Cynthia Westaway is a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa, where she teaches Indigenous Law and negotiation and litigation focus. Cynthia also leads directed research and student experiential learning related to lands and consultation with Indigenous people.
Cynthia Westaway is Senior Counsel at the First Peoples Law LLP office in Ottawa, Ontario and a Certified Specialist in Aboriginal Law with The Law Society of Ontario. First Peoples Law represents Indigenous clients in consultation, rights, Title and Treaty, governance, and economic development matters.
Cynthia and her team have significant Specific Claims, special project, and litigation related negotiation experience. She has managed many large negotiation matters and settled many large claims.
Cynthia brings significant law and governance experience from her previous work with various Canadian ministries, including as Director General of Legal Services at Global Affairs, and Senior Counsel at the Department of Justice.
Cynthia served as a law clerk at both the Federal Court of Canada (with Justice Pinard) and at the Supreme Court of Canada (with Justice L’Heureux-Dubé). She holds a Masters Degree in Comparative Aboriginal Law (US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia) from the University of Ottawa.
Cynthia has been honoured to plead at the Supreme Court of Canada and has represented Indigenous clients on several key lands and environmental matters.