Mark Youden

At Gowling WLG, Mark Youden stands out as a partner, diving deep into the complexities of environmental, regulatory, construction, and Indigenous law. His expertise stretches across a broad spectrum, offering both advocacy and advisory services. Licensed to practice in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Yukon, Mark's client base is diverse, encompassing industry leaders, government bodies, and Indigenous groups.

In the courtroom, Mark is no stranger to the Federal Court, as well as provincial courts in British Columbia and Alberta, not to mention the Supreme Court of Yukon. His advocacy extends beyond traditional courtrooms to administrative tribunals, including the British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board, the British Columbia Utilities Commission, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board, and the Environmental Protection Tribunal of Canada. His prowess also includes engaging in arbitrations and navigating alternative dispute resolution forums with skill.

On the advisory front, Mark's guidance covers a broad array of critical issues. He tackles challenges such as spill management, waste diversion, environmental assessments, forestry matters, permitting, brownfield development, and impact benefit agreements. His expertise also spans the transportation of dangerous goods, packaging, labelling, energy efficiency, and environmental marine law, showcasing his versatility.

Recognized by Chambers Canada and Legal 500 as a leading figure in his field, Mark contributes significantly to the legal landscape. His role as co-editor of Gowling WLG's Environmental Law Newsletter and his frequent contributions of articles and presentations at conferences underscore his commitment to his areas of expertise.

Mark's engagement with the legal community is robust. He coaches the UBC Allard Law Willms & Shier Environmental Moot team for 2023-2024 and mentors students and junior associates through programs with the Law Society of Alberta and the CBABC/UBC Allard Law Mentorship Program. His background is equally impressive, with a Master of Environmental Science and experience as an environmental consultant before his legal career.

Mark's educational journey took him from Dalhousie University, where he earned a B.Sc. (Hons.), through the University of Toronto for his M.Sc., culminating in a JD from the University of Ottawa, specializing in Environmental Law and Policy. His professional milestones include being called to the bar in Yukon (2022), Alberta (2017), British Columbia (2015), and Ontario (2015), marking a distinguished career path.

His practice areas are extensive, covering Construction & Engineering, Automotive, Mining, Oil & Gas, Energy, Food & Beverage, Indigenous Law, Climate Change and Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Corporate Commercial, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Canada North, Advertising & Product Regulatory, Administrative Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Projects, and Municipal Law. This broad expertise reflects Mark's comprehensive understanding and ability to navigate complex legal landscapes.