Partner
John A. Doolan *
Office
Vancouver
Key Practice Area
First Nations Business Law, Real Estate, Corporate & Commercial
Year of Call
1987
*A LAW CORPORATION
Qualifications
British Columbia Bar (1987)
Education
University of British Columbia (LL.B., 1986)
Mr. Doolan is a highly respected real estate lawyer with extensive experience in real estate and Indigenous business law matters. He regularly advises First Nation governments, First Nation economic development entities, national First Nation organizations, developers, financial institutions and governments on a broad range of Indigenous business, real estate, development and governance matters. He has acted on many of the most significant Indigenous business transactions in Canada and is widely recognized for his role as a trusted advisor and for having deep experience and knowledge and a practical, strategic approach.
- Lexpert Leading Lawyers in Canada – Aboriginal Law; Real Estate – Commercial Leasing; Real Estate Property Development (2026)
- The Best Lawyers in Canada – Real Estate Law (2018 – 2026); Aboriginal/Indigenous Practice (2020 – 2026)
- Member of the Law Society of British Columbia
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association
- Acting for the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre on its development of a new First Nation Land Governance Registry for Land Code and Self-Governing First Nations.
- Acting as external commercial counsel to Tsawwassen First Nation on structuring, planning, development approvals and regulation, economic development, joint ventures, requests for proposals, leasing and a wide variety of commercial matters since the adoption of its 2009 Final Agreement, including advising on the Nation’s industrial land leases and developments and the Tsawwassen Mills shopping centre development.
- Advising on the establishment of the Tsuut’ina Nation – Canderel Real Estate limited partnership for the Taza Development on 1,200 acres of Tsuut’ina Nation reserve land south-west of Calgary and related structuring, planning, leasing and development matters.
- Acting for Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation on major real estate leases and developments, land designations, development approval processes and a wide range of commercial and business law matters for over 25 years.
- Acting for CMHC as project leader on the Senakw development on 10.5 acres of Squamish Nation lands in downtown Vancouver.