Emily Chan

Of Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Vancouver
Canada
T:+1 604 641 4848
Vancouver
Canada
T:+1 604 641 4848
Emily Chan

Emily Chan

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Biography

Emily Chan practises Indigenous, energy regulatory, and environmental law. 

As the co-chair of the Indigenous law practice, Emily provides strategic advice to clients ranging from industry, financial institutions, and government agencies to Indigenous groups on a wide range of issues in relation to the development of energy, industrial, and infrastructure projects.  Emily's practice covers economic reconciliation, partnerships, joint ventures and commercial arrangements with Indigenous groups; negotiation of relationship building and impact and benefit agreements; Indigenous rights and title issues; consultation and accommodation; consent-based decision-making; the application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada; and participation in regulatory processes.

Emily's practice also covers the related areas of energy regulatory law and environmental law.  She regularly advises clients on federal and provincial regulatory proceedings (e.g., Impact Assessment Agency, Canada Energy Regulator, BC Utilities Commission, Alberta Utilities Commission, BC Environmental Assessment Office, BC Energy Regulator); environmental assessments; post-approval permitting and compliance; environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues; transactional risks; and carbon credit issues. 

She has been recognized by Legal 500 Canada and Best Lawyers of Canada in the areas of Indigenous Law and Environmental Law and by Chambers Canada as a ranked lawyer in the area of Energy – Provincial Regulatory (BC).

Professional experience

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J.D., University of British Columbia, 2011
B.A., University of British Columbia, 2008

  • British Columbia 2012

Matters in which Emily has acted include: 

  • Advising financial institutions and global companies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with a focus on the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples
  • Advising Rio Tinto on agreements with local Indigenous groups in relation to industrial operations and developments
  • Advising the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the organization mandated to develop and maintain the fourth largest port in Canada and the second largest port in western Canada, on economic development initiatives at the port and Indigenous consultation issues
  • Advising on the development of Indigenous consultation protocols and frameworks for a variety of natural resource and industrial projects
  • Advising lenders, government agencies and companies on partnerships and joint ventures with Indigenous groups for the development of energy, industrial, and construction projects, on-reserve housing and infrastructure projects, and the development of marine infrastructure
  • Advising on permitting requirements for major industrial facilities and associated proceedings before the BC Utilities Commission and BC Environmental Appeal Board
  • Advising a hydrogen producer, electric distribution utility, district energy provider, electric vehicle charging network developer, and government agencies on a variety of energy regulation issues including carbon credit creation and monetization
  • Representing clients in front of the BC and Alberta utilities commissions in rates, tariffs, and facilities proceedings
  • Representing energy trading entities, hydrocarbon producers, and petrochemical refiners before the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly the National Energy Board) in gas and crude oil pipeline toll and tariff proceedings
  • Best Lawyers in Canada:  Environmental Law, 2024-2025, Aboriginal Law "Ones to Watch," 2022 
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: 2024: recommended in Aboriginal Law; 2024: recommended in Energy (Oil & Gas)
  • The Legal 500 Canada: Indigenous Law (Rising Star), 2021-2024
  • Chambers Canada, British Columbia: Energy - Provincial Regulatory, Chambers and Partners, 2020-2022
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Law Society of British Columbia
  • Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers

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