Our Team – Huberman Law Group

Called to the Bar: August 1993 (British Columbia)

Experienced

Trusted Problem-Solver

Thoughtful and Practical

Jeff is an experienced lawyer, a trusted problem-solver, and is thoughtful and practical.

Although from the big city, Jeff is not just another “city lawyer”. An experienced litigator and negotiator, he has appeared at all levels of court in BC, at the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, at the Supreme Court of Canada, and at various administrative tribunals. He has also worked for and within an Indigenous legal system guided by Sto:lo knowledge-holders and elders, and served as a frontline lawyer for five years in Williams Lake, BC, for the members of seven Indigenous communities.

Jeff works on rights, title, lands, environmental, cultural, governance, and economic development issues, litigating, negotiating, and developing and implementing strategy for elected and traditional/hereditary Indigenous governments and organizations.

He is sought out for his considered legal advice and his understanding of the deeper political, cultural and legal issues often involved. He advocates for and with his clients, knowing that respect, language and culture are powerful forces of connection and positive change.

He brings a lot to the table for clients.

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His law practice includes:

Complex litigation regarding the Crown’s failures to comply with treaty and other promises, and the Crown’s obligations regarding consent, consultation, and accommodation
Filing, negotiation, and resolution of Specific Claims
Negotiations with government and industry regarding resource development
Assistance to elected and traditional/ hereditary governments, and Indigenous organizations
Reserve lands issues (Additions to Reserve, housing leases and rentals, planning and environmental issues, employment law, policy reviews)
Boundary, jurisdictional and resource disputes between Indigenous peoples resulting from historical relationships and the Crown’s conduct in and outside the BC Treaty process
Designing strategies to implement rights, title, and sovereignty in tangible ways

He is a sought-after public speaker, bringing passion, experience, and insight to presentations. Representative speaking engagements include:

Ktunaxa Nation v BC – Lecture at University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (with Karenna Williams, 2021 and 2023)
Ktunaxa Nation v BC – Lecture for Freedom of Religion Course at Huron College (University of Western Ontario) (with Karenna Williams, 2023)
“Implicit Bias in Ktunaxa Nation v. BC”, BC Prosecution Service presentation (Vancouver, August 8, 2019)
“Religious Freedom and the Duty to Consult” – Indigenous Law: Current Issues 2018, by Pacific Business and Law Institute (Vancouver, April 26, 2018 – with Kathryn Teneese, Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair)
Ktunaxa Nation v BC at Indigenous Awareness Week, UBC Faculty of Law (UBC, January 30, 2018 – with Karenna Williams)
People of the River Gathering (Chilliwack, April 29, 2005 – with Sto:lo Nation Justice Department)
Child, Family and Community Services Act, Continuing Legal Education Society (Vancouver, March 14 and 15, 2005 – with Sto:lo Nation Justice Department)
Youth Justice Conference, Pacific Legal Education Association, (Vancouver, November 23, 2004 – with Sto:lo Nation Justice Department)
Aboriginal Law Issues in British Columbia and Canada – Presentation to Hebrew University Faculty of Law Seminar (Jerusalem, Israel – Winter 2003)
Presentations in client communities on Delgamuukw v. BC, Discrimination in Indian Act, By-Laws, Overlaps and Encroachments on Territory, Traditional Cultural Initiatives, and other topics

Called to the Bar: May 2012 (British Columbia)

Effective

Passionate and Creative

Legal Advocate

Karenna is Turtle Clan Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Six Nations, Grand River Territory, Ontario. She carries on her grandmother’s teaching that a career must be of service to Indigenous peoples. Karenna is primarily a litigator advocating for Indigenous peoples’ rights, title, cultures, languages and ways of life. Her litigation is strategic and bettered by the relationships she maintains with her clients. She remains grateful for their teachings.

Although she acts within the Canadian legal system as a lawyer, Karenna does her best to live under the Kayanerenkó:wa, or Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee. Her approach to her work is rooted in the Haudenosaunee legal principle ska’nikón:ra (a single or united good mind), having been taught that bringing good minds together begets clear and creative thinking, accountability, and sound decision making. Her commitment to her own ways of being permeates her work. Karenna’s hope is that her practice will encourage and support Indigenous resurgence, continuity, and prosperity. She has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia, at the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada as well as the Manitoba Queen’s Bench, the Ontario Superior Court and Court of Appeal.

