Cassels

Canadian Corporate Law Firm

University of British Columbia

Kinji Bourchier, K.C.

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Kinji C. Bourchier, KC (he/him/his) is a partner in the Litigation Group at Cassels and the National Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Arbitration team. A leader in his field, Kinji’s primary practice areas include complex commercial and civil litigation with a focus on contractual disputes, environmental remediation claims, product liability claims, shareholder and transactional disputes, and business torts. Kinji offers particular expertise in the field of environmental remediation cost-recovery claims and contaminated-site litigation.

Kinji regularly appears as lead counsel in the British Columbia Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and has appeared before multiple administrative tribunals, including the BC Securities Commission, Property Assessment Board, Environmental Appeal Board and Surface Rights Board. Kinji also has appeared as lead counsel in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench.

Examples of Kinji’s client successes include:

  • Represented a US-based global coating manufacturer in a leading remediation cost-recovery case which analyzed the legal status of the reliance on historical comfort letters provided by government regulators and entities. The case is one of the most significant environmental cases in BC in terms of quantum, legal principles, and precedential effect regarding the Environmental Management Act and remediation cost recovery claims (I. Properties Inc. v. PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Ltd., 2015 BCCA 240).
  • Successfully defended a third-party logistics company in a lengthy trial before the Supreme Court of British Columbia involving a claim in excess of C$200 million based on allegations of unjust enrichment, conversion, quantum merit and waiver of tort (Can-Auto Inspections Inc. v. Vascor, Ltd., 2011 BCSC 1644).
  • Successfully represented a Canadian mattress retailer in a 42-day trial before the Supreme Court of British Columbia involving allegations of inducing breach of contract and business torts, including interference with economic relations (Canadian Bedding Company Ltd. v. Western Sleep Products Ltd., 2009 BCSC 1499).
  • Successfully represented the defendant, a multinational energy corporation, against historic contaminated site claims under the Environmental Management Act in one of the pioneering cases in British Columbia on remediation allocation of costs claims (Gehring et al. v. Chevron Canada Limited et al, 2006 BCSC 1639).

Prior to joining Cassels, Kinji served as a litigation partner in the Vancouver office of another prominent national firm. Before that, Kinji also worked for over 20 years at another leading, litigation-focused firm where he served in multiple leadership roles, including as part of the elected Executive Committee and served as Litigation Group Manager.

Erik Goldsilver

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Erik Goldsilver is a partner in the Mining Group at Cassels, offering 25+ years of experience helping mining companies through the full lifecycle of their projects. Erik has an extensive background in matters involving mining and natural resources, both domestically and internationally. His practice focuses principally on mining law, including in-depth experience with streaming transactions and royalty agreements.

Erik is well-versed in all aspects of the development, construction, and operation of mining projects. He has advised on Indigenous issues and claims, environmental and regulatory compliance matters, and permitting issues, as well as mine closure, decommissioning, and reclamation issues.

Eric representative work includes:

  • Horizon Copper in its US$196 million acquisition by Royal Gold.
  • Zijin Mining Group completes purchase of La Arena for US$245 million cash upfront and US$50 million contingent payment.
  • Sandstorm Gold Royalties in its acquisition of a portfolio of mining royalties and a metal stream agreement for US$525 million.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation with respect to its $3 million investment in Eminent Gold Corp. and in its strategic investment in AbraSilver.
  • Aura Minerals in securing US$31 million to fund construction of Borborema gold project in Brazil.
  • Elemental Altus in its sale of the Diba Gold Project in Mali to Allied Gold and in its acquisition of a royalty portfolio from First Mining.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation in a series of transactions with BTU Metals Corp. involving: a $1,250,000 private placement of shares of BTU Metals Corp.; the acquisition of certain mining properties from BTU Metals Corp. in northwestern Ontario adjacent to Kinross’ Great Bear Project for $1,550,000; and option agreement with BTU Metals Corp. which provides Kinross with an option to earn a 70% interest in certain mining properties in northwestern Ontario adjacent to Kinross’ Great Bear Project in consideration for incurring $4,700,000 on the properties.
  • Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. in its acquisition of 19 mining royalties in Canada, the US, Mexico and Burkino Faso from a wholly owned subsidiary of First Mining Gold Corp. for a payment of US$3.5 million in cash and US$1.5 million of common shares.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in a financing arrangement with Bear Creek Mining Corporation involving a C$37.5 million gold purchase agreement and a C$22.5 million convertible debenture financing.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in its US$30 million Vatukoula stream and royalty transaction on the producing Vatukoula Mine in Fiji.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation in the negotiation of a US$9.5 million farm-in agreement with S2 Resources Ltd. to earn a 70% interest in four exploration licence and licence applications in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in northern Finland.
  • The lender in Americas Gold and Silver Corporation’s issuance of C$12.5 million secured convertible debenture.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in its US$7 million acquisition of a package of 21 royalties in Nevada and Montana from an affiliate of Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. on the US$42.5 million financing package for Americas Silver Corporation that includes a US$25 million gold stream and royalty on the Relief Canyon Project in Nevada, USA, as well as a US$10 million convertible debenture, and an US$7.5 million equity subscription.
  • Imperial Metals Corporation in its sale of a 70% interest in the Red Chris mine in British Columbia to Newcrest Mining Limited for US$806.5 million and a follow-on joint venture between the parties for the ongoing operation of the Red Chris mine.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. on the US$32.75 million acquisition of a net smelter returns royalty on precious metals produced from the Fruta del Norte gold project in Ecuador, currently under construction by Lundin Gold Corporation.
  • Glencore International AG in the sale of a C$31.2 million convertible debentures by Champion Iron Limited to Glencore International AG.
  • Kinross Gold Corporation in the option to acquire a 100% interest in Yorbeau’s Rouyn Property from Yorbeau Resources Inc.
  • Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. in the option of the Troilus Mine from First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
  • Sandstorm Gold Ltd. in their US$152 million multi-asset stream transaction with Yamana Gold Inc.
  • Blackstone Tactical Opportunities in their US$540 million construction financing package with Orion Mine Finance Group to Pretium Resources Inc.
  • Lundin Mining Corp. on the purchase of the Eagle Mines nickel-copper project in Michigan for US$325 million.
  • Silver Wheaton Corp. in its purchase of life of mine silver and gold production from HudBay Minerals Inc.’s 777 Mine in Canada and Constancia Project in Peru for total cash consideration of US$750 million.

