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Jean-Sébastien Clément is a partner in Gowlings’ Montréal office and co-leader of the Aboriginal Law Group alongside John Hurley.

Jean-Sébastien’s practice has been focusing on aboriginal law for almost fifteen years, with a particular interest for matters pertaining to self-governance, natural resources, education, socio-economic development and health and social services. During his career, he has acted and played a major role in many litigation cases including constitutional cases. He has also pleaded before all common law tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Québec Court of Appeal, the Superior Court, the Federal Court, the Court of Québec and various administrative tribunals.

Jean-Sébastien works with various Cree entities on a variety of matters. In addition to handling complex litigation, he is presently working, amongst other things, on the regionalization of a Native police force in Québec as well as on the restructuring of various Native entities and on various governance and administration issues of Native public entities such as a Native government, a Native school board, a Native health and social services board and various Native bands. 

He was also involved in major negotiations which led to the adoption of the Cree-Québec Adapted Forestry Regime applicable in the James Bay Region through the Cree-Québec New Relationship Agreement known in Québec as the “Paix des Braves”. He also continues working on the implementation of this Adapted Forestry Regime and on its evolution, as well as on the implementation of the Paix des Braves as a whole, the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and other Cree Agreements including the Cree-Canada New Relationship Agreement. He is involved in the negotiation of amendments to these, including with respect to the incorporation of a new band under the Modern Treaty as well as in negotiations and implementation of numerous contracts and agreements. 

Prior to his involvement in Aboriginal matters, Jean-Sébastien Clément was a prison law practitioner and thus appearing before several Court levels to deal notably with Charter issues.