Jean Yuen*

Jean is a Shareholder practicing primarily in the area of Indigenous Law, with a special emphasis on First Nations economic development.  She is ranked as a leading Canadian Indigenous Law lawyer by LEXPERT and has extensive experience in advising on land issues and development projects in respect of reserve land.  She has assisted both First Nations and developers in structuring partnerships and other business arrangements to pursue commercial and residential developments on reserve land, and advised lenders in securing their loans for on reserve projects.

As well as economic development matters, Jean routinely advises on First Nations governance and property taxation matters and assists First Nations in the drafting of laws, policies and codes and in negotiating road tenure, protocol, accommodation and impacts and benefits agreements.

A substantial part of Jean’s practice involves commercial leasing, both in relations to First Nations lands and fee simple lands.

Professional Activities

Recipient of the 2023 YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Reconciliation in Action (Ally) category

Author of “Chapter 13, Real Estate Development on First Nations Lands” in CLE British Columbia Real Estate Development Practice Manual

Member of BCREA Standard Forms First Nations Leasehold Land Task Force (2021)

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Real Estate Development Update 2023”, CLEBC, June 2023

Presenter, “Leases on First Nations Lands” for the Pacific Business & Law Institute‘s Future of Commercial Leasing 2023 seminar, May 2023

Presenter, “Leasing Structure”, PBLI Conference, September 2021

Presenter, “Development on Reserve Lands”; Hot Topics in Real Estate Development, PBLI Conference, September 2019

Speaker, “Conveyance of Leasehold Interests in First Nations Lands”, CLEBC, December 2018

Co-Presenter, “Development on First Nation Lands”; Hot Topics in Real Estate Development, PBLI Conference, October 2015

Speaker, “Structuring a Residential Development on Reserve Land – Issues to Consider”; Agassiz Harrison Area First Nations Business Forum, October 2015

Co-Chair and Speaker, “Which Land Regime Are You In?”; Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands, PBLI Conference, February 2014