Peter Jones*

Contact Details

Peter Jones

Assistant: Tara Amell

He/Him

As Finance partner at Woodward and Company, Peter maintains an active business practice and is counsel to many First Nations across Canada. His practice focuses on First Nations economic development and land matters, business, employment, and governance.

A creative thinker, Peter approaches each of his matters in innovative ways. Though litigation is sometimes the necessary outcome, his practice sees him pursue a variety of avenues when it comes to negotiations, problem solving, and conflict resolution—in and out of the courtroom.

Peter has represented clients in the Supreme and Provincial Courts of British Columbia and the Supreme Court of Canada; and appeared as counsel in the groundbreaking Cowichan Tribes v Canada aboriginal title court decision. Read more about the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Nation’s Legal Victory for Recognition of Title at Tl’uqtinus Village Lands and Aboriginal Right to Fish here. In addition, he has experience giving strategic and business advice to band councils.

Peter is one of the editors of the CLE Due Diligence Deskbook and is a past chair of the Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands organizing committee. He has also served on the boards of the CBA Civil Litigation and Aboriginal Law subsections.

Peter holds a law degree from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Music (with distinction) in music performance from the University of Victoria. He is called to the British Columbia, Manitoba and Yukon Bars. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his young family. He is also a professional musician and singer, and performs locally in the Victoria area (time permitting).

*Denotes a Law Corporation

Membership & Professional Affiliations

  • • Member, Law Society of British Columbia (2013)
    • Member, Law Society of Manitoba (2016)
    • Member, Law Society of Yukon (2021)

Practice Areas

  • Aboriginal and Treaty Rights
  • Aboriginal Title
  • Additions to Reserve
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Contaminated Sites
  • Corporate and Commercial Law
  • Election code
  • Employment and Human Rights
  • First Nation Constitutions, Laws & Policy
  • Governance support
  • Housing
  • Impact Benefit Agreements
  • Indigenous Legal Orders and Law
  • Land Code
  • Land Interests
  • Land Use Planning
  • Membership Code
  • Natural Resources
  • Protect Land and Resources and Support Specific Claims
  • Secured Transactions
  • Strategic Reconciliation Planning

Editor, CLE Due Diligence Deskbook, Chapter 24: “Searching First Nations Lands”

“First Nations and Local Government Relationships, a Path towards Meaningful Reconciliation”, presented to Pacific Business Law Institute, “Real Estate Development on First Nations Lands”, 2022, (updated) 2023

Co-Author (with Caolan Lemke and Christa Croos): “Recognition as Reconciliation: First Nations as Shareholders”, Continuing Legal Education British Columbia, 2024

Real Estate Development on First Nations Lands – “First Nations and Local Government Relationships: A Path Towards Meaningful Relationships” (November, 2022, November 2023)

Guest Judge, University of Victoria Law 1121: “Transsystemic Legal Processes, Research and Writing”, Negotiation Moot (2019)

Guest Lecturer, University of Victoria – Administrative Law Course: “Administrative Law in a First Nations Context” (2016 and 2017)

Counsel in the Cowichan Tribes et al v Canada (Attorney General), 2025 BCSC 1490 representing Cowichan Nation successfully ensuring recognition of Aboriginal Title for Tl’uqtinus Village Lands and Aboriginal Right to Fish.

Appeared on behalf of an intervener in Newfoundland and Labrodor (Attorney General) v Uashaunnuat (Innu of Uashat and of Mani Utenam), 2020 SCC 4

Former Chair, Victoria Battle of the Bar Bands Organizing Committee (2014-2022)

Former Section executive, CBA Aboriginal Law Vancouver Island Subsection and CBA Vancouver Island Civil Litigation Subsection