Rosanne Kyle, K.C.
Rosanne has been a trusted advisor to Indigenous clients for over 30 years, representing First Nations in litigation, negotiations, regulatory processes for resource development projects and consultation processes. She has appeared at every level of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and has been legal counsel on a number of first-of-their-kind First Nation reconciliation agreements in British Columbia. It has been her privilege to work collaboratively with her clients to help achieve reconciliation of their section 35 rights.
Rosanne has been recognized as a leading lawyer in the Aboriginal law field in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, the Doyle Guide and Chambers Canada. In 2022, Canadian Lawyer named Rosanne in its list of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers 2022. She was also asked to become a “Woman for Nature” with Nature Canada, in recognition of her work in the Aboriginal and environmental law fields. In addition to representing First Nations in court, Rosanne also has been counsel to First Nations before regulatory bodies such as energy boards and environmental assessment panels. She also represents First Nations in reconciliation agreement and treaty negotiations and implementation matters.
Rosanne was appointed King’s counsel in 2023.
Profile
Rosanne was called to the bar in Ontario bar in 1993, British Columbia in 1996 and Alberta in 2012.
LL.M., with focus on Aboriginal issues, University of British Columbia (1996)
LL.B., with Distinction, University of Western Ontario (1991)
B.A. (Honours) with Distinction, McMaster University (1988)
Academic awards:
Law Foundation Fellowship (1995)
The Carswell Prize in Conflicts of Law (1991)
The Davies, Ward and Beck Prize (1990)
The Margaret H. McNulty Award (1989)
The Middlesex Law Association Entrance Award (1988)
The Dr. Harry Lyman Hooker Scholarship (1987)
University Scholarship (1986)
Dalley Scholarship (1985)
The Chancellor’s Scholarship (1984)
Dean’s Honour List (1985 to 1991)
Appeared as litigation counsel in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario courts, including at the Supreme Court of Canada and other appellate courts. Most recently, she successfully represented Lac Seul First Nation at the Supreme Court of Canada in Southwind v. Canada, a breach of fiduciary duty case resulting from the illegal flooding of reserve lands.
Represents Indigenous groups in reconciliation and Treaty negotiations with the Crown, and assists her clients with the implementation of those agreements. Her work in this area has included representing shishalh Nation in a groundbreaking Foundation Agreement, and helping Indigenous groups negotiate consent-based decision-making agreements with the Crown.
Counsel to First Nations before regulatory bodies such as the National Energy Board (now Canadian Energy Regulator) and environmental assessment processes, including for the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project, the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and the Site C Dam.
Former adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and a guest lecturer at Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria. She has also published a number of articles on Aboriginal law issues, and is a regular speaker at conferences across the country.
Member, Law Society of Alberta
Member, Law Society of B.C.
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Law Society of Upper Canada (1993-1996)
Member, Law Society of British Columbia’s Retention of Women in the Law Task Force (May 2008-August 2009)
PBLI – Southwind and Equitable Compensation, November 18, 2021
PBLI – Consultation and Accommodation Consultation and the Regulatory Approval Process, March 1, 2019
PBLI – Aboriginal Litigation and Negotiations Update on Consultation Case Law, December 12, 2017
PBLI – Overlapping Claims in the Treaty Process, March 10, 2016
PBLI – Consultation and Regulatory Processes, January 19, 2016
PBLI – Consultation and Accommodation in the Administrative Tribunal Context: the Enbridge Case Study, February 5, 2015
PBLI – The Duty to Consult and Impact Benefit Agreements, October 9, 2013
Insight – Consultation in the Shale Gas Era, November 21, 2012
PBLI – Environmental Assessment: Exploring the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project, September 12, 2012
PBLI – Structuring and Drafting Impact Benefit Agreements: Key Issues, May 2, 2012
“Woman for Nature”, Nature Canada (2014 to present)
Research Ambassador, Canadian Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (2010 to 2015, present)
Former Board Member, Children’s Arthritis Foundation (2005 to 2014)
Former Board Member, West Coast LEAF, (2007 to 2009)