Radha D. Curpen

Radha is the managing partner of Bennett Jones’ Vancouver office and co-head of the firm's Environmental Law practice and Aboriginal Law practice. She specializes in Environmental, Aboriginal and ESG matters and the transportation of dangerous goods. Radha provides strategic counsel to clients relating to regulatory compliance, the management of environmental risks, the defence of environmental litigation, the avoidance and defence of environmental related prosecutions, crisis prevention and management, corporate social responsibility, mitigating business disruption and reputation management.

She has significant experience in and regularly advises corporations, Boards of Directors and Special Committees in connection with internal and regulatory investigations, governance, ESG and risk assessments.

Radha has led or been involved in recent high profile cases. She led the defence of the regulatory investigation arising out of the Lac Mégantic train derailment on behalf of an oil company. She is the lead counsel for a multinational company relating to mercury contamination in a high-profile case in Ontario involving various First Nations. She was also involved in the defence of the diesel emissions case.

Proficient in both French and English, Radha practises across Canada and in the United States, acting as strategic counsel to boards, executives and management teams.

She has worked in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta, the Atlantic Provinces and in the United States. She has a diverse environmental practice ranging from obtaining approvals for projects, involvement in regulatory proceedings, negotiating with regulators, leading arbitration, and leading the defence of civil and quasi-criminal litigation, assisting in developing protective measures in transactions and addressing contaminated sites issues in multiple jurisdictions, assisting clients in developing systems for compliance and strategic advice on preventative measures. Radha was involved in the creation of the Contaminated Sites legislation in Manitoba in the 1990s.

Radha joined the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in September 2017 as a Director and in 2018 became a member of the Executive Committee. In 2019, she joined the board of directors for Windmill Microlending. Radha joined the Board of Governors for the Business Council of BC (BCBC) in May 2020. She has also served as a member of the YWCA of Metro Vancouver's Culture Shift Advisory Council.

Radha was an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law for the Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility course.

Radha was a sessional lecturer at Robson Hall Faculty of Law for the environmental law course.

To complement her practice, Radha is a member of the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association.