Bill Henderson
1 lawyer · Established 1996 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 54 handling Indigenous Law.
About Bill Henderson
Bill Henderson is a Toronto sole practitioner who has run what the firm's own site calls a "virtual law office" since January 1, 1996, after leaving the firm Lang Michener. Henderson grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, earned a law degree from the University of Ottawa in 1980, and moved to Toronto afterward, completing an articling year and the Ontario Bar Admission Course in 1981 and 1982. Before entering private practice, Henderson worked for the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and then as a contract consultant while attending law school, and has advised First Nations and Aboriginal associations since 1982.
The practice centres on Aboriginal, treaty, and constitutional law. Henderson has acted as counsel or intervener in several cases, including Ontario (Attorney General) v. Bear Island Foundation before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, and helped formulate interventions for Ontario Aboriginal associations in the Supreme Court cases Guerin v. The Queen and R. v. Sparrow. From 1991 to 1993, Henderson served as general counsel to the Indian Specific Claims Commission of Canada. Henderson also wrote several entries, including "Indian Act" and "Aboriginal Rights," for the first edition of The Canadian Encyclopedia, and has published articles in the Ottawa Law Review and the Law Society of Upper Canada Gazette.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Earned a law degree from the University of Ottawa in 1980 and completed articling and the Ontario Bar Admission Course in 1981 and 1982.
- Served as general counsel to the Indian Specific Claims Commission of Canada from 1991 to 1993.
- Wrote entries on the Indian Act, Indian treaties, Aboriginal rights, and Native people and the law for the first edition of The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- Began operating independently as a virtual law office on January 1, 1996, after previously practising with the firm Lang Michener.
- Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada (now the Law Society of Ontario) and the Canadian Bar Association.
Lawyers 1
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits on Bloor Street East, in the stretch the firm's own site describes as running from the Hudson's Bay Centre at Yonge and Bloor east toward Parliament Street, an area it characterizes as financial institutions, apartment buildings, and mixed retail; the same page notes that farther east, at Park Road, the land drops into the Rosedale Valley ravine. Bloor Street takes its name from Joseph Bloor, who developed the area in the 19th century, according to the same page.
Henderson has written that operating as a sole practitioner made a big difference in overhead expense.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of law does Bill Henderson practice?
- The practice covers Ontario Aboriginal, treaty, and constitutional law, described on the firm's own site as general litigation and advice on issues of Aboriginal, treaty, and other rights and concerns of First Nations.
- Has the firm handled Supreme Court of Canada cases?
- Henderson has acted as counsel or intervener in Aboriginal and treaty rights cases including Ontario (Attorney General) v. Bear Island Foundation, and helped formulate First Nations interventions in the Supreme Court cases Guerin v. The Queen and R. v. Sparrow.
- How long has Bill Henderson worked in Aboriginal law?
- Henderson has advised First Nations and Aboriginal associations since 1982, after earlier work with the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.
- Where is the office located?
- The office is at 88 Bloor Street East in Toronto, suite 2010.
- Is Bill Henderson a member of the Law Society of Ontario?
- The firm's site lists membership in the Law Society of Upper Canada (now the Law Society of Ontario) and the Canadian Bar Association.
- Does the firm serve clients outside Toronto?
- The firm's site describes providing services to clients from several provinces, reflecting the national scope of Aboriginal and treaty rights work rather than a purely local practice.
Where to find them
2010 - 88 Bloor St. E, Toronto, ON M4W 3G9 · 416-960-1421
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