Janelle Dwyer
Janelle was inspired to become a lawyer in part through her early studies of post-colonial and critical race theories. As a member of the Splatsin First Nation and a business lawyer at Mandell Pinder LLP, Janelle has been proudly serving the First Nations with her impressive volume of work and subject matter expertise since 2000.
Janelle retired from the partnership in 2025 and became senior counsel to the firm. In this new role, she continues to advise on land transactions both on- and off-reserve, including land acquisitions, developments on and management of reserve land. Her past practice has included setting up and re-designing corporate entities such as partnerships, corporations, and trusts. She also has spent many years working closely with First Nations on business and governance issues, including drafting regulations, laws and policies. Janelle has negotiated on behalf of First Nations with private companies and the Crown, and drafted and advised on all types of Crown and commercial arrangements, such as impact benefit agreements, government to government agreements, and asset and share purchase agreements.
Janelle Dwyer has been selected by her peers repeatedly in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ in the field of Aboriginal law / Indigenous Practice, including most recently for 2025.
Profile
Janelle was called to the bar in 2000 and joined Mandell Pinder LLP in 2005.
LL.B, University of British Columbia (1999)
B.A., (Honours), English Literature, University of British Columbia (1992)
Member, Law Society of B.C.
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Board of Directors, Ballet BC