About
Merle practices Indigenous resource law, empowering Nations through title and rights affirmation, sustainable economic development, and environmental conservation.
Merle’s clients are looking for righteous advocacy, angular thinking, and relentless diplomacy. They want to be treated with the dignity of Indigenous Governments, not as warrior activists. His clients are Nations that uplift their jurisdiction and take their rightful seat at the economic and political table.
EXPERTISE
Merle is a ‘life of project’ lawyer assisting with negotiations of all stages of impact benefit agreements, joint ventures, regulatory engagement, traditional knowledge collection, and other corporate and tax-related advice. He supports clients in emerging government-to-government negotiations in all resource areas, including mining, oil and gas, forestry, pipelines, run-of-river, and hydro projects.
As a member of the co-development team for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in BC, a major component of Merle’s practice currently involves the ongoing legislative implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in BC and Canada.
WORTH NOTING
Merle’s raison d’etre is seeing the world through his two son’s wondrous eyes, constantly developing his fellowship, and “living life on life’s terms”.
Merle is often interviewed by media to speak about Indigenous legal issues. He prolifically and unabashedly communicates about this subject on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Credentials
- Called to the Bar in BC and Ontario, 2001
- Called to the Bar in Yukon, 2002
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Specializing in Indigenous Economic Rights, University of Victoria, 1999
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), Political Science, University of Victoria, 1994
- Probono Indigenous negotiator/diplomat in two United Nations areas: Convention on Biological Diversity (environmental treaty) and World Intellectual Property Organization (protection of Indigenous knowledge and culture through IP law) for over a decade
- Chair, Board of Governors, University of Victoria
- Director, Lawyers Assistance Program
- Committee Member, Climate Engagement Canada Responsible Investment Association
- Former Director of: Ocean Networks Canada; Vancouver Native Health Society Foundation; West Coast Environmental Law; Coast Opportunity Fund; Vancouver Native Housing Society; Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society; and various First Nations economic development corporations
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Recognized in Chambers Canada, Band 1, Aboriginal Law - Representation of Indigenous Peoples, 2025
- Recognized in Best Lawyers, Aboriginal Law/ Indigenous Practice, 2025
- Recognized in Benchmark Litigation Canada as a Litigation Star, 2024
- Recognized in Chambers Canada, Band 2, Aboriginal Law - Representation of Indigenous Peoples, 2024
- Recognized by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the area of Indigenous Law, Since 2012
- Recognized by Business in Vancouver’s BC500, the 500 most influential business leaders in BC, as a Leader in Law – Indigenous Rights, Since 2021
- Recipient of Kings Counsel Designation
- Recognized as a leading practitioner in Aboriginal and mining law by Lexpert & Chambers Canada
- Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of UVic for Law
- Co-editor of The Taxation and Financing of Aboriginal Businesses in Canada
⁺Merle C. Alexander Law Corporation
Areas of Practice
