Julie Abouchar

Partner

Certified Specialist in Indigenous Legal Issues and Environmental Law by The Law Society of Ontario

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Address:
  • 1 Toronto Street, Suite 900
    Toronto, ON, Canada, M5C 2V6
Phone:
416-862-4836
Email:

Bio

Julie Abouchar makes it her guiding principle to treat others in a way that she wants to be treated.

This has helped her develop a reputation for being approachable to others with diverse backgrounds and histories. Her positive connections with clients and stakeholders contribute to Julie’s effectiveness as a lawyer and negotiator.

Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as both an Indigenous Legal Issues Specialist and Environmental Law Specialist, Julie’s broad experience covers the intersection of Indigenous legal issues and natural resources, environmental, and energy law. A formative event in Julie’s early career was serving as Assistant Commission Counsel to the Walkerton Inquiry, followed by Counsel to the Expert Panel for Safe Drinking Water for First Nations. She learned from these inquiries that thoroughly understanding complex multi-party issues from different perspectives yields solutions. Armed with this skill, Julie helps clients achieve success whether providing strategic legal advice, advocating before tribunals and regulators, or negotiating and drafting agreements.

Julie is a trained mediator and a strong advocate. Julie advises clients in Ontario, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories about Indigenous legal issues (Aboriginal law), partnerships and benefit agreements, environmental impact assessments, compliance and risk management, transactional due diligence, contaminated land, and water law.

Julie enjoys being part of a team that moves projects forward. She has a particular affinity for major projects such as those involving mines, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Julie was counsel to the First Nation equity partner in a 28 MW $300 Million hydroelectric development project on a northern Ontario river, built by a First Nation business and currently employing First Nations people. She was counsel to an Inuit Organization negotiating and drafting groundbreaking Inuit Impact Benefit and Land Tenure Agreements for major gold mine projects in Nunavut, bringing opportunities for Inuit and Inuit businesses. She advised a municipal consortium engaging in Indigenous consultation to develop a collaborative process for archaeology, environment and traditional knowledge studies for broadband and cell tower projects in eastern Ontario. As a member of the Source Protection Committee for the CTC Region (Credit Valley, Toronto Region and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authorities) Julie collaborated with municipal and industrial stakeholders to develop source water protection policies for a large watershed in southern Ontario.

Recognized for her deep knowledge of Indigenous legal issues, mining, and water law, Julie annually participates in York University’s Osgoode Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Certificate in Mining Law and is co-author of Ontario Water Law, published by Thomson Reuters.

 

    Education

    • Certified as a Specialist in Indigenous Legal Issues by the Law Society of Ontario, since 2017
    • Called to the bar of the Northwest Territories (2015)
    • Called to the bar of Nunavut (2014)
    • Certified as a Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario (2005)
    • LL.M., Environmental Law, University of London, U.K. (1995)
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution, Law Society of New Brunswick (1995)
    • Called to the bar of Ontario (1994)
    • Called to the bar of New Brunswick (1994)
    • LL.B. and B.C.L., McGill University (1992)
    • B.Sc. (Hons.), Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo (1987)

    Organizations

    • The Law Society of Ontario—Certified Specialist in Indigenous Legal Issues (2017-)
    • The Law Society of Ontario—Certified Specialist in Environmental Law (2005-)
    • Ontario Bar Association— Member of Aboriginal Law Section Executive (2004-); Environmental Law Section (1994-); Municipal Law Section (2003-); Natural Resources Law Section (2004)
    • Canadian Bar Association—National Environment, Energy and Resources Law Section member
    • Ontario Water Power Association
    • Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, member
    • Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
    • CTC Source Protection Committee, member
    •  Ontario Clean Water Agency, Board Member, August 2007 to July 2013
    • Ontario Environmental Industries Association—Member (2003-)
    • American and Ontario Water Works Associations—Member (2005-)
    • Environmental Law Commission, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)—Member (2000-)
    • Sierra Club of Canada—U.S.-Canada International Committee member (1999-2004)
    • Conservation Council of New Brunswick—Executive Director and Director (1996-1998)
    • Environmental Law Association of McGill—President and a Founding Member (1988-1991)

    News

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    Work Highlights

    • Indigenous Legal Issues and Consultation: Conservation Authority Aboriginal Consultation Training and Guidelines

      Trained conservation authority staff on their complex legal and regulatory Aboriginal consultation environment and developed guidelines for Aboriginal engagement.

    • Indigenous Legal Issues and Consultation: First Nation IBA and Economic Development from Gold Mine Project

      Helped a First Nation community reap significant benefits from a major gold mine in Ontario by negotiating, drafting and assisting with the implementation of an Impact Benefit Agreement with the proponent. Created corporate structures for joint ventures and limited partnerships, including a partnership to develop a transmission line to the mine site.

    • Indigenous Legal Issues and Consultation: Municipality Negotiations and Agreements with First Nation

      On behalf of a municipality, conducted effective negotiation and drafted agreements with First Nations to enable the successful completion of an infrastructure project which crossed under a river and an area of high archaeological potential.

    • Energy: Aboriginal Partnership with Ontario Power Generation

      Assisted a First Nation to develop an equity partnership between its wholly-owned energy development company and Ontario Power Generation for a 25 MW hydroelectric power project, bringing investment to the community, contract opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and training and employment for First Nations.

    • Energy: Aboriginal Participation in Hydroelectric Extension Project

      Negotiated and drafted an Impact Benefit Agreement for a hydroelectric extension project, resulting in contracts for Aboriginal businesses, training and employment, and investment in First Nation communities.

    • Energy: Advocacy to Change Preferred Pipeline Route

      Advocated for a group of developers before the Ontario Pipeline Coordination Committee, resulting in a change of preferred route that avoids impacts to our client, the environment, and adjacent land use.

    • Environmental: Corporate D&Os Ordered to Clean-Up Waste

      Representing former directors and officers of a company ordered by an environmental regulator to clean-up waste stored at a property no longer owned by the company.

    • Environmental: Application by Conservation Authority to Elevate Environmental Assessment

      Assisted a conservation authority to apply successfully to elevate a class Environmental Assessment to an individual Environmental Assessment for a proposed road development.

    • Environmental: Settlement for Industrial Company Charged Under Sewer Use By-Law

      Defended an industrial client charged with 60 counts under the City of Toronto Sewer Use by-law, resulting in a favourable settlement and implementation of changes to the wastewater system that brought our client into regulatory compliance.

    • Environmental: Settlement for Municipality on Drinking Water Compliance

      Represented a municipality about Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act compliance, resulting in a favourable settlement with the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, implementation of internal systems and due diligence for long-term compliance and improved relations with the Ministry.

    • Environmental: Municipality Appeal of Official Plan Amendment

      Special counsel to a municipality to defend an appeal an Official Plan amendment at the Ontario Municipal Board, resulting in a favourable decision about Aboriginal consultation activities for the Official Plan amendment and road development.