Rosanne practises in the area of Aboriginal Law. She has been a trusted advisor to Indigenous clients for over 30 years, representing First Nations in litigation, negotiations, regulatory processes for resource development projects and consultation processes.
Reconciliation
Rosanne has appeared at every level of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and has been legal counsel on a number of first-of-their-kind First Nation reconciliation agreements in British Columbia, including the first consent-based decision-making agreements under BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
It has been her privilege to work collaboratively with her clients for over 30 years, to help achieve reconciliation of their section 35 rights.
Recognition
Recognized as a leading lawyer in the Aboriginal law field in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for several years, Rosanne has also been repeatedly listed in Best Lawyers in Canada, the Doyle Guide, and Chambers Canada. In 2022, Canadian Lawyer named Rosanne in its list of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers 2022. She was also asked to become a “Woman for Nature” with Nature Canada, in recognition of her work in the Aboriginal and environmental law fields.
Rosanne was appointed King’s Counsel in 2023.
Regulatory Work
In addition to representing First Nations in court, Rosanne also has been counsel to First Nations before regulatory bodies such as energy boards and environmental assessment panels.
Years of Call
Rosanne Kyle, KC was called to the bar in Ontario in 1993, British Columbia in 1996, and Alberta in 2012.
Membership & Professional Affiliations
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia, 1996 – present
- Former Member, Law Society of Alberta, 2012 – 2024
- Former Member, Law Society of Upper Canada, 1993 – 1996
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia’s Retention of Women in the Law Task Force (May 2008-August 2009)
Education
- LL.M., with focus on Aboriginal issues, University of British Columbia (1996)
- LL.B., with Distinction, University of Western Ontario (1991)
- B.A. (Honours) with Distinction, McMaster University (1988)
Representative Work
Rosanne has appeared as litigation counsel in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario courts, including at the Supreme Court of Canada and other appellate courts. She successfully represented Lac Seul First Nation at the Supreme Court of Canada in Southwind v. Canada, a breach of fiduciary duty case resulting from the illegal flooding of reserve lands.
Her work in reconciliation and Treaty negotiations with the Crown has included representing shishalh Nation in a groundbreaking Foundation Agreement, and Tahltan Nation in the first ever consent-based decision-making agreements with British Columbia.
Rosanne has also been counsel to First Nations before regulatory bodies such as the National Energy Board (now Canadian Energy Regulator) and environmental assessment processes, including for the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project, the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and the Site C Dam.
She is also a former adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and a former guest lecturer at Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria. She has published a number of articles on Aboriginal law issues, and is a regular speaker at conferences across the country.