Melanee Bryniawsky

First Year of Call
British Columbia Bar (2021)

Areas of Practice
Corporate & Commercial Law

Description
Melanee’s practice focuses on negotiation and advocacy for the implementation of Aboriginal rights and interests including economic development, resource management, governance, and government-to-government relationships.

Melanee’s practice centers largely on supporting Indigenous Nations, Indigenous entrepreneurs and the business community on a range of legal matters including business development; sustainable environmental practices; economic development; Nation governance; advice on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and negotiating impact and benefit agreements.

Melanee approaches her practice with a central focus on helping her Indigenous clients affirm and protect their Section 35 Rights as well as helping her non-Indigenous clients advance reconciliation in a meaningful way. Notably, Melanee played a central role in negotiating a novel project-specific environmental assessment process with the Province of BC for her client that is designed and led by the Nation, reflective of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and involves co-decision-making between the Nation and the Province.