Janelle Dwyer

Partner, Mandell Pinder LLP

Phone: 604.566.8554
janelle@mandellpinder.com

Assistant: assistant@mandellpinder.com


Profile

Janelle is a business lawyer practicing with Mandell Pinder in the area of economic development for First Nations communities. She provides legal advice related to commercial matters, real estate, financing and corporate structuring, often using her skill and knowledge to accommodate existing corporate and land tenure models to the unique situation on reserve. Janelle’s commercial practice involves negotiations with resource companies and the Crown, and drafting and advising on agreements from the memorandum of understanding stage to the final agreement. Her real estate practice encompasses all aspects of land transactions: acquisitions, financing, development approvals, sales and leasing. She regularly advises on developing corporate entities such as limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations, societies and trusts. She also works closely with First Nations on governance issues, including the development of property taxation regimes, drafting regulations, constitutions, bylaws and policies.

Some examples of the types of transactions that Janelle has been involved include:

  • Multi-phase resort development with a championship 18 hole golf course, 5-star clubhouse and single-family sub-division.
     
  • Negotiations on impact benefit agreements for run-of-river hydro projects and mining projects.
     
  • Multi-phased, single- and multi-family residential real estate developments in Vancouver, Pemberton, Surrey and Langley.
     
  • Mining revenue sharing proposals from the Province of British Columbia.
     
  • Advising on the corporate structuring of economic development entities, including federal and provincial companies, societies and partnerships.
     

Janelle was called to the bar in 2000. She joined Mandell Pinder in 2005 after working with one of Canada’s national law firms.

Janelle grew up on Vancouver Island and is a member of Splatsin First Nation. She believes that healthy, prosperous aboriginal communities require foundations of social and political justice. Her desire to facilitate economic benefits for her clients is a constant motivation in her legal work.


Education

LL.B University of British Columbia, 1999
   
B.A. (Honours) English Literature, University of British Columbia, 1992



Professional Standing

Member, Law Society of B.C. (2000)

Aboriginal, Business and Municipal Law subsections, Canadian Bar Association


Recent Presentations and Publications

Co-Chair, "Aboriginal Law: Current Issues" - a conference hosted by Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, March 6 and 7, 2012.

"Legal Update: Current Issues Affecting First Nations Business Structures", co-authored by Janelle Dwyer and Sarah Ciarrochi, prepared for a conference hosted by Pacific Business and Law Institute, March 6 and 7, 2012."

"Closing the Gap: Building Successful First Nations Communities Through Economic Development and Partnerships" - a 2012 UBC Law Panel Discussion, UBC Law School, February 16, 2012.

"How to Choose a Business Venture: Legal Structure" – a co-presentation with Sarah Ciarrocchi at Rebuilding from Tradition: Strategic Aboriginal Tax Planning Conference, Parksville, British Columbia, March 16-17, 2011.

"Choosing the Right Business Structures for First Nations Ventures" – a workshop at the National Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference, Osoyoos, British Columbia, September 15-16, 2010.

"Deciding Whether to Do a Deal: Initial Agreement and Documentation for Economic Development Projects" – a presentation at the Partner to Prosperity: Partnerships & Joint Ventures Conference, Parksville, British Columbia, May 27-29, 2008.

"Legalities: Common Issues that Arise" – a presentation at the Partner to Prosperity: Partnerships & Joint Ventures Conference, Parksville, British Columbia,
May 27-29, 2008.


Other Activities

Appointment, Federation of Law Societies, National Admission Standards Project Competencies Development Task Force (2011).

Appointment, Co-Chair, Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch, Aboriginal Law Student Scholarship Trust, Fundraising Steering Committee (2009-2010).