Saul Joseph is a partner in the firm’s Vancouver office. He works with Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs to design commercial ventures informed by Indigenous worldviews, and he has extensive experience in Aboriginal, regulatory matters, on- and off-reserve real estate, and corporate/commercial law.
Saul is of Coast Salish & European descent and is a member of the Squamish Nation. On his Squamish side, his father is Chief Floyd Joseph and his grandparents are the late Larry and Rose Joseph (nee Tom). He lives and works in Vancouver, BC, on the unceded, traditional and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
Primarily, he works with Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurs to design and implement commercial ventures that are informed by Indigenous worldviews. He has extensive experience in Aboriginal; regulatory (forestry, fishery, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, etc.); on- and off-reserve real estate development and leasing; and corporate and commercial law.
Saul helps build resilient partnerships between industry and Indigenous Nations, advising industry on how to work effectively with Indigenous Nations and navigate the Canadian Aboriginal and environmental law landscapes. He is passionate about protecting and advancing the rights of Indigenous peoples and generating socio-economic opportunities for positive change. He regularly advises Indigenous communities on the protection and advancement of Aboriginal and Treaty rights, governance and business matters.
He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Aboriginal Law/Indigenous practice and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Aboriginal Law.
Cassandra Paterson is an experienced lawyer who represents a variety of clients involved in the construction industry. She strives to resolve matters by engaging in early negotiation and mediation processes, but knows when to utilize the courts. She works closely with clients to identify strategies to advance their interests, and is comfortable handling a range of matters, including complex multi-million dollar disputes. Cassandra has appeared at all levels of Court in British Columbia.
Her practice includes a range of construction matters, including risk allocation in contract drafting, builders liens, and negligence claims. She also works with owners, such as municipalities and First Nations, to assist them through the tendering process – including preparing tender documents, bid selection, and resolving issues that arise in the course of construction.
Cassandra has a Bachelor of Science, and enjoys working on matters that allow her to explore technical issues with her clients and experts. This interest extends into her involvement in disciplinary matters before the Architectural Institute of BC and Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
Cassandra worked with the Architect Institute of BC for several years to develop its Architect and the Law Course for intern architects. She continues to be a presenter of the course.
Prior to joining JML, Cassandra clerked for six justices of the British Columbia Supreme Court, articled at a large national firm, and then practiced at a litigation boutique with a focus on construction and insurance law.
Robin Phillips is a lawyer based in Victoria, British Columbia, practicing with JFK Law LLP. She has extensive experience in Aboriginal law, collaborative dispute resolution, and environmental law. Robin was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2016 and the Alberta Bar in 2018. She joined JFK Law in 2019 and recently became a partner in 2024. Her practice areas include governance, negotiation, consultation, administrative law, land use planning, and contaminated sites.
Robin works as legal counsel for many Indigenous Nations on a wide range of governance issues. She has considerable experience drafting laws, bylaws, and policies, as well as understanding the complex jurisdiction that applies to Indigenous lands. Robin has experience incorporating Indigenous legal order into contemporary laws and advising on the development of laws that are based both on statutory authority and inherent jurisdiction.
Robin does not believe that one size fits all. In all her governance work, Robin takes a client-centered approach and endeavours to meet her clients’ needs and aspirations in the way that works for them. Robin also has experience implementing laws and legal regimes, and works with her clients to develop the guidelines, regulations, and forms that support legislative development.
Robin works to negotiate government-to-government agreements with the Crown and with local governments. She always strives to advance her clients vision for their territories, and to make sure Indigenous interests are not subordinate to that of the settler state.
Robin has a strong background in local government law and has worked with various communities across British Columbia and Alberta. She is also a mediator on the Civil Roster of Mediate BC and believes the best outcome is the one developed by the parties themselves, to meet their objectives. Robin served on the board of Mediate BC for five years and remains a member of the Calls to Action Committee, where she is involved in the development of an Indigenous Dispute Resolution Hub.
In addition to her legal practice, Phillips has contributed to several publications and presentations on topics such as cannabis regulation on Indigenous lands, trusts, riparian rights, expropriation, defamation, corporate governance, first nation and local government partnerships, and conflict resolution. Prior to being called to the bar, Robin had the opportunity of being a judicial law clerk for five Justices of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Her academic background includes a JD from the University of British Columbia and a BA in English (Hons.) from the same institution.
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