The evolving legal landscape can make the forestry business in Canada and the United States complex and difficult. Our Forestry Law group is well-versed in these complications. The team possesses the legal expertise, experience, and network of connections to help clients efficiently finance, execute, and deliver projects and agreements in all areas of the forestry business.
Our team possesses intimate knowledge of the forestry products industry and has a long track record working with land developers, First Nations, forestry companies, land owners, forest contractors and forest licensees across Canada and the United States. Our clients range from community forests and small tenure holders to Fortune 500 companies.
One of our key advantages is experience within the forestry industry. Our Forestry Group Chair spent several years as in-house counsel for some of the world’s largest forest product companies. We don’t just know the business, we have been in the business, working hand in hand with operations and management to gain a practical, real-world understanding of how forestry businesses operate. We take this firsthand lens and apply it to our clients’ legal problems, helping them achieve their goals and successfully navigate challenges as they arise.
Another key component of our forestry law service is the diverse range of legal expertise we offer as a firm. Business in the forestry industry often requires legal advice in several areas, collaboration between parties, and flexibility to think outside the box to get a deal done. On many projects, we work closely with colleagues who specialize in Indigenous law, finance, mergers and acquisitions, labour and employment and real estate law to provide comprehensive legal advice and strategy. From drafting commercial agreements and advising on financing forestry projects, to structuring joint ventures and working on impact benefit agreements, our team can provide tailored legal services for businesses and licensees of all sizes.
Services
- Forest policy analysis and response
- Regulatory compliance and monitoring, and development of policies and procedures to ensure compliance
- Structuring joint ventures, limited partnerships and other business vehicles for the acquisition and disposition of tenure and the joint pursuit of various forestry-related businesses
- Subdivision, purchase & sale of forest tenure
- Commercial agreements tailored to your business deal, including:
- tenure management agreements;
- attribution agreements between licensees;
- disposition and other agreements with BC Timber Sales;
- market logging agreements;
- facilities and road use agreements;
- fiber supply, and the purchase and sale of logs and residuals;
- equipment purchase and financing;
- impact benefit agreements and forestry project agreements with Indigenous stakeholders and for Indigenous tenure-holders and Indigenous-owned forestry businesses
- Services contracts for all forestry-related activities, including forestry & engineering work, harvesting, road building, hauling, brushing, pile burning, towing, sorting and scaling
- Advice regarding compliance with the Timber Harvesting Contract and Subcontract Regulation (B.C.)
