David C. Knoll

DAVID KNOLL is a sole practitioner with the firm Knoll & Co. Law Corp. in Surrey/White Rock, British Columbia.  He has been practising in the area of aboriginal law for 30 years, with an emphasis, in the last 25 years, on specific and special claims preparation and negotiations.  He has written and spoken frequently on a broad range First Nation matters from constitutional to family, Indian Act, administrative, education, hunting and fishing and taxation issues.  His has been approached for legal advice by aboriginal organizations and Band Councils nationally and regionally.  He has worked on land claim matters in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick and provided advice on a variety of issues for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nation, Assembly of First Nations and tribal councils in several provinces. He has been involved in the preparation of over 52 claims and the settlement of approximately 31.  He has appeared before provincial and superior courts on aboriginal issues, including the Supreme Court, and held several hearings before the Indian Claims Commission.  He was part of the AFN task force in establishing an Independent Claim Body and has worked with the AFN on suggested rules of practice and procedure before the new Specific Claims Tribunal. He is now preparing a number of Declarations for hearings before the Tribunal.

He was a Research Associate at the U. of S. Native Law Center from 1978-1981; practised criminal and family law with Legal Aid, Regina, from 1982-1985; acted as general counsel for the FSIN  from 1985-1988; was Associate and Partner with Balfour Moss, Saskatoon from 1988-1995; was Senior Associate with Davis & Co., Vancouver from 1996-2000; and is now in private practice.  He has, on occasion, lectured on First Nation issues at the Univ. of Sask., Whitman College (U.S.) and Univ. of B.C., as well as at Canadian Bar Association and Law Society functions.