Grace Wu (she/her/hers) is an associate in the Aboriginal Law Group at Cassels. She maintains a broad Aboriginal law practice, advising clients across Canada on matters pertaining to Aboriginal rights, Indigenous-Crown relations, Indigenous self-governance, and project-related environmental and regulatory issues.
Grace has acted as counsel to Indigenous governing bodies, industry proponents, and public governments, including in the following capacities:
Select Indigenous-side Mandates
- Representing an Indigenous governing body in drafting and negotiating a self-government treaty and related legislative and policy documents.
- Representing Indigenous governing bodies in litigation proceedings concerning Aboriginal rights, the Crown’s duty to consult, and internal governance disputes.
- Advising Indigenous governing bodies on various Aboriginal law-related matters, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Select Industry-side Mandates
- Representing industry proponents in drafting and negotiating various project-related agreements, including 28(2) permits, capacity funding agreements, exploration agreements, impact benefit agreements, and payment in lieu of taxes agreements.
- Representing industry proponents in litigation proceedings concerning assertions of Aboriginal rights infringements and assertions of Aboriginal title.
- Advising industry proponents on drafting and implementing Indigenous relations policies and strategies.
- Advising industry proponents on various Aboriginal law-related matters, including the Crown’s duty to consult and the UNDRIP.
Select Public Government-side Mandates
- Representing a public government in a litigation proceeding concerning an assertion of Aboriginal rights infringement and an assertion of Aboriginal title.
- Advising public governments on drafting and implementing Indigenous relations policies and strategies.
- Advising public governments on various Aboriginal law-related matters, including the Crown’s duty to consult and the UNDRIP.
Grace’s research interests focus on Aboriginal law, constitutional law, and public international law. Her publications include:
- Canada & the UNDRIP (co-authored with Thomas Isaac, LexisNexis Canada) (forthcoming)
- “The Marshall Decisions: Reframing the Supreme Court of Canada’s Guidance” (co-authored with Thomas Isaac, Journal of New Brunswick Studies)
- “British Columbia’s Enactment of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act: A Step Towards Reconciliation?” (co-authored with Thomas Isaac, Key Developments in Aboriginal Law: Volume 2)
- “Called to Action: Impact of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on the Resource Extraction Sector” (co-authored with Emilie Lahaie, Key Developments in Aboriginal Law: Volume 2)
Grace obtained her J.D. degree from Western Law, where she was named to the Dean’s Honor List, and where she was awarded the Baker & McKenzie Award for research excellence in the area of public international law and the Law Society of Upper Canada Prize for academic excellence.
Grace obtained her LL.M. degree from Columbia Law School, where she graduated with honors and was awarded the Parker School’s Certificate of Achievement in International and Comparative Law. During this time, Grace served as a Legal Fellow for an international human rights organization, and, in this role, she supported the organization’s work to deliver access to justice for survivors and victims of international crimes and human rights violations, including through investigations and proceedings before domestic, regional, and international courts and mechanisms.
Grace also holds a B.A. (Honors Business Administration) degree from Ivey Business School at Western University, as well as a Certificate (Public International Law) from The Hague Academy of International Law.
Prior to joining Cassels as an associate, Grace was a summer and articling student at the firm.
