About William

William Blain has 32 years of experience as legal counsel and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta. Blain articled with the Federal Department of Justice and then practiced civil litigation there for twelve years, concentrating on Aboriginal law. Blain later served as in-house counsel for Indian Oil and Gas Canada and as General Manager of Land, responsible for on-reserve oil and gas dispositions. From 2006 to 2019, Blain operated a law firm in partnership with another lawyer, handling matters involving reserve lands, treaty land entitlement, Band membership and election issues, and Impact Benefit Agreements. Blain has litigated sexual assault, wrongful death, personal injury, wrongful dismissal, and breach of contract matters, appearing before the National Energy Board, the Federal Court of Canada, the Court of King's Bench, and the Alberta Court of Appeal. Blain has interviewed over 1,200 survivors of Indian Residential Schools and completed several hundred IRS Independent Assessment Process hearings. Blain is a member of the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba.

Practice areas

Indigenous Law Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Personal Injury Employment & Labour Law

Education & credentials

Law school
University of Alberta

Listing compiled from public sources in July 2026. Confirm William Blain’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Alberta directory ↗