Nick Leeson is an associate with Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP practicing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT). He was called to the bar in Alberta in 2010 and he has since been called to the bar in Nunavut and the NWT.
Nick joined OKT in 2018. Prior to his time with OKT, he gained experience working in a range of legal settings, including with a large national law firm and with the territorial government of both Nunavut and the NWT. In addition to having extensive experience in the negotiation of resource developments, he has appeared as lead counsel before the courts of the Province of Alberta and the Territories of Nunavut and the NWT. In various capacities, Nick has worked with First Nations clients across Canada’s North for nearly a decade.
Nick is currently practicing in the areas of Indigenous rights and environmental law advising clients on Indigenous rights and claims, environmental matters and self-government issues. He works in negotiation and litigation in a variety of areas that includes, treaties, lands and resources, governance issues, regulatory processes, and human rights.
Outside of his legal and policy work with OKT, Nick has experience on the board of directors for several non-profit and professional organizations, as well as having served as the former President of the NWT Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA). He was previously the CBA National Representative for Northern Canada on the Legal Aid Liaison Commission and has chaired the CBA National, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law section. He actively serves as an adjudicator and panel member for a number of administrative tribunals, including the Social Assistance and Property Assessment Boards of the NWT.
Nick also has experience in general litigation, child welfare and family law.
He holds a JD from the University of British Columbia, a bachelor’s degree from Western University, and a Masters of Public Administration with the University of Queen’s School of Policy Studies.
