This month’s Spotlight shines on Darren Haines of Aird & Berlis LLP.
How did you first get involved with CLEBC?
Jennifer Williams at MLT Aikins and I had worked opposite one another on files involving on-reserve commercial real estate, and she reached out to see if I might be interested in developing a course specifically focused on real estate on First Nations lands. I jumped at the chance to help shape the course design with CLEBC and connect with other practitioners in the First Nations real estate space.
What are you currently working on (or have most recently worked on) with CLEBC?
Most recently, in April of this year, Jennifer and I co-chaired the 2026 edition of the Indigenous Real Estate course.
What inspired you to become a lawyer?
I did not grow up around lawyers. In fact, I don’t think I even considered studying law until I was 30 years old! At that time, I was working in the credit union movement, at Coast Capital Savings, where part of my job involved corporate development and regulatory matters. Increasingly, I was working alongside in-house counsel (shout out to the wonderful Lisa Skakun and Andrew Jackman!)—that is where I was first exposed to the work of corporate lawyers and general counsel. As it turned out, it was work that I really enjoyed!
You work closely with First Nation and Métis governments, Indigenous institutions and Indigenous-owned businesses at the intersection of Aboriginal and Indigenous law. How did you decide to focus your practice in this area?
I was adopted as an infant (a very long time ago!). As a young adult, I spent time reconnecting with my birth family, including my Métis father’s side, who welcomed me into a large extended family from Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement in northern Alberta, with kinship ties to Frog Lake First Nation.
Reconnecting with my family impacted me greatly. In starting law school, it was always my intention to focus my studies and legal career path on serving the needs of Indigenous communities. I’ve had the privilege of working in this space now for 10 years.
You are a director for the Kílala Lelum Health and Wellness Cooperative. Can you tell us more about this group?
Kílala Lelum (“KL”) is a wonderful organization, founded in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call for greater integration of traditional medicine and Elder supports in the provision of healthcare to Indigenous patients. KL operates a primary care clinic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where a team of physicians, nurses, Indigenous Elders and other allied staff provide high-quality and culturally safe care for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents (KL’s members). The clinic has grown consistently since opening its doors in 2020 and now regularly provides care for 1,600+ members.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what career path would you have chosen?
If not for becoming a lawyer, I may well have stuck with banking and finance, perhaps with an Indigenous-owned financial institution or equity fund—organizations that are working to ensure that Indigenous communities and businesses have the capital they need to grow and make an impact.
Other than law, what are you passionate about?
I have a lifelong love of all things cycling: riding bikes, collecting bikes, watching races, actually racing, cyclo-touring, etc.