Kennedy A. Bear Robe
Partner
- Year of Call, Northwest Territories (2021)
- Year of Call, Ontario (2021)
- Year of Call, Alberta (2015)
- Year of Call, British Columbia (2013)
Bio
Kennedy A. Bear Robe is a partner in Gowling WLG's Vancouver and Toronto offices.
Kennedy's accomplishments have been recognized in the 2022 and 2023 editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ (Indigenous Law). His current practice focuses on major energy and natural resource projects, and strategies to exercise Indigenous jurisdictions and authorities relating to environmental assessment, approvals and operations & maintenance.
Kennedy has a strong track record of successfully advising clients in federal and provincial regulatory hearings, and related litigation. Kennedy has appeared as counsel before the Federal Court of Appeal, and the British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario provincial courts.
During the Resource Revenue Sharing negotiations in Ontario, Kennedy acted for the Government of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3 as its lead counsel and negotiator. Kennedy also advised the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3 on its Relationship Agreement with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.
Kennedy's negotiation skills relating to Inherent, Aboriginal and Treaty rights is widely acknowledged. He has negotiated precedent-setting agreements between Indigenous governments, federal government/regulators, provincial and territorial governments/regulators, and private companies. As negotiation counsel, Kennedy is also involved in the legal aspects of succesfully implementing those agreements.
Kennedy is currently lead counsel to Indigenous Nations negotiating self-government agreements, regulatory cooperation and coordination agreements, resource revenue sharing agreements, and leading IBAs with private companies. Additional ongoing client work has Kennedy leading legal teams for several major environmental assessments and permitting, and as litigation counsel relating to environmental and Indigenous law matters.
Kennedy serves on the Board of Directors for the Siksika Group of Companies.
Kennedy is Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot), a member of the Siksika Nation, a proud dad, and loves hunting, reading and art. He is also the Commissioner of Gowling WLG’s (Vancouver) Office Fantasy Football League.