On August 18, 2025 ‘indigenous’ law firm Maurice Law filed a statement of claim against Rob Louie, the founder of the Band Members Alliance and Advocacy Association of Canada (BMAAAC), alleging Louie defamed the firm’s founder, Ron Maurice. The claim is seeking $5m in damages. Founded in 2002, Maurice Law claims on its website to be the first – and only – Indigenous-owned national law firm in Canada. Maurice’s bio states he is of Cree-Métis heritage. That is disputed.
Maurice Law has represented a number of First Nations in their land claim and agricultural benefits claim settlements and has been accused of stealing millions. Maurice Law most recently made headlines when Keeseekoose First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan decided to terminate the firm’s services due to the cost of legal fees. In a letter addressed to Keeseekoose band members, the chief and council stated that in two of its previous claims – Racing Lake and Agricultural Benefits (Cows and Plows) – the cost to Keeseekoose was $8.9m and $6m, respectively.
Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation won a decision against Calgary-based Maurice Law in July 2025. Legal fee agreements between them and its former law firm were unfair and, in some cases, unenforceable, a Saskatchewan judge ruled. Beardy’s had won a $4.5m judgment for withheld annuities, and in 2024, the nation reached a $4.1m settlement with Canada for unpaid salaries to chiefs and council. Maurice Law demanded more than $1.1m in fees plus a share of future contingency payments, even though it had already been paid. The agreements included what the court called “poison pill” clauses: if the clients switched lawyers before a settlement, they could owe up to half the expected contingency fee, plus other charges. The judge ordered Maurice Law to reimburse Beardy’s more than $826,000, as well as $100,000 in enhanced costs. Records showed one lawyer claimed 25 hours in a single day, and the nation was charged 338 hours just to draft a declaration of claim.
The judge found many of the same problems with contracts Maurice Law had with One Arrow First Nation, including confusing terms and harsh penalty clauses, and ruled those agreements were also unfair or unenforceable. Maurice Law said it intends to appeal the judicial decision. “Poison pill” clauses are not common in most law firms.
rmaurice@mauricelaw.com, bregehr@mauricelaw.com
Mikisew Cree First Nation launched litigation against Maurice Law in March 2024 regarding their 2018 Cows & Ploughs (Agricultural Benefits) Settlement. Among other claims, MCFN asserted that Maurice Law was unjustly enriched. There were two aspects to the claim: 1. Maurice Law agreed to repay MCFN $2,692,264.17 of Treaty monies that were sent to him as “legal fees” (equivalent to 2% of the settlement, while Maurice Law took 6% in legal fees); and 2. MCFN claims that the Nation was denied the right to challenge the total legal fee of $8,158,376 paid to Maurice Law. (tanya.adams@mikisewcree.ca)
Experts say predatory practices by Maurice Law result in windfall profits and unfair outcomes that disproportionately harm First Nations clients. Legal experts say the issue is more common and causes more harm among First Nations than with the general population and the worst offender is Maurice Law. In its statement, Maurice Law blamed its competitors for “encouraging clients to challenge our fees.” Indigenous organizations are pushing for reforms to how law societies regulate legal fees charged to First Nations by preditory law firms. MLT Aikins LLP, the firm representing Bready’s in the matter involving Maurice Law, said Maurice Law has initiated a defamation lawsuit in Alberta against the firm and three MLT Aikins lawyers personally.
In 2025, Sweetgrass First Nation went to court after Maurice Law demanded immediate payment of over $5.4m in legal fees from a settlement trust. Sweetgrass had already ended its contract with the firm and wanted the fees reviewed first. The judge ruled that Sweetgrass’s right to have the fees assessed comes first, and Maurice Law cannot demand instant payment before a review.
In 2016, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal found that Maurice Law had already been hired on an hourly basis to represent Sakimay First Nation in land and flooding claims, but after a multi-million dollar settlement was nearly finalized, the firm pushed Sakimay to sign a new deal that would give Maurice Law a 3% bonus.
nreddekopp@mauricelaw.com,
khumber@mauricelaw.com,
mwebber@mauricelaw.com,
ataylor@mauricelaw.com,
dchristoffersen@mauricelaw.com
rlake@mauricelaw.com,
cfafard@mauricelaw.com,
probinson@mauricelaw.com,
tchalifoux@mauricelaw.com
smanychief@mauricelaw.com
scarey@mauricelaw.com
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