Overview
Megan has a diverse commercial litigation practice with a focus on environmental, Aboriginal and administrative law matters. In her practice, Megan represents clients in complex litigation proceedings relating to environmental assessments, Aboriginal rights and title issues, regulatory matters, major resource projects and administrative decision-making. Megan’s advocacy includes representing clients before the Federal Court of Appeal and the British Columbia Supreme Court, as well as federal regulatory bodies.
Prior to her career as a lawyer, Megan pursued her passion for business strategy and development as Aboriginal Engagement Strategist for Park Derochie in Edmonton; Global Resettlement Policy Analyst and Global Indigenous Policy Writer for Royal Dutch Shell in Calgary; and Policy Intern for the City of Edmonton’s Planning and Development Department.
Megan is the recipient of numerous academic and community involvement awards, including the Hon. Justice Grant Burnyeat Award in Law, Indigenous Law Students Award, Law Foundation First Nations Award, Harold F. and Anne Bedner Uphill Scholarship in Law, and the Métis Foundation Métis Scholar Award.
Notable matters
- Counsel for the Defendants in Lanyard Investments Inc. v 2328884 Ontario Ltd., 2019 BCSC 601. Successfully set aside a default judgment obtained by the Plaintiffs on the basis that there was a “real possibility” that there was no legal basis for the loan transaction at issue.
- Counsel for the Defendants in Paolucci Holdings Ltd. v Girard Insurance & Financial Service Inc., 2018 BCSC 1810. Successfully argued that a failure to file proof of service with an application for a default judgment is fatal and the default judgment must be set aside, even if the defendant has been properly served. In this case, the Defendants were served with the Notice of Civil Claim; however, the affidavit filed in support of the application for default judgment inadvertently referred to service of a demand letter rather than service of the Notice of Civil Claim.
- Counsel for the Respondent in Technical Safety BC v Simply Green Home Services (BC) Inc., 2020 BCSC 2157. Succeeded in upholding a decision of the British Columbia Safety Standards Appeal Board to vary a monetary penalty imposed by the Petitioner Technical Safety BC on appeal.
- Counsel for the Plaintiff in More Core Diamond Drilling Services Ltd. v 973613 Alberta Ltd., 2020 BCSC 1760. Obtained summary judgment against the defendant and an award of special costs against a non-party representative of the defendant.
- Co-counsel for the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation before the Federal Court of Appeal in Tsleil-Waututh Nation v. Canada (Attorney General), 2018 FCA 153. Successfully overturned the Governor in Council’s decision to approve the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project on that basis that the Crown failed to adequately consult and address impacts from the project on the Nation’s Aboriginal rights and title.
- Co-counsel for the Plaintiffs in Ignace v British Columbia (Attorney General), 2019 BCSC 10 in which the Court ruled that the Plaintiffs’ Indigenous elders could present deposition evidence as a panel in accordance with their traditional customs and practices.
Corporate directorships
- Executive Member, Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Aboriginal Law – Vancouver Section
- Executive Member, Vancouver Bar Association
Professional memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- Law Society of British Columbia
Bar admissions & education
- British Columbia Bar, 2017
- J.D., University of British Columbia, 2016
- B.A., Political Science, University of Alberta, 2013
- Jazz Diploma, Vocal Performance, Grant MacEwan University, 2011
