Environmental Litigation Conference 2026
Course Date: June 18, 2026
Total: 5h 4min
Total Ethics: 1h
Environmental Litigation Conference 2026
Course Date: June 18, 2026
Total: 5h 4min
Total Ethics: 1h
Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:05)
Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Jessica Magonet — Ecojustice, Vancouver
David Wu — Arvay Finlay LLP, Victoria
Jessica Magonet — Ecojustice, Vancouver
David Wu — Arvay Finlay LLP, Victoria
Emerging Issues in Indigenous Environmental Litigation (9:05 – 9:50)
- from declaration to duty: implementing UNDRIP and the effect of Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), 2025 BCCA 430
- Teal Cedar Products Ltd. v. British Columbia, 2025 BCSC 595: shared and joint decision-making in forestry and reconciliation
Lisa C. Fong, KC — Ng Ariss Fong, Vancouver
Anthony Ho — Ad Astra Law Corporation, Victoria
Amanda Nurse — Ng Ariss Fong, Vancouver
Anthony Ho — Ad Astra Law Corporation, Victoria
Amanda Nurse — Ng Ariss Fong, Vancouver
Challenging and Defending Resource Projects (9:50 – 10:35)
- judicial review practice from the perspective of proponents, public interest groups, First Nations, and government
- the importance of the "record"
- issues of standing and party status
- effects on judicial review practice of Bill 9 – Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, and Bill 16 – Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2026
Trevor Bant — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General, Victoria
Michelle Casey — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver
Julia W. Riddle — Arvay Finlay LLP, Vancouver
Michelle Casey — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver
Julia W. Riddle — Arvay Finlay LLP, Vancouver
BREAK (10:35 – 10:50)
Access to Justice Issues in Environmental Litigation (10:50 – 11:35)
- client relationships
- trauma-informed practice
- environmental justice
- working with First Nations
Declan Redman — Arvay Finlay LLP, Vancouver
Shawn Smith — West Coast Environmental Law, Vancouver
Karenna L. Williams — Huberman Law Group, Vancouver
Shawn Smith — West Coast Environmental Law, Vancouver
Karenna L. Williams — Huberman Law Group, Vancouver
International Law in Environmental Litigation (11:35 – 12:20)
- sources of international law
- treaties versus customary international law
- international environmental law versus international human rights law
- application to domestic courts
Kelly Matheson — Our Children's Trust, Eugene, Oregon
James Yap — Jackman & Associates, Toronto
James Yap — Jackman & Associates, Toronto
LUNCH (12:20 – 12:45) with Keynote Speaker (12:45 – 1:15)
Justice Matthew Kirchner — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Injunctions (1:15 – 2:00)
- "irreparable harm" in environmental litigation
- media exclusion zones
- Indigenous law in injunctions and contempt proceedings
Patrick C. Canning — Barrister & Solicitor, Gabriola Island
Eugene Kung — West Coast Environmental Law, Vancouver
Frances Mahon — Pender Litigation, Vancouver
Eugene Kung — West Coast Environmental Law, Vancouver
Frances Mahon — Pender Litigation, Vancouver
BREAK (2:00 – 2:15)
Climate Litigation (2:15 – 3:00)
- greenwashing litigation in Canada and abroad
- climate rights litigation in Canada and abroad
- role of the legislative branch in climate litigation
Andhra Azevedo — Arvay Finlay LLP, Vancouver
Spencer Bass — Stockwoods LLP, Toronto
Spencer Bass — Stockwoods LLP, Toronto
Closing Remarks (3:00 – 3:05)
Jessica Magonet — Ecojustice, Vancouver
David Wu — Arvay Finlay LLP, Victoria
David Wu — Arvay Finlay LLP, Victoria
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Slides: From Declaration to Duty: Using UNDRIP in litigation
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Paper: Civil and Criminal Contempt: A Quick Primer
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