Christine J. Kowbel

Christine practices environmental and aboriginal law, providing advice in respect of major project development, environmental assessment, permitting, operational matters and acquisition and sale of industrial projects.

She provides specialized mining industry advice, representing clients with respect to permitting and regulatory aspects of exploration, development, operation and closure of mining projects. Her other clients include energy, forestry and other natural resource sector companies, as well as banking institutions and real estate developers.

• works closely with environmental consultants and engineers in providing her clients with practical advice respecting legal obligations and managing risk;
• regularly conducts and coordinates environmental due diligence;
• assists in the negotiation and drafting of agreements related to First Nations and environmental matters;
• counsels project proponents on matters of federal, provincial and territorial jurisdiction, environmental assessment processes, consultation with the public and with First Nations, public hearings, regulatory licences and permits and approvals;
• prepares opinions for clients on various aspects of environmental law, including regulatory compliance, emergency notification, waste transportation and disposal, land rehabilitation, director and officer liability, environmental risk management, and corporate disclosure.

Christine has also been seconded to clients in the mining sector on a part-time basis to provide in-house legal advice, primarily in the areas of environmental assessment and project permitting, environmental compliance, and government and aboriginal relations.

Christine is also a regular contributor to the Project Law Blog, a resource that updates proponents on developments in the law and policy that applies to the development of major projects in Canada.