Sean practises Indigenous, environmental and regulatory law, with a focus on natural resource law. He has extensive experience on fisheries issues, federal and provincial environmental assessments and advocating for the rights of Indigenous communities.

Sean uses his knowledge of Indigenous, environmental and regulatory law to advise clients across all natural resource sectors. He regularly advises clients on project approvals and challenging approvals when necessary.

Sean acted as legal counsel in the first ever implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.  As a result, he was part of a team that won the Premier’s Award for promoting innovation and excellence.

He has advised clients on major projects and negotiated commercial agreements between industry and Indigenous communities. He has represented First Nations in Federal Court and has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia.

He also has advised clients across all natural resource sectors including oil and gas, mining and forestry. He has a wealth of experience in the fisheries context, including aquaculture.

He also advises Indigenous communities on economic development and governance issues.

Prior to entering law, Sean was a communications professional who served in a variety of industry and government roles. He taught communications at Douglas College and BCIT in Vancouver.

• Interviewed, “Commitment to UNDRIP Moves Indigenous Relations from Consultation to Consent,” BCBusiness (February 21, 2019)
• Interviewed, “B.C. fish processors spewing potentially dangerous bloodwater into key salmon migration corridor,” CTV News (November 27, 2017)
• Co-author, “Environmental Law” Chapter, Annual Review of Law & Practice, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (March 2017)
• Author, “Great Bear Rainforest (Forest Management) Act Could Create Social Licence,” The Lawyers Weekly (April 2016)
• Co-author, “Environmental Law” Chapter, Annual Review of Law & Practice, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (March 2016)
• Author, “The Myth of the First Nations Financial Transparency Act,” the Globe and Mail, (November 6, 2015)
• Co-author, “Environmental Appeal Board Revokes Company Water Licence,” Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (September 2015)
• Co-author, “Aboriginal Rights Do Not Have to Be Proven Before a Claim in Tort Can Be Advanced,” Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (May 2015)
• Author, “This Is What Happens to an Oil Company’s Social Licence Obligations When Profits Dive,” Mining.com (April 2015)
• Author, “Two Provinces with Divergent Duty to Consult Policies,” The Lawyers Weekly (April 2015)
• Author, “Rather Than Determining Value of Title Lands, Proponents Should Concentrate on Benefit Agreements,” The Lawyers Weekly (April 2015)
• Co-author, “Environmental Law” Chapter, Annual Review of Law & Practice, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (March 2015)
• Speaker/author, “An Overview of the Regulation of Water Use in B.C. for the Oil and Gas Industry,” Environmental Managers’ Association Workshop (Vancouver, February 2015)
• Author, “Unwelcome Disclosure: Capacity Funding, Competition Questions Mar First Nations Financial Transparency Act,” The Lawyers Weekly (September 2014)
• Co-author, “Environmental Law” Chapter, Annual Review of Law & Practice, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (March 2014)
• Co-author, “Municipal Bylaws Can Still Be Challenged,” The Lawyers Weekly (June 2013)
• Represented First Nation in a landmark implementation of the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the B.C. government in drafting recommendations to remove as many as 17 fish farms from the Broughton Archipelago
• Represented First Nation in judicial review of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s policy and transfer licence
• Advised clients on environmental assessment and Indigenous consultation for a major LNG project located on federal port lands
• Sean won numerous awards during his law degree at Birkbeck College, University of London, including the Pearson Publication Prize for graduating first in his class