Practice Expertise

  • Aboriginal Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mining

Areas of Practice

  • Aboriginal Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mining
  • Native Peoples
  • Natural Resources
  • Project Law
  • View More

Profile

Chris advises on acquisitions and dispositions of mines and mining companies, project development and mine operations throughout Canada and the world. He has assisted in the structuring and negotiation of hundreds of transactions, including farm-ins and joint ventures, corporate acquisitions and mergers and royalty sales. He has extensive experience with all legal aspects of the development, construction and financing of mines (including diamonds, coal and uranium), royalties, marketing contracts, ore sales contracts, impact benefit agreements with Aboriginals and environmental and regulatory matters. Chris has experience with tendering for mineral concessions and negotiating mining contracts with sovereign governments. His practice also includes acting as an expert witness in mining-related litigation.

Bar Admissions
British Columbia (1977)
Northwest Territories (1994)
Nunavut (1999)

Education
University of Alberta (B.A., 1973)
University of Toronto (J.D., 1976)

Areas of Practice

  • Aboriginal Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mining
  • Native Peoples
  • Natural Resources
  • Project Law

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
In 2010, represented the buyer of a gold project in Mexico and the sellers of a nickel project in Indonesia, a gold and silver mine in Mexico and a gold mine in Chile and joint ventures and/or project development in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru and Serbia and provided three expert witness opinions for litigation purposes

Represented a Consortium of Korean companies on a strategic investment in a copper mine in Mexico

Represented the seller of a portfolio of royalties on mineral properties in Spain, Tasmania, Australia, the United States and Canada

Represented the seller of a royalty on a Mexican silver mine

Represented the seller of royalties on oil and gas and mining properties to a corporation to provide the basis for the largest IPO in the mining sector in Canada in 2007 and the largest mining-sector IPO in North American history

Represented a U.S. corporation in a successful takeover of a Canadian public gold mining company

Continued representation of the operator of a diamond mine in the Northwest Territories in the Canadian Arctic

Continued representation of a company developing a gold mine in Nunavut in the Eastern Arctic

Continued representation of a company developing two copper mines in the Yukon

Represented a Canadian company in the negotiation of private royalties on a mine in Colombia

Represented the seller of a silver mine under development in Peru

Represented the purchaser of a nickel mine under development in Russia

Represented the developer of a nickel mine in Brazil in connection with the negotiation of an engineering, procurement and construction management contract

Continued representation of the operator of a coal mine in British Columbia

Represented the seller of a past-producing molybdenum mine in British Columbia

Represented the seller of a copper/gold mine under development in British Columbia

Represented the seller of potash assets in Canada to a large Brazilian purchaser


Professional Associations
* Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development Mining Law Advisory Board, Member
* BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines, Member
* Board of Trustees of Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and Form 5 Revision Committee, Former Member
* Foundation's Mineral Law Newsletter, Currently the "reporter" covering Canada
* Chris has lectured and taught extensively about the law related to mining, independent power development and forestry and corporations law.

Recognition and Ranking
*Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada 2015: recognized for mining
*Lexpert Special Edition 2013/14: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining
*Lexpert Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: recognized for mining law every year since 1999
*Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2015: most frequently recommended as a Leading Practitioner for mining law
*Best Lawyers in Canada: recognized for mining and natural resources law
*Best Lawyers: Mining Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for 2013
*Best Lawyers: Natural Resources Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for 2010
*International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers: highly regarded globally for mining law
*Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada 2014: recognized for international transactions in the mining industry
*Chambers Global: ranked Band 1 and recognized as a “Leader in his Field” in the Energy & Natural Resources: Mining (Canada) category
*Chambers Latin America-wide: recognized for Projects: Mining: Leading Canadian Firms
*Expert Guides: recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of energy and natural resources
*Who's Who Legal Canada: recognized for mining law
*Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated

Community Activities
*Vancouver Playhouse Society, Former Director
*Anna Wyman Dance Theatre Society, Former Director
*Coach and/or manager of minor hockey, soccer and baseball teams



Articles

“Polar Mining: The Next Frontier”, Resource World (April 2014)

Lexpert Special Edition on Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining publishes Lawson Lundell article on polar mining "The Next Frontier" (October 31, 2013), Author

Chris Baldwin quoted in The Globe and Mail article, "Lawyers scramble after Hudbay decision" (July 25, 2013), Interview

Lawson Lundell Recognized in Chambers Global 2013 (March 22, 2013)

Chris Baldwin named Mining Law Lawyer of the Year (Vancouver) by Best Lawyers (August 30, 2012)

Chris Baldwin quoted in the article, "Rising tide of resource nationalism threatens Vancouver miners", published by Business in Vancouver (July 24, 2012), Interview

Chris Baldwin quoted in the article, "Chambers: Canadian mining lawyers are on a roll", published by The Financial Post (March 24, 2012), Interview

Lawson Lundell Recognized in Chambers Global 2012 (March 19, 2012)

"Supreme Court of Yukon Considers Duty to Consult and “Free Entry” Mining System" (December 9, 2011), Co-author

"Legal Challenges for Mining Companies New to Canada’s North" (November 14, 2011), Author

Chris Baldwin quoted in Lexpert Magazine article, "Mining: Old Resources, New Frontiers" (October 3, 2011), Interview

Chris Baldwin quoted in The Financial Post article, "Lawyers help lift mine blockades" (July 27, 2011), Interview

"Mining Law Update - Spring 2010" (May 4, 2010)

"Canadian Mining Law" (January 27, 2010), Co-authored with Johanna Fipke

"Mining Law Update - Spring 2009" (May 1, 2009)

"Mergers & Acquisitions for the Mining Industry", The Canadian Institute, Toronto, Ontario (December 9, 2008), Co-chair

"Mining Law Update - Spring 2008" (May 8, 2008)

"Mining Law Update - Winter 2008" (April 18, 2008)

"Dealing with Mining Legacy - Some Canadian Approaches" (April 16, 2007)

"Mining Update - Winter 2007" (February 4, 2007)

"National Instrument 43-101: Amendments to Canadian Rules Concerning Mineral Project Disclosure and Technical Reports" (April 16, 2006)

"Selling the Crown Jewels: Diamond Royalties and Marketing Agreements in Canada" (January 29, 2005), Co-authored with Peter Webster, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Annual Institute

"Comparing Royalties: NSR vs. NPI" (August 20, 2004)

"Understanding Royalty Structures" (February 28, 2003)

Blogs

Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog

Lawson Lundell's Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog focuses on environmental, indigenous and natural resources law, as well as related litigation. Included are summaries of significant cases from Canadian appellate courts, changes in the legal framework governing resource development including energy and climate change policy, and key decisions from the more influential regulatory bodies in Canada.

North of 60 Blog

Our North of 60 Blog provides commentary on current legal trends and developments, and legislative updates affecting businesses in Northern Canada.

Privacy & Data Management Blog

This blog is authored by members of the Privacy & Data Management Department. We follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. We follow emerging issues, legal developments, and new technology as they impact privacy and data management. We will focus on how organizations can protect, manage and innovate with information considering the various risks, regulatory and governance requirements.

The Business Law Blog

This blog is authored by members of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. We intend to follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. The wide range of experience among the members of our litigation group will provide a diverse and insightful examination of current legal trends and topics. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.

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