OVERVIEW
Chris Beaumont-Smith, P. Geo., David A. Johnson, Krista J. McKenzie and Andrew H. MacSkimming* bring together a combined over 70 years of experience in the mining industry, offering professional management, geologic and legal advice to public and private companies. Operating outside the confines of a large company, the team* can deliver personalized and efficient services tailored to the company meeting its needs in a professional and pragmatic manner and across national and international jurisdictions.
The team* offers the services and expertise across the following roles:
- Chief Operating Officer;
- Consulting Geologist;
- Qualified Professional;
- Chief Legal Officer;
- General Counsel;
- External Counsel;
- Corporate Secretary;
- Independent corporate director.
List of Services that Chris, David, Krista and Andrew* lead, manage and prepare the necessary documentation and/or analysis for:
Structuring, preparation and management of commercial transactions: mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, RTOs, qualifying transactions, listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or the CSE, reorganizations, plans of arrangement, options/earn-ins, royalty agreements, joint ventures, streaming and offtake agreements, share and asset purchases and sales, secured transactions on resources assets, First Nations agreements, debt and equity financing, flow-through share agreements, power purchase agreements, engineering, construction, mining service, operating, milling, smelter, refining and sale agreements, personnel, supplier and aviation agreements for resource camps
Compliance and management of the corporation: AGMs, continuous disclosure, resolutions, minutes, board committee charters, corporate governance policies, stock option plans and agreements, pooling agreements and voting trusts, consulting agreements, director and officer obligations and responsibilities, registered office and domiciliation, proxy contests
Mineral tenure issues and geological due diligence: all mineral tenure matters including title examination, dispositions, complex changes to mineral leases and other interests, surface rights, Crown/public land permits and issues, legal opinions, review and validation of historical geological data, validation of historical resources
Environmental compliance: permitting, assessments, mine closure plans, contaminated sites, dangerous goods and hazardous materials compliance, remediation, environmental and energy projects, environmental risk management, working with regulators, conducting environmental investigations, defending prosecutions
Structural analysis and geological advice: determination of structural controls on mineralization, mineral estimation, interpretation of geological, geochemical and geophysical data, on-site advice in the local structural geology, project planning, permitting and implementation, drilling contracting and contract management, National Instrument 43-101 technical reporting; regional exploration targeting, regional geological reviews; Resource estimation, classification and reporting for all stages of projects from scoping studies through to feasibility studies and operating mines; Statistical and geostatistical analyses
Management of internal staff and external consultants across the world
Dispute resolution structuring dispute-resolution mechanisms and advising on commercial arbitration or litigation matters including construction, contractor and engineer disputes, misuse or misappropriation of confidential or proprietary information, disputes over surface rights and mineral tenure, tribunal and court appearances
* Canadian Mining Advisors is an association created solely for marketing purposes. Chris, David, Krista and Andrew are not in partnership and are not employees of Canadian Mining Advisors. Professional services are provided solely by the individual or practitioner concerned, and in the case of legal services, by the individual(s) or practitioner(s) concerned. Canadian Mining Advisors provides no professional services. Please review our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.
About Us.
Chris Beaumont-Smith, P. Geo., Ph.D.
Chris is a structural and mineral exploration geologist.
Chris received a Ph.D. in structural geology from the University of New Brunswick and following working for a number of major mineral exploration companies, Chris joined the Manitoba Geological Survey in 1999. With a research focus in orogenic gold deposits, Chris worked in the Lynn Lake and Snow Lake greenstone belts studying past producing gold deposits in the belts and elucidating the tectonometamorphic history of the region. In 2009, Chris moved into senior management within the Manitoba government, assuming the role of Senior Manager of Mineral Policy and Business Development. In 2012, his responsibilities expanded to include the acting duties of the Director of Mines, a role that he held until 2015 when Chris was appointed Director of Mines. Chris’ management role expanded again in 2017 to include the Director of the Manitoba Geological Survey in addition to maintaining his position as Director of Mines.
Chris has extensive technical background and experience in all phases of the mining cycle. This includes extensive knowledge of the mineral exploration industry in Manitoba, Crown-Aboriginal consultation, environmental licensing, mine closure and rehabilitation, and the regulatory requirements of the mineral resource development regime in Manitoba.
David A. Johnson
David is an attorney and a trademark agent specializing in corporate law, commercial law, intellectual property and securities. He has been practising as a lawyer for over 15 years. David is a member of the Quebec Bar.
David received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from Queen’s University, a Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.), Bachelor of Common Law (LL.B.) and a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.) from McGill University. He has completed the Directors’ Education Program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and has been certified at the Institute of Corporate Directors, (ICD.D). David has also completed the International Executive Program for Mining Leadership at the School of Business, Queen’s University and completed a Certificate in Mining Law at Osgoode Hall, York University. David completed the Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and has been certified by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CIC.C).
David manages commercial transactions concerning both public and private companies, commonly involving international and jurisdictional complexities. He often takes a general counsel and or corporate secretary role. Mr. Johnson has several years’ experience at the senior management and board level in a variety of companies in public and private corporations and not for profit organizations. He works across several industries including mining and exploration, software, energy, cannabis, manufacturing, clean tech, transportation, entertainment and wine.
Krista J. McKenzie
Krista is an Ontario construction lawyer with over 12 years post-Call experience who has also operated in the provinces of Manitoba and Alberta. Krista can provide legal services in both the English and French languages.
Krista assists both owners and contractors with construction matters at both the preventative and dispute stages. She drafts construction contracts and counsels on preventative matters at the outset of a project. Should a dispute arise on the project, Krista has experience with regulatory matters, adjudication, alternate dispute resolution, construction liens, and breach of trust claims at all levels of court including the Court of Appeal. Krista has worked on construction prjects for both public and privately held corporations and has experience with P3 and mining contracts.
Krista is certified as a Specialist in Construction Law by the Law Society of Ontario and holds a Certificate of Construction Law from Osgoode Hall PD. Krista graduated with a Master’s Degree in Business Law (LL.M. 2013) from Osgoode Hall PD, a degree in common law from the University of Windsor (LL.B. 2006) and an Honours degree in French Language and Literature from University of Toronto (B.A.(Hons.) 2002).
Andrew H. MacSkimming
Andrew is a Manitoba and Ontario mining lawyer with over 16 years post-Call experience (licenced in both provinces).
Andrew helps clients obtain finance, protect their investments and solve critical challenges throughout the lifecycle of their business. His clients include publicly traded companies, including intermediate producers with operating mines, private companies at all stages, large private equity interests focused on mining and First Nations mining proponents. In recent years, Andrew has played a pivotal role in transactions worth as much as $250M US and he is typically involved in drafting option, royalty and JV terms for miners. He has a background in government, politics and private enterprise, which allows him to take a practical approach and solve problems using a much wider lens than the typical legal practitioner.
Andrew holds Certificