Professional Background

Mike Nienhuis is Counsel practicing in the Indigenous Business Law, Commercial Real Estate and Corporate Commercial Law Groups at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP.

Mike has frequently advised clients, including First Nations, regarding transactions involving First Nations lands and other indigenous law matters, including the implementation of land codes and related law and policy development.

He has also represented clients in connection with a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing and commercial leasing.

Mike works with numerous developers on projects throughout the province, including re-zonings, subdivisions, construction and related matters.

Mike has acted in connection with the development, acquisition, disposition and financing of numerous clean energy and other natural resource projects on Crown, First Nations and privately owned land.  He has advised companies in the natural resources sector on a variety of commercial matters, including provincial land tenures.

Prior to joining the legal profession, Mike worked as an executive with companies in Vancouver, San Diego and Seattle, with responsibility for sales and operations in North America, Europe and Asia. He frequently draws on that experience to develop an understanding of his clients’ businesses and transactions, which span a range of industry sectors and areas of law.

Mike Nienhuis served as a mentor to law students in the University of Victoria’s Business Law Clinic and has represented clients in various pro bono matters. In addition, Mike has participated on several non-profit boards and committees.

Education

  • Called to the British Columbia Bar, 2013
  • Juris Doctor, University of Victoria, 2012
  • Master of Business Administration, Simon Fraser University, Beedie School of Business, 2007
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of British Columbia, 1989

Memberships

  • Member, Vancouver Bar Association
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association

Publications

Presentations

  • Featured, “‘The A List’ – What you need to know about the City of Vancouver’s new density program,” with Michael Peraya of the Ali Group Commercial, August, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “Leases on First Nations Lands,” The Future of Commercial Leasing 2023, Pacific Business & Law Institute, May, 2023
  • Presenter, “Laws Affecting Projects on First Nations Lands,” CBABC Construction Law Section meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, April, 2023
  • Presenter, “Indigenous, Federal and Provincial Laws Governing Development,” PBLI’s Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands program, Vancouver, BC, November, 2022; and CBABC Real Property Section meeting, Vancouver, BC, February, 2023
  • Presenter, “Attracting Investment Capital to Your Projects and Reserve Lands: Westrich Bay on Westbank First Nation Lands,” Indigenous Wealth Conference, Richmond, BC, December, 2022
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands,” Pacific Business and Law Institute Conference, September, 2021
  • Co-Chair and Speaker, “Real Estate Development on First Nation Lands, Application and Non-Application of Federal and Provincial Laws, Governing Development and Property Taxation,” Pacific Business and Law Institute Conference, December, 2019
  • Speaker, “Overview of the First Nations Land Management Act Legal Framework,” Canadian Bar Association of British Columbia, May, 2019
  • Speaker, “Development on Tsawwassen First Nation Lands,” National Aboriginal Business Opportunities Conference in Richmond, British Columbia, October, 2017
  • Moderator, “Working with First Nations: Land Development in Metro Vancouver,” 23rd Annual Vancouver Real Estate Forum, April, 2017

Articles | Dec 23, 2021

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