Nick Leeson

Nick Leeson is an associate with Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP practicing in Yellowknife of the Northwest Territories.

Nick joined OKT in 2018.  Before his time with OKT, he worked with a large national law firm, as well as the territorial governments of both Nunavut and the NWT.  He spends much of his time in the communities he works with and has experience with diverse legal contexts, including historical treaties, modern land claim agreements, Indigenous rights litigation, and a broad range of Indigenous legal systems. In various capacities, Nick has worked with First Nations and Inuit clients across Northern Canada for nearly a decade.

Nick is currently practicing in the areas of Indigenous and environmental law, advising clients on Indigenous rights and claims, environmental matters and self-governance issues. He works in negotiation and litigation in a variety of areas, including lands and resources, regulatory processes, administrative law, treaties, and human rights. His advice includes governance issues, employment matters, and legislative development. In addition to extensive experience in the negotiation of resource developments, Nick has appeared as lead counsel before the courts of Alberta, Nunavut and NWT.

Nick has experience on the board of directors for several non-profit and professional organizations. He was previously the President of the NWT Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and served as the CBA National Representative for Northern Canada on the Legal Aid Liaison Commission. Nick has chaired multiple CBA committees, including the National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Section. Currently, he actively serves on community boards, such as the Audit Committee for the City of Yellowknife. Nick also has experience as an adjudicator for multiple administrative tribunals, including the Student Financial, Social Assistance and Property Assessment Panels of the NWT.

Nick was called to the Bar in Alberta in 2010 and is currently a member of the bar in the NWT and Nunavut. He holds a JD from the University of British Columbia, a bachelor’s degree from Western University, and a Master’s of Public Administration from Queen’s University.