The Top 25 Most Influential 2019 winner
Partner, Gowling WLG, Hamilton
As national leader of Gowling WLG’s Indigenous Law Group, Jaimie Lickers was the first Indigenous woman admitted to the partnership and is the first Indigenous professional to hold a management position. She advances First Nations’ wealth, economic development and autonomy through her work structuring and drafting trusts for more than 25 First Nations, collectively holding assets of $1 billion. She advances First Nations’ rights through appearances at the SCC on landmark cases: Daniels v. Canada as co-counsel for the Assembly of First Nations on the question of whether Métis and non-status Indians are “Indians” under the Constitution, Clyde River and Chippewas of the Thames v. Enbridge as co-counsel for the Chiefs of Ontario on the question of the adequacy of consultation in relation to a pipeline development. Lickers fought for the rights of non-status Indians who applied for membership in Canada’s newest First Nation, the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band, through judicial review applications challenging the enrollment process and in Foster and Howse v. The Queen, which challenged 6,000 decisions to deny membership based on technical irregularities.
