Christine J. Kowbel,

The "excellent" Christine operates a well-reputed Northern practice, with expertise in the fields of mining, Indigenous and environmental law. Active across all Northern provinces, her experience encompasses regulatory, licensing and assessment issues, including project development.

- Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide

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

She provides mining industry advice, representing clients with respect to permitting and regulatory aspects of exploration, development, operation and closure of mining projects. A significant amount of Christine's practice is focused on advising clients with projects in Canada's North. Through her work, Christine has developed an understanding of the political, cultural and business dynamics in the Canadian North, which provides her with rare insight into the various players' perspectives, including Inuit, government and industry. 

Her other clients include energy, ports, forestry and other natural resource sector companies, as well as banking institutions and real estate developers.

In her practice, Christine:

• 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 Indigenous and environmental matters;
• Counsels project proponents on matters of federal, provincial and territorial jurisdiction, environmental assessment processes, consultation with the public and with Indigenous, 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 Indigenous 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. 

• Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), Lands Committee Member
• Canadian Bar Association: Environmental Law, Administrative Law, and Natural Resources, Member
• Environmental Law for Environmental Specialists, Douglas College, Guest Lecturer
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Member
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Newsletter, Reporter - Canada
• Project Law Blog, Contributor

• Chambers Canada
  • General Business Law - Northern Canada and Arctic (Band 1), 2025
  • General Business Law - Northern Canada and Arctic (Band 2), 2024
• Best Lawyers in Canada: Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice, Environmental Law, Mining Law, and Natural Resources Law, 2016-2025
• Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys - Litigation Star, 2019-2024
• Best Lawyers: Aboriginal Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver, 2017
• Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada: Corporate Lawyers to Watch, 2015
• Lexpert Rising Star Award: Canada's Leading Lawyers under 40, 2014

Christine has:

• Acted as in-house permitting manager for a major gold exploration and development project in Nunavut
• Advised clients on the permitting and development of mines and other major projects in various provinces and territories, including BC, Yukon, Nunavut, NWT, Alberta and Saskatchewan
• Advised a number of clients on the current and potential future liabilities relating to the acquisition of current and historic industrial properties
• Represented two major mining companies in the acquisition of advanced exploration properties in Nunavut
• Continued representation of a company developing a gold mine in Nunavut
• Continued representation of a company operating a diamond mining project in the Northwest Territories
• Advised clients on environmental management systems (including ongoing compliance with ISO certification requirements) and due diligence
• Represented various industrial corporations in defending charges under environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations
• Represented a natural resource company in obtaining an injunction to prohibit interference with project development and activities
• Assisted various clients during disputes relating to mineral tenure issues and competing interests in land
• Assisted clients with identifying, obtaining and defending permits, fisheries authorizations, water licences, environmental assessment certificates and other authorizations for mines, mills, hydroelectric facilities, and other natural resource projects
• Assisted clients in matters before all levels of Court in British Columbia, as well as various boards and tribunals located in BC and the Canadian North. She has also prepared applications on behalf of clients to the Supreme Court of Canada