Areas of Practice
We offer a variety of services to First Nations in the areas of litigation, negotiation, advisory and solicitor services.
- Litigation
As experienced litigators, the team at Rana Law assists First Nations in advancing and protecting their Treaty and Aboriginal rights through the courts. We represent First Nations in a wide variety of legal proceedings, from judicial review applications and injunctions to complex Treaty interpretation litigation.
Some of our litigation involves extensive documentary production relating to events that took place over a century ago, and we work with expert historians and other social scientists to assist the court in interpreting this vast historical record.
We also work closely with social scientists in the collection of oral history for claims that require oral history evidence, and we assist First Nations in documenting their land use and occupancy when this evidence will assist with litigation.
In addition, Rana Law represents First Nations members who advance constitutional defenses to hunting and fishing charges. We also represent First Nations in contract disputes and other types of civil claims.
- Negotiation
Negotiation forms a significant part of our practice. As trained negotiators, we represent First Nations that are negotiating claims in Canada's Specific Claims process, including Treaty Land Entitlement claims. Our work in the Specific Claims process has a significant community component. To facilitate community consultation throughout the negotiation process, we deliver presentations at community meetings, design and host information workshops and assist with preparing newsletters and other communication materials. We recognize the importance of community involvement in the claims process and work closely with leadership to develop meaningful opportunities for membership to participate in land selection processes and working groups.
We have extensive experience in representing First Nations in negotiations with government and industry on various jurisdictional, land management, consultation and resource development issues. We represent First Nations in the negotiation of impact benefit agreements with project proponents and accommodation agreements with government. Our work with First Nations involved in environmental assessment processes often requires the negotiation of agreements that define a role for First Nations in the environmental assessment of major projects.
- Advisory and Solicitor Services
Our goal is to provide comprehensive services to our clients by understanding how each legal service we are tasked with fits within the First Nations' overall plans and priorities. We provide ongoing legal advice to First Nations on land and resource management issues, assist in developing and implementing consultation processes, and advise First Nations on their participation in various regulatory processes.
We also offer the following services:
• Providing legal advice to First Nations on governance matters including drafting governance codes, election codes, and bylaws.
• Providing legal advice on various Indian Act matters, including those involving Indian status and Band membership.
• Structuring and drafting comprehensive trust agreements for the long-term management of settlement funds, including working with First Nations to ensure extensive community participation in the structuring of settlement trusts.