Posted by Woods LaFortune LLP on Jan 22, 2015

Michael Woods, Senior Partner, and Catherine Walsh, Legal Counsel at Woods, LaFortune LLP, are pleased to announce that they will be panelists at the Asian Canadian Law Students 11th Annual Conference, taking place on Saturday February 21, 2015 in Toronto. This national law student conference is organized by the University of Toronto’s Asia Law Society in conjunction with the Asian Law Students’ Society of Osgoode Hall Law School. The event is a fantastic forum, bringing together law students and lawyers, and providing an opportunity to discuss career paths, recent legal developments, and ways in which positive contributions can be made to the Asian community in Canada. Michael and Catherine will be participating in the conference’s Canada-China FIPA Panel, and will be discussing its implications for businesses and investors in both Canada and China. The panel will touch on the topic of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between Canada and China, Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions, as well as potential implications with First...

Posted by Woods LaFortune LLP on Jan 19, 2015

Michael Woods and Wayne Garnons-Williams are pleased to announce that a strategic alliance has been concluded between Woods, LaFortune LLP and Garwill Law Professional Corporation to facilitate cooperation in providing advice and guidance to clients in the growing field of First Nations/International Trade, Business and Investment law. The firms are also jointly supporting the work of the International Inter-Tribal Trade and Investment Organization, a cross-border organization that focuses on the development of First Nations/International Trade Law and the re-invigoration of First Nations’ participation in international, interprovincial and inter-tribal trade. Michael Woods, Senior Partner at Woods, LaFortune LLP, stated “The Supreme Court of Canada has established that First Nations have the right to economically benefit from land under aboriginal title… Because of these decisions, First Nations have a significant role to play in trade relations, including regulation of investment on First Nations’ land, and have to be considered by government and investors alike.” The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Tsilhquot’in Nation v. B.C. has changed the landscape in Canada by making it clear that First Nations have economic rights over land subject to aboriginal title.  These rights will affect business, trade and investors seeking to do business on First Nations’ land.  To discuss the implications of the Tsilhquot’in decision and the impact it may have on your business or investment feel free to contact Michael Woods by phone at (613) 355-0382 or by e-mail at woods@wl-tradelaw.com or contact Wayne Garnons-Williams by phone at (613) 778-8685 or by e-mail at...

Posted by Woods LaFortune LLP on Jan 15, 2015

Catherine Walsh and Michael Woods of Woods, LaFortune LLP, have been invited to speak as part of a Canada-China Business Council (CCBC) Round-Table to be held on Friday February 6th, 2015 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, at the Rideau Club in Ottawa.   The topic for discussion will be the recently implemented Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (CC-FIPA).   Catherine Walsh has been published and presented on this topic on several occasions and Michael Wood has extensive experience with investment treaties and Investor State Dispute Settlement in general.  The distinguished panel will offer objective insights on the contents of the CC-FIPA and will consider how its provisions operate to protect investors, as well as different ways for investors to factor these protections into their businesses planning.   The importance of the agreement in the context of the Canada-China bilateral relationship will also be addressed.  For more details please see:...

Posted by Woods LaFortune LLP on Jan 13, 2015

Michael Woods, Senior Partner at Woods, LaFortune LLP will be a panelist at the important and topical Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’ (CCAB) Hot Topic Series: The Williams Case, on March 12 2015, in Vancouver at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.  The panel will review this summer’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Aboriginal title, which encompassed over 1,700 square kilometers of land in British Columbia, and provided much needed guidance on how to determine Aboriginal title and on the applicability of provincial laws to those lands. The discussion will also touch on and carefully review the implications of this landmark case for First Nations communities in terms of future economic or resource development on Fist Nations land, as well as the implications for those who wish to do business on or invest in Aboriginal title lands.  Specifically, the panel will: Discuss the implications of Tsilhqot’in on Aboriginal-industry economic partnerships; Highlight promising approaches to building Aboriginal-industry economic partnerships within the current legal framework; and Discuss where to go from here and how to build stronger, more effective partnerships. The impressive panel coveted event includes, Robert McPhee (Managing Director of the Castlemain Group), Chuck Strahl (Director and Chairman of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy), Chief Roger William (Tsilhqot’in First Nation), Wayne Garnons-Williams (Senior Lawyer and Principal Director at Garwill Law Professional Corporation) and Michael Woods (Senior Partner at Woods, LaFortune LLP). In the context of this panel, Michael Woods and Wayne Garnons-Williams of Garwill Law Professional Corporation will address a number of international legal implications for future economic and resource development on First Nations lands.  For more details see:...

Posted by Woods LaFortune LLP on Dec 19, 2014

Gordon LaFortune, Managing Partner of Woods, LaFortune LLP, attended the Assembly of First Nations 2014 Winter Gala held at the Delta Hotel in Ottawa on December 18, 2014.  The Gala was held at the end of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)’s Annual General Meeting and was used as an opportunity to welcome newly-elected National Chief, Perry Bellegarde. The event, an overall success, was very well attended by Members of the AFN community and its many supporters.   The photo above features Gordon LaFortune, Managing Partner of Woods, LaFortune LLP alongside JP Gladu, President of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business...