Letha Maclachlan

Firm Biographies

Letha J. MacLachlan, Q.C.

Letha MacLachlan is a Calgary based lawyer with 40 years of northern experience, almost 30 of which has been as a practicing lawyer.  She specializes in environmental and resource regulation.

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Calgary – 1980
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of British Columbia – 1971

 

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Law Society of Alberta (since 1982)
  • Law Society of the Northwest Territories (since 1982)
  • Law Society of Newfoundland (1989 – 1991)
  • Law Society of Nunavut (since 1999)
  • Law Society of Yukon (since 2011)

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Member, International Bar Association (since 2010)
  • Member, Institute of Corporate Directors (since 2008)
  • Member, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (since 1995)
  • Member (past), Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals (1986 – 1988: 1999 – 2004)

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

  • Chair, federal Environmental Assessment Panel that reviewed the BHP Diamonds Project in the NWT from 1994 to 1996.
  • Legal advisor to the joint panels reviewing the environmental and socio-economic effects of the
    • Cheviot Coal Mine Project (2000) and
    • Mackenzie Gas Project (2004 – 2010).
  • Legal and strategic advisor to a number of mining companies in NWT, Nunavut, Yukon and Ontario on matters related to environmental assessment, public review processes, regulation, and land access and impact benefit agreements with aboriginal communities.

 

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

as a regulator:

  • the NWT Water Board (1995 – 1998)
  • the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (2001 – 2004)
  • Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (acting member since 2010)

 

as a Board member:

  • Environmental Law Centre (1997 – 2006),
  • Arctic Institute of North America (1997 – 2002)
  • Gwich’in Arbitration Board (1993 – 1999)
  • Nunavut Arbitration Board (1994 – 2006)
  • Canadian Nature Federation (1986 – 1990 and 1992 – 1994)
  • Geological Survey of Canada Advisory Committee (2004 – 2008)
  • Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (1985 – 1987)
  • Calgary Youth Orchestra (2003 – 2006)
  • Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2008)

Ms. MacLachlan was also a member of the board of directors of Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc., a public company that was Canada’s largest renewable energy producer prior to being taken over by TransAlta in 2009.