. These include advisory roles in the Canadian General Counsel Awards and the Allard School of Law, alongside past memberships in statutory and environmental law committees.

Outside the courtroom, Cliff's life is rich with personal and community engagement. He is deeply involved in coaching sports, a passion fueled by his own competitive running background. His commitment to his family, sports, and outdoor activities with his English Springer Spaniels, Phoebe and Farley, paints the picture of a well-rounded individual whose professional vigor is matched by his dedication to community and personal well-being.

Educationally, Cliff's foundation was laid with an LL.B from the University of Manitoba, followed by an LL.M from the University of Cambridge, setting the stage for his distinguished career in environmental and regulatory law, among other areas.