Overview

James is frequently involved in high profile and complex cases and has appeared before all levels of the Canadian court system. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2015 and is listed in Best Lawyers in Canada for Corporate and Commercial Litigation as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Sahtú Secretariat Inc., as intervenor in the Court of Appeal for the Northwest Territories in Colville Lake Renewable Resources Council v Northwest Territories (Minister of Environment and Natural Resources), in the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources appeal of a judicial review decision regarding the management and harvest of the Bluenose West caribou herd in the Sahtu Settlement Area under the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. (Colville Lake Renewable Resources Council v Northwest Territories (Minister of Environment and Natural Resources), 2025 NWTCA 1).
Fort McKay First Nation in the negotiation and finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding with Suncor on a prospective oil sands lease development opportunity on Fort McKay reserve lands (March 2024).
Council of Yukon First Nations as intervener in the Supreme Court of Canada in Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, regarding the application of the Charter to First Nations’ government, constitution and laws and the interpretation of s. 25 of the Charter (Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, 2024 SCC 10).
Council of Yukon First Nations as intervener in the Supreme Court of Canada in Attorney General of Québec, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada, et al. regarding the Quebec government’s challenge to the constitutional validity of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, 2024 SCC 5).
Fort McKay First Nation in negotiating with Canada and Alberta for the development of a First Nation oil sands mine project.
B.C. Utilities Commission in the City of Richmond appeal City of Richmond v. BC Utilities Commission regarding the jurisdiction of the BC Utilities Commission (City of Richmond v. British Columbia Utilities Commission, 2024 BCCA 16).
Fort McKay First Nation in the negotiation and finalization of the Moose Lake Plan with the Government of Alberta. The land agreement was reached after 20 years of negotiation and litigation. The plan creates a 10-kilometer development buffer zone around Moose Lake, which is a culturally significant area for the community.
Council of Yukon First Nations in Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, 2021 YKCA 5 regarding the application of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms to First Nation’s government, constitution and laws.
B.C. Utilities Commission in the City of Coquitlam’s appeal (Coquitlam (City) v. British Columbia Utilities Commission, 2020 BCCA 289).

Practice Areas

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Labour Law
• Civil Litigation
• Transportation Law
• Employment Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1984 (BC)