David Khan
Litigation Counsel
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David Khan
- OfficeVancouver
- Phone604 443 3407
- Fax604 682 5217
- [email protected]
-
Legal Administrative Assistant
Mahsa Adibi
604 443 3438
[email protected]
Profile
David has wide-ranging experience representing First Nations governments in complex land and breach of Treaty claims before all levels of courts across Canada, including at the Supreme Court of Canada; the Federal Court and Court of Appeal; the Courts of Appeal of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories; the Courts of King’s Bench of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; the Supreme Courts of BC and the NWT; and the Provincial Court of Alberta; as well as before regulatory and administrative tribunals and in private arbitrations.
The relationships he’s developed have included representing and advising First Nations Chiefs and Councils and administration on diverse issues including employment, membership, and contested elections. David has drafted taxation, property assessment and custom election laws, and intervened in regulatory and permitting processes for resource development projects.
He has extensive knowledge of First Nations’ legal, business, administrative and cultural environments and broad political and government relations experience – having served as the Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party from 2017 to 2020. He has successfully settled breach of Treaty economic benefits claims and advanced other claims in the Specific Claims Tribunal through relationship-building and negotiation with federal Ministers and their officials. He has been a trusted commentator and regular pundit on national, regional and local TV and radio news and politics programs for many years.
David also has training and experience in complex corporate-commercial and environmental litigation matters. He is a called to the Bar in BC, Alberta, Manitoba and the NWT.
His passion is advancing the interests of First Nations and their citizens through experienced and sophisticated legal advice and representation – assisting them to achieve their goals. He wishes to be a part of their future success.
In his spare time, David enjoys nature and loves to escape to the mountains for hiking, cycling, alpine and Nordic skiing and kayaking. He recently cycled from Toronto to Montréal to raise money for charity. He can also be found in the kitchen making fresh pasta and baking sourdough loaves. He has been a volunteer board member of organizations such as Results Canada (which lobbies governments, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other institutions to end extreme poverty, improve health outcomes, and increase access to education and economic opportunity for all) and the Calgary International Film Festival. He speaks fluent French.
Expertise
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental Disputes
- Indigenous Law
Education
J.D., University of Toronto, 2005
Legal Studies, Central European University, 2004
B.Sc., University of British Columbia, 1996
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
Called to the Alberta Bar in 2006
Called to the Manitoba Bar in 2012
Called to the Northwest Territories Bar in 2012
Called to the British Columbia Bar in 2024
Member of the Canadian Bar Association