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HEATHER MAKI
Associate Lawyer
EXPERTISE
Heather has broad litigation experience involving environmental and Aboriginal law, complex commercial disputes, regulatory matters and public law. She regularly advises clients on issues relating to Aboriginal rights and title, treaty rights, consultation and accommodation and litigation risk management in relation to resource development, energy and infrastructure projects. Heather has significant experience in high profile litigation, including defending an environmental class action concerning industrial operations and acting as class counsel in litigation concerning drinking water advisories on First Nation reserves.
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Prior to joining Iris Legal, Heather worked at a national firm and clerked at the Supreme Court of British Columbia. She was awarded the Law Society of BC Gold Medal for obtaining the highest cumulative grade point average in her graduating law school year. Heather was awarded prizes in several courses, including constitutional law and civil procedure, won the Outstanding First Year Moot Prize after standing out among her peers, and competed in the Wilson Moot.
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SELECT EXPERIENCE
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A member of class counsel for a historic class proceeding that resulted in an $8 billion settlement to address water infrastructure issues and long-term drinking water advisories on First Nation reserves.
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Acted as defence counsel for an industrial proponent in relation to a proposed environmental class proceeding.
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Assisted with responding to a federal judicial review application relating to Indigenous consultation obligations and the approval of a mine development.
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Advised provincial governments and proponents on issues relating to Aboriginal rights and title, treaty rights, consultation and accommodation and litigation risk management including:
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Indigenous consultation obligations in relation to elected and hereditary leadership;
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Indigenous consultation accommodation obligations in relation to cumulative effects; and
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litigation risk management and Indigenous consultation obligations in relation to asserted Aboriginal rights and title to subsurface rights.
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EDUCATION​
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Thompson Rivers University, J.D., 2020
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King's University, BA with Distinction, 2015
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King's University, Micah Certificate in Justice and Development, 2015
MORE ABOUT HEATHER
Heather is passionate about backcountry snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing and spending time in nature. In her spare time, she can often be found exploring western Canada and beyond with her partner and dog in their Sprinter camper van.