James Struthers

James Struthers advises non-profits, charities, corporations, and First Nations on a broad range of corporate, commercial, real estate, governance, construction, development, employment, financing, tenancy, workplace, and regulatory matters.

While James maintains a general solicitor practice, he has focused experience in the First Nations housing and infrastructure, affordable housing, construction and development, non-profit and charities, and impact enterprise sectors. He regularly advises on:

• Aboriginal law;

• complex real estate developments both on and off reserve;

• financing and funding arrangements;

• governance matters;

• charities compliance;

• affordable housing tenancy matters;

• mergers and acquisitions;

• commercial agreements;

• workplace matters; and

• commercial advisory services.

Prior to joining the Coal Harbour Team, James has practiced in small firm, national firm, and midsized firm environment, where he advised public companies, private enterprises, Indigenous organizations, and non-profit entities on a variety of corporate, commercial, regulatory, and real estate matters. Having served clients of varying size, on matters of varying complexity, and in varying practice environments, he can capably serve clients no matter the size of organization, and tailor services to the clients’ needs and budget.

James served as a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia from 2024 to 2026. In that role, he participated in the governance of the legal profession in the public interest and served on a number of committees relating to access to justice, practice standards, finance, audit, and professional conduct.

He is also a regular mentor to articling students and early-career lawyers and has contributed extensively to pro bono initiatives, legal education programs, and community organizations.

James has delivered presentations on governance, housing, asset management, corporate law, and legal issues affecting First Nations, charities, and non-profit organizations. He has also served as an instructor and supervising lawyer with community-based legal programs focused on increasing access to justice.

James holds a Juris Doctor from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia and is called to the bars of British Columbia and the Yukon.

Outside of practice, James is active in community service and charitable initiatives, tries in vain to lower his handicap at his local public course, noodles away on his guitar, putters around the yard, spends time outdoors, and cares for his bonded mother-son pair of rescues, Pip and Lily.