About OKT (Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP)

OKT, formally Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, is a Toronto law firm that works exclusively in Indigenous law. It has a second office in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and its partners and associates represent Indigenous governments, organizations and individuals across the country. John Olthuis, Nancy Kleer and HW Roger Townshend founded the firm in 2000, and it marked its 25th anniversary in 2025 with a podcast episode in which all three founders reflected on how the firm began.

The practice covers four areas: protecting Aboriginal and treaty rights, economic development, managing lands and resources, and strengthening self-government. OKT has advised on more than 200 Impact and Benefit Agreements across Canada, work that combines corporate deal-making with Indigenous rights expertise. Olthuis, a founding partner, was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in December 2023 for decades of work on Indigenous rights that goes back to the 1970s inquiry into the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline.

Townshend retired from the partnership on January 1, 2024 and continues at OKT as Senior Counsel. Kleer remains a partner. In the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, the firm was named "Most Frequently Recommended" for Indigenous law, and 23 of its lawyers received a Lexpert ranking that year.

Practice areas

Indigenous Law Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Administrative & Regulatory Law Business & Corporate Law Employment & Labour Law Family Law

Milestones & recognition

  • John Olthuis, Nancy Kleer and HW Roger Townshend founded Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP in 2000.
  • The firm marked its 25th anniversary in 2025 with a podcast episode featuring reflections from all three founders on how OKT began.
  • John Olthuis, a founding partner, was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in December 2023 for decades of work on Indigenous rights.
  • Roger Townshend retired from the partnership on January 1, 2024 after co-founding the firm, and continues at OKT as Senior Counsel.
  • OKT has advised on more than 200 Impact and Benefit Agreements across Canada.
  • In the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, OKT was named "Most Frequently Recommended" for Indigenous law, and 23 of its lawyers received a Lexpert ranking that year.

In the community

  • A lawyer at the firm is an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, teaching Rights & Reconciliation: Indigenous Peoples & the Law.
  • OKT staffs a table at the Indigenous Bar Association's Student Day and takes part in the IBA's annual conference to connect with law students.
  • A lawyer at the firm received the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Gold Key "One to Watch" Award in 2026 for contributions to law and society.

Good to know

A person using a wheelchairWheelchair accessible

Lawyers 49

Aashish Oberoi Associate Indigenous Law Ariel Holmwood-Bramwell Associate Indigenous Law Ashley Ash Associate Family LawIndigenous Law Ashley Stacey Partner Business & Corporate LawIndigenous Law Benjamin Brookwell Partner Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Bryce Edwards Partner Indigenous LawClass Actions Camille O'Sullivan Associate Indigenous Law Cathy Guirguis CEO and Partner Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Chanel Carlson Associate Indigenous LawFamily Law Christian Laidlaw Associate Indigenous LawBusiness & Corporate Law Corey Shefman Partner Indigenous LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law Eileen Church Carson Associate Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Graeme Cook Associate Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution HW Roger Townshend Senior Counsel Indigenous Law Haritha Popuri Associate Indigenous LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law HyunGu Kang Associate Indigenous Law Jaclyn McNamara Partner Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution James Shields Associate Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Jenna Rogers Associate Indigenous Law Jesse Abell Associate Indigenous LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution Jessie Stirling-Voss Associate Indigenous LawFamily Law Joel Morales Associate Indigenous LawEmployment & Labour Law John A. Olthuis Senior Counsel Indigenous Law Jolene Ashini Associate Indigenous Law

This firm’s lawyers at a glance

Called to the bar
1993–2024 · median 6 years in practice 6 of 49 lawyers
Law schools
Osgoode Hall Law School (15), University of Toronto Faculty of Law (6), University of Victoria (5), University of Ottawa (4), McGill University (3), University of Toronto (3) and 5 more 42 of 49 lawyers
Languages on the roster
French

Who handles what

Offices 2

Toronto416-981-9330

250 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3E5

Yellowknife867-675-1131

4902 49th Street, 3rd Floor, PO Box 1470, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P1

The neighbourhood

OKT's Toronto office is on University Avenue, the wide downtown corridor that runs from the Toronto Courthouse and Osgoode Hall north to the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park. It's a fitting stretch of the city for a firm whose work runs from Supreme Court of Canada litigation to negotiating with government over self-government and duty to consult.

The Yellowknife office is a genuine second base rather than a mailing address. A partner works primarily out of it, and the firm has hired local staff there, including a legal assistant role that lists familiarity with Dene languages as an asset. It's a small office, but one built to serve northern Indigenous clients directly.

Frequently asked questions

What areas of law does OKT handle?
OKT works exclusively in Indigenous law, covering Aboriginal and treaty rights litigation, economic development and Impact and Benefit Agreements, land and resource management, and self-government.
Does OKT represent individuals, or only First Nations and Indigenous organizations?
OKT's clients are Indigenous governments, organizations and individuals across Canada, and its work has included Supreme Court of Canada litigation and negotiations with government.
How long has OKT been practising?
OKT was founded in 2000 and marked its 25th anniversary in 2025.
Where are OKT's offices?
OKT has offices in Toronto, at 250 University Avenue, and in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Has OKT worked on Impact and Benefit Agreements?
Yes. The firm has advised on more than 200 Impact and Benefit Agreements across Canada.
Can students article at OKT?
OKT has a student program, and a firm podcast episode features current students discussing their experience there.

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Listing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