Join us in celebratingJoelle Walker,Merle Alexander, KC, andMyles Brownfor their well-deserved recognition as 2024 Benchmark Litigation Stars and MT + Co's Litigation + Dispute Resolution Group's recognition as a Benchmark Recommended Firm for 2024.
Benchmark Litigation is the only publicationon the marketto focus exclusively onlitigation. Since its inception, Benchmark has grown and become the hub for in-depth analysis of the folks shaping the practice oflitigation. The research for the awards is conducted through interviews with litigators, dispute resolution specialists, and their clients to identify the leading litigators and firms. Recent casework and professional opinions from peers and practitioners within the practice areaarealso takeninto consideration.
Joelle Walkeris an experienced litigator and the Practice Group Leader of MT+Co.'sLitigation+ Dispute Resolution Group.Joelle practices inthe areas ofcontractualtransactional disputes, corporate governance, business torts, regulatory matters, and Aboriginal rights and title.Joelle has appeared as counsel at all levels of court in BC and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Joelle also has extensive experience before administrative bodies, including acting as counsel for the Law Society of British Columbia and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and appearing as counsel before the BC Securities Commission, the Canada Energy Regulator, the BC Utilities Commission, and the Environmental Appeal Board.
In her Indigenous Law practice, Joelle assists clients inthe areas ofAboriginal rights and title, governance, Indian reserve issues, mutual benefit agreement interpretation and implementation, regulatory matters, and the development of strategic approaches to consultation and negotiation with the Crown and industry.Joelle has significant experience in complexlitigationinvolving the Crownwith a focuson the advancement of reconciliation and the full implementation of theUnited Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples(UNDRIP) as part of the Canadian legal landscape.
Joelle also acts for clients through alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration and is often consulted for strategic and results-driven advice as part of ongoing negotiations. In addition to her work, Joelle is a steadfast advocate for women in law, consistently pushing for gender diversity in the workplace and championing efforts for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable legal profession.
Merle Alexander, KC, is a principal lawyer in our Indigenous Law Group. Merle practices First Nations resource law, empowering Nations through title and rights affirmation, sustainable economic development, and environmental conservation.
Merle's clientsare looking forrighteous advocacy, angular thinking, and relentless diplomacy. They want tobe treatedwith the dignity of Governments, not as warrior activists. His clients are Nations that uplift their jurisdiction and take their rightful seat at the negotiation, economic, and political table.
He holds the Hereditary Chief name, Lagax'niitsk, of Kitasoo Xai'xais First Nation. He will begin his Chiefmanship upon following traditional protocols.
Merle is a 'life of project' lawyer assisting withnegotiations ofall stages of impact benefit agreements, joint ventures, regulatory engagement, traditional knowledge collection, and other corporate and tax-related advice. He supports clients in emerging government-to-government negotiations in all resource areas, including mining, oil and gas, forestry, pipelines, run-of-river, and hydro projects.
As a member of the co-development team for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in BC, amajorcomponent of Merle's practice currently involves the ongoing legislative implementation of UNDRIP.
Myles Brownis a principal lawyer in our Litigation + Dispute Resolution Group. Myles is a commercial and business litigator. Myles' practice encompasses a broad range of complex commercial and civillitigationincludingcontractual disputes, shareholder and transactional disputes, professional negligence, property disputes, business torts, and insolvency.
Myles has extensive experience in class actions and financial services disputesfrom workingfor over10years in London, UK, and Australia.While in the UK, Myles was part of a team representing the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in defending actions brought by shareholder and investor groups in connection with its £12 billion rights issue in 2008 – one of the most complex and highest profile pieces oflitigationin the UK in recent years.
MT+Co. has also been recognized as a Benchmark Recommended Firm for 2024.
MT+Co.'s Corporate Commercial Litigation work includes complex contractual disputes, shareholder and transactional disputes, corporate governance matters, and business torts. We also have experience representing clients beforea broad range ofregulatory and administrative bodies and in alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration.
On the Indigenous Law side of our Litigation practice, our group assists clients in the areas of Aboriginal rights and title, governance, Indian reserve issues, mutual benefit agreement interpretation and implementation, regulatory matters, the development of strategic approaches to the participation of First Nations in consultation and negotiation with the Crown and industry and UNDRIP implementation.
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