Sarah Pivnick

Sarah Pivnick is a corporate, commercial and real estate lawyer based in Gowling WLG’s Vancouver office with a practice focused on helping Indigenous Nations and businesses structure, negotiate and implement complex commercial transactions. She regularly advises on Indigenous equity participation in resource development projects, joint ventures, limited partnerships, corporate reorganizations and other business structures designed to support long-term economic development. She works closely with economic development corporations and Indigenous businesses to develop practical legal solutions that reflect each Nation's commercial objectives.

Sarah also advises on corporate governance, commercial agreements and business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, share and asset purchases, financing arrangements and corporate restructurings. Her experience includes establishing limited partnerships and other business entities, negotiating commercial agreements with industry partners, and advising on governance matters for both Indigenous organizations and private businesses.

In addition, Sarah has significant experience advising on reserve land matters, including land designation, financing and operation of community housing and other Nation-led initiatives. Her background in commercial real estate and financing allows her to provide practical advice where land, governance and business objectives intersect, particularly on projects involving Indigenous economic development.

Before returning to private practice, Sarah held senior legal and regulatory roles with several professional regulatory bodies, where she advised on governance, compliance and administrative law matters. Combined with her earlier career as a chemical engineer, this broad experience enables her to bring a practical, solutions-focused approach to complex legal issues and to work effectively with clients across a wide range of industries.