As a lawyer at Woodward and Company, Matt’s main focus is representing First Nations with respect to asserting and proving their Aboriginal title and rights through litigation and negotiation. Backed by his commitment to working with First Nations to protect Aboriginal and treaty rights, he’s also keenly interested in First Nations governance, law development, and furthering the self-government initiatives of First Nations.

Matt first started working with Woodward and Company in 2010 as a co-op student. He received his law degree from the University of Victoria in 2011 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in August 2012 after completing his articles with Woodward & Company. He graduated with a degree in sociology from the University of Lethbridge in 2007, where he received the Dean’s List Scholarship and graduated with Great Distinction for outstanding academic achievement.

As an articled student, Matt assisted Dominique Nouvet and Jay Nelson with the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s successful injunction application against Taseko Mines Ltd. in the Taseko Mines Ltd. v. Phillips case (2011) which prevented Taseko from conducting further “exploratory work” in Tsilhqot’in territory until adequate consultation had taken place.

Matt is a member and a Director at Large of the CBA Aboriginal Law, Vancouver Island Subsection and regularly volunteers at the Access Pro Bono legal advice clinic in Victoria.

Selected Cases, Presentations & Publications