Erik has been recognized as a leader in his field by such authorities as Best Lawyers in Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Lexpert’s Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers, Chambers Canada, and Chambers Global.

Simi Fagbongbe

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Simi Fagbongbe (she/her/hers) is an associate in the Capital Markets Group at Cassels. She received her JD from Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC with a Specialization in Environmental and Natural Resource Law. Simi was both a summer and articling student with the firm.

Prior to law school, Simi graduated from University of Victoria with a BA in Political Science and a Business minor. She gained several years of valuable experience in business-to-business fintech sales, as a racer on The Amazing Race Canada, and as a business banker with a Big Five Canadian bank. In law school, Simi volunteered as a clinician with Amici Curiae Friendship Society through Pro Bono Students Canada. She was also an executive of the UBC Black Law Students Association and served on the UBC Law Students’ Society Wellness Committee.

In her spare time, Simi enjoys skiing, playing tennis, learning languages and exploring the world one bite at a time.

Jennifer Poirier

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Jennifer (Jen) Poirier is a partner in the Capital Markets and Mining Groups at Cassels. Jen represents companies and investment dealers in a range of corporate transactions, including ‎public offerings, private placement financings, initial public offerings and stock exchange listings, reverse take-‎overs and mergers and acquisitions.‎

Jennifer’s experience also includes drafting and advising on a range of commercial agreements, such as ‎partnership agreements, option agreements, earn-in agreements, joint venture agreements and shareholder ‎agreements. She advises clients in a variety of industries, with a particular focus on the mining industry. In ‎addition, Jennifer advises private and public companies with respect to general corporate and securities laws ‎issues, including corporate governance and continuous disclosure obligations.‎

Jennifer is also an accomplished speaker and author, having previously co-authored the Canada chapter of the Chambers’ Mining Practice Guide as well as A Practical Guide to the Life Cycle of a Mining Project.

Clients value her strong negotiation skills and business-oriented approach, as well her ability to thoughtfully ‎structure and implement transactions that are results-driven and tailored to clients’ particular needs.‎

Summer Tan

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Summer Tan (she/her/hers) is a member of the 2025-2026 Articling Student class at Cassels and previously summered with the firm.

Jessica Cheng

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Jessica Cheng (she/her) is a member of the 2025–2026 Articling Student class at Cassels. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia. During law school, Jessica participated in the Corporate Counsel Externship, working alongside in-house counsel at Teck Resources and gaining practical solicitor-side experience. She was actively involved in the law school community, serving as a peer mentor to first-year students and participating in the Sports, Entertainment and Law Society. Jessica also competed in the Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada in Toronto, where she gained experience in salary arbitration and sports-law advocacy. In her final year, she studied abroad at the Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Prior to law school, Jessica earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Simon Fraser University, where she was a member and team captain of the SFU Women’s Basketball Varsity Team and worked as a peer tutor for student-athletes. Before beginning her legal education, she also gained hands-on legal experience as a legal assistant at several boutique law firms in Vancouver.