Plaintiffs’ legal team in La Rose v. HMTK (taken at Federal Court in October 2020). From left to right: David Wu, Joseph Arvay, K.C., Will Andrews, Chris Tollefson, K.C., Catherine Boies-Parker, K.C.
VICTORIA, B.C. (22 January 2026) — Professor Chris Tollefson was recently awarded the King’s Counsel (K.C.) designation for 2025 by BC’s Attorney General – one of 31 lawyers recognized for making exceptional contributions to the legal system and access to justice.
Chris founded Tollefson Law almost a decade ago as a boutique firm dedicated to representing conservation organizations, Indigenous governments and businesses, and public interest advocates on environmental, climate, resource governance, and public interest law matters.
The K.C. designation is awarded based on peer nominations adjudicated by an advisory committee that includes our two Chief Justices and other leaders at the Bar and in government.
Chris’ nomination observes that “he is frequently retained in complex and challenging cases, [and that] his counsel work in criminal and civil trials, in regulatory and judicial reviews, and before our appellate courts has earned him the respect of the Bench and Bar as a leading litigator.”
The nomination also highlights his “leadership, creativity, and accomplishment as a legal educator, scholar, and public-interest advocate”, and his “catalytic leadership role in a range of successful educational and advocacy organizations”.
“This is a great honour for which I am deeply grateful and wish to thank the advisory committee and my nominators. I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my career to have been given opportunities to use law to level the legal playing field and correct injustices – but also to teach, learn from, and work with remarkable students from UVic and across the country,” says Professor Chris Tollefson, K.C.
