Michelle Pockey

Michelle Pockey is a Partner with Fasken Martineau's Global Energy, Global Mining, Aboriginal, and Corporate Social Responsibility ('CSR') Law Practice Groups. She has more than 15 years of experience as a litigation and business lawyer.

Michelle primarily advises project proponents, including joint venture partnerships involving First Nations, on obtaining project development and operational approvals. She also advises operating facilities on the environmental and regulatory aspects of operating, decommissioning, reclamation and project closure.

Through her involvements with several resource projects and industry organizations in Western and Northern Canada, particularly in the mining and energy sectors, Michelle has developed strong relationships of trust with all levels of government, regulators, First Nations groups, local community leaders, and NGOs that have proven beneficial to clients seeking to advance resource development projects. Michelle's strong understanding of corporate matters, risk factors, political influences, and the environmental and regulatory landscape in Canada contribute to her sensitivity to the interests of all project stakeholders and her delivery of helpful and respected strategic advice supporting clients to obtain timely project approvals, increase certainty, and minimize risk. Michelle offers practical, sound and often innovative win-win solutions to difficult regulatory, cultural, policy and political challenges faced by project proponents. She develops and help clients to implement effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies and internal policies . Michelle has appeared for a variety of clients before the B.C. Environmental Appeal Board, the Yukon Water Board and various environmental assessment authorities to obtain project approvals.

Michelle also helps clients to assess and minimize environmental risk in and business transactions and commercial arrangements. She supports clients in the resolution of matters concerning contaminated property and has acted in precedent-setting complex, multi-party contaminated site litigation to resolve issues of responsibility and liability for contaminated land. Michelle regularly advises with respect to waste management and compliance with environmental laws. She has appeared in all levels of court in B.C. and in other jurisdictions, and has successfully defended individuals and organizations against alleged environmental and other regulatory offences.

Michelle is a frequent and respected speaker and publisher on topics in environmental law. She serves a director and an advisory board member for several B.C. businesses and business associations. She is a founder and the National Chair of the Professional Women's Network with chapters in Vancouver and Calgary, and Michelle has been nominated for several significant awards in the B.C. business community and in 2011, she was the recipient of the World of Difference 100 Awards from The International Alliance for Women for her efforts to advance the economic empowerment of women.