Experience, judgment, solutions:
We strive to bring added value to our client service by assisting clients to not only resolve today’s issues but also to prepare for the issues of tomorrow. Mr. Letcher and Ms. Akelaitis are recognized for environmental law in Best Lawyers in Canada 2023, in Lexpert 2023 and in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. Mr. Letcher and Ms. Akelaitis were also recognized for environmental law as national leaders in Who’s Who Legal Canada 2022. Gary Letcher has been at the center of many of the important environmental issues in British Columbia for some 30 years. Mr.Letcher has long experience in complex contaminated sites issues and was counsel for a multinational corporation in the resolution of the Britannia mine contaminated site. As commission counsel for British Columbia’s Wilderness Advisory Committee and Chair of the City of Vancouver’s groundbreaking Clouds of Change Committee, he has played a role in the development of sustainability principles in British Columbia. Andrea Akelaitis has been a leading counsel and advisor on contaminated sites, regulatory and air emissions in British Columbia and Alberta for over 15 years, Ms. Akelaitis and Mr. Letcher work on complex contaminated sites, recycling and waste management issues, environmental emergency issues, environmental assessment litigation and air contaminant/odour management issues.
The Letcher Akelaitis team is committed to working with clients to fashion effective solutions to complex and evolving environmental and regulatory challenges. We understand that many environmental issues, including contaminated lands, are about effectively responding to risk. We are experienced in guiding our clients through the process of identifying, valuing and effectively responding to risk.
The regulatory approach to waste management in Canada is rapidly evolving as sustainability moves from theory to practice. We understand that what yesterday was thought to be a waste disposal problem is today becoming a usable commodity opportunity. Drawing on decades of experience in waste management regulation, we work with our clients to foresee and assess those opportunities within an evolving regulatory landscape.
Environmental assessment and permitting, again, is about anticipating issues that may arise and efficiently and effectively preparing to meet those issues. Effective environmental advice is about more than answers; it is about anticipating the questions.
We provide strategic advice and act as litigation counsel on a full range of environmental issues. Areas of particular focus are:
- Contaminated sites management and litigation
- Recycling, waste management and sustainable food issues
- Environmental assessment and permitting
- Regulatory compliance and defence of environmental prosecutions
- Air emissions, industrial odour and nuisance management issues
- Sustainability
- Corporate governance and environmental management systems
- Environmental mediation and arbitration
Please refer to our “Who We Are” section for case examples or please call us.