Donya Vahidi

Donya is a corporate commercial lawyer and a shareholder of the firm. She joined the firm in 2014 and became a shareholder in 2021. Donya’s practice focuses on acquisition transactions with a focus on indigenous equity ownership and indigenous partnerships with industry. Donya is also the Alberta lead for the Indigenous Practice Group in the firm.

Donya’s corporate commercial practice includes advising on business acquisitions, commercial arrangements and financing arrangements. She has acted on several landmark indigenous equity ownership transactions in Canada, and has a great deal of experience working on infrastructure and energy projects. Donya’s practice also includes acting as corporate counsel to indigenous communities with respect to economic development, and the negotiation and implementation of partnerships and joint ventures. She also has experience structuring tax efficient corporate structures for First Nations for the purpose of entering into commercial arrangements with private and public companies.

In addition to her corporate commercial practice, Donya has a deep understanding of indigenous governance, and the legal issues impacting indigenous communities. Donya often provides advice with respect to implementing bylaws and policies and self-government processes.

Prior to joining the firm, Donya worked in commercial banking at one of Canada’s leading financial institutions for five years.

Donya is called to the bar in both B.C. and Alberta and maintains active membership in the law societies of both Provinces