About

Westaway Law Group focuses on providing a wide range of services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis, as well as partners working with Indigenous interests across Canada. Our primary service areas include all aspects of the following:

Litigation
Negotiation
Economic Development
Strategic Advice

Our lawyers represent clients from across Canada, including Canada’s North. Our firm is conveniently headquartered in the ByWard Market in Ottawa.

Our Firm

Cynthia Westaway heads the firm of Westaway Law Group in Ottawa. Cynthia is proud to lead this excellent team of professionals in a national Indigenous Law practice.

Cynthia is designated a Certified Specialist in Indigenous Legal Issues by the Law Society of Ontario. Cynthia has also been recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of Aboriginal Law in the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directories. Her current practice focuses on representation of First Nation, Métis, Non-Status, and Inuit clients in consultation, rights, Title and Treaty, governance and business development matters, as well as natural resource and energy law as they intersect with Aboriginal lands, interests and economic development. Cynthia is proud to have represented her clients before provincial and territorial courts, as well as at the Federal and Supreme Courts of Canada.

Our Services

Litigation: including all aspects of dispute resolution involving Indigenous entities. Our firm also acts as Agents for First Nation, Inuit, Métis and other SCC litigants and Intervenors appearing before the Supreme Court .

Negotiation: including all aspects of negotiation between Indigenous entities, government and industry entities. This includes negotiations surrounding Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal title, recognition and historic treaty rights.

Economic Development: including any legal advice provided to assist Indigenous entities with the development (and protection) of business opportunities. We also provide advice – in certain circumstances – to industry and government on effective economic development with Indigenous entities.

Strategic Advice: including band management, re-organization, development of by-laws (such as matrimonial real property laws), government or individually led processes, etc.

Our Focus

Promoting Rights

Strategic Advice & Government Relations

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Our Team

Our staff are carefully recruited and mentored for a firm culture specifically created to best serve our clients’ needs. We focus on personal integrity, pragmatic solutions, and an environment of collegiality and collaboration.