Sandra Gogal has a nationally recognized practice in Aboriginal and environmental law. She has extensive experience advising mining, energy, oil, gas, and engineering companies, lenders, and investors, as well as provincial and federal government agencies, on Aboriginal, regulatory, and hydro-electric and wind power, forestry, and mining project matters.
Sandra has a combined 20 years’ experience in-house with the Government of Ontario, and in private practice advising on resource developments across Canada. She has advised general counsel on matters relating to Aboriginal rights and consultation, environmental assessments, regulatory matters, government relations, and negotiations. She has negotiated several successful commercial arrangements, impact and benefit agreements, and partnerships between industry and First Nations on major Canadian hydro-electric projects and mining projects. Sandra is published and continues to be a frequent presenter on Aboriginal and environmental law to Insight, Canadian Institute, Canada Forum, and the Conference Board of Canada in relation to Aboriginal matters and current legal updates.
In 2013, in anticipation of the new regulatory framework legalizing cannabis, Sandra forged a new Cannabis Industy Group at Miller Thomson and quickly developed an expertise in Cannabis regulatory compliance and licensing. In collaboration with the firm’s team of legal experts, she provides legal and strategic advice to local, national and international companies with respect to developing cannabis operations in Canada. Now recognized as a subject matter expert, she has spoken at a number of North American forums on evolving Cannabis law in Canada.
Sandra has been recognized by her peers in The Best Lawyers in Canada since 2008 for Aboriginal and environmental law. Chambers Global has named her a leading lawyer in Aboriginal law since 2013. She is the Past Chair for the Canadian Bar Association’s Aboriginal Law section and a leader in Aboriginal law at Miller Thomson.
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Professional achievements & leadership
- Chambers Canada ranked lawyer, Aboriginal Law, 2016 – 2019
- The Best Lawyers in Canada – Aboriginal Law, 2006 – 2019
- The Best Lawyers in Canada – Environmental Law, 2006 – 2019
- Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in Canada – Aboriginal Law, 2015
- Chambers Global ranked lawyer, Aboriginal Law, 2013 – 2018
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Aboriginal Law, 2012 – 2018
- Past Branch Vice-President, Atlantic Provinces Arbitration and Mediation Institute Inc.
- Co-Chair, Miller Thomson National Aboriginal Law group
Thought leadership
- SCC Affirms Ontario’s Jurisdiction to “Take Up” Lands in Treaty 3, Aboriginal Law Update, August 2014
- Injunctions Issued Against Companies for Lack of Aboriginal Consultation, Aboriginal Law Update, March 2012
- The Implications of the Decision in Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources, The 2012 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2012
- Keewatin v. Minister of Natural Resources 2011 ONSC 4801 – Case Summary, Aboriginal Law Update, August 2011
- New Draft Requirements for Aboriginal Consultation on Renewable Energy Projects, Aboriginal Law Update, August 2011
- Resource Revenue Sharing in the Context of Consultation Requirements, Key Developments in Environmental Law 2008-2009 (Toronto: Canada Law Book), 2009
- The Platinex Decisions – The New Accommodation?, Aboriginal Law Update, September 2007
- Incorporation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Environmental Assessment Process, EnviroNotes!, Spring 2007
- Aboriginal Impact and Benefit Agreements: Practical Considerations, (2005) 43 Alta. L. Rev. 129, 2005
Professional memberships
- Law Society of Newfoundland
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Past Chair, Canadian Bar Association, Aboriginal Law Section
- Advisory Board, Counsel on Corporate Aboriginal Relations: Conference Board of Canada
- Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association
- Ontario Mining Association
- Mining Association of Canada
- Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
- Executive Member, Canadian Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Aboriginal and Environmental, Energy and Resource Law Section
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario Bar, 2005
- Newfoundland Bar, 1992
- LL.B., Dalhousie University, 1991
- B.A., Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1988