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A representative list of her speaking engagements includes:

Ktunaxa Nation v BC – Lecture for Freedom of Religion Course at Huron College (University of Western Ontario) (with Jeff Huberman, 2023)
Haudenosaunee Legal Principles and Canadian Administrative Law – Lecture at UBC Faculty of Law (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for Litigators, The Advocates’ Society’s Education Program, October 7, 2022
Ktunaxa Nation v BC – Lecture at University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (with Jeff Huberman, 2021)
Understanding Aboriginal Law – Lecture at UBC Faculty of Journalism, Reporting in Indigenous Communities class (March 2020 and 2021)
How the Courts Understand Parliament – Canadian Study of Parliament Group (September 27, 2019)
Profound Issues Touching our Deepest Concerns as a Nation: In Conversation with Tom Berger – Facilitator, CBA BC Aboriginal Law Section (June 14, 2019)
Ktunaxa Nation v BC at Indigenous Awareness Week, UBC Faculty of Law (UBC, January 30, 2018 – with Jeff Huberman)
Lawyering for Reconciliation – CLEBC Cultural Competency for Lawyers (September 18, 2018)
Discussion on Mikisew Cree First Nation v Canada – CBA BC Aboriginal Law Section (December 12, 2018)
Publications: Indigenous Law Bulletin. “Hadu:wis: Repatriation Efforts of the Haudenosaunee in the United States and Canada” March/April 2010 Volume 7 Issue 17

Additional Details:

Recipient of the 2024 Courage in Law award from the Indigenous Law Students Association at the Peter A. Allard School of Law
Board Member, West Coast Environmental Law (2023 – present)
Participant in the University of Victoria Environmental Law Centre’s Associates Program (2023 – present)
Adjunct Faculty Member, Peter A. Allard School of Law – Co-instructor of Law 200: Indigenous Settler Legal Relations
Board Member, University of Victoria Faculty of Law’s Environmental Law Centre (2021 – present)
Member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association’s National Council (2023 – present)
Executive Member, Canadian Bar Association’s Aboriginal Lawyers Forum (2019 – 2023)
Director of the Vancouver Summer Mentorship Society, a program aimed at bringing students who traditionally do not have exposure to the practice of law into UBC Law School to learn from legal professionals, law professors, and judges (2012 – present)
Served as the External Relations representative for the Canadian Bar Association’s Aboriginal Lawyers Forum
Experience in repatriation of ceremonial materials (Assisted the return of sacred masks to Haudenosaunee Confederacy with the Standing Committee on Burials and Burial Regulations and Sour Springs Longhouse)
Recipient of the June Callwood Fellowship in Aboriginal Law (University of Toronto)
Former senior editor of the Indigenous Law Journal at University of Toronto
Former editor of the Australian Indigenous Law Review

Called to the Bar: July 2010 (British Columbia)

Astute

Practical

Considered

Krystle advises Indigenous peoples, their governments, societies and companies on economic development matters, corporate and commercial transactions, corporate and First Nations governance, and a wide range of issues involving rights and title recognition and implementation. She also assists clients on consultation and accommodation matters, treaty negotiations, land transfers, drafting of laws, and resolution of Specific Claims. She provides astute, practical and considered legal solutions.

She has had the privilege of working with a broad range of clients, and has experience advising and executing various transactions including incorporations, share and asset purchases, shareholder agreements, leases, conveyances and mortgages, societies, and a wide range of contracts.

Early in her career, Krystle gained experience in both litigation and solicitor’s work, including family, child protection, corporate commercial, wills and estates, and real estate law. Her practice now focuses largely on solicitor’s work, and advising First Nation governments and their corporate entities.

Admin Team

Paralegal

Originally from Saskatchewan, Amy is a proud member of the Cree Métis Nation. Her family tree dates back to the 1700s and the Red River Clan.

Amy joined the firm as a legal assistant in 2007 and now works as the firm’s main paralegal after completing her qualifications in 2011. She has worked on matters at various levels of courts in BC and Ontario including the Supreme Court of Canada and in Federal Court.

She is a skilled professional, a key member of the team, and passionate about our work and clients. She has a genuineness clients like, trust and respect.

Accounts Manager

Marjorie brings over 25 years of financial accounting experience to the firm. She directs and oversees all law firm financial aspects including accounting practices, client invoices, and purchasing. Our clients know that they can call Marjorie to ask questions or discuss any concerns regarding invoices or payments.

Her good humour is infectious, and clients quickly see the very fine person she is. She has completed undergraduate courses in Marketing and Financial Accounting and has several years of formal CMA academic training.

Huberman Law Group | 400 – 22 East 5th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. | V5T 1G8 | 604-685-1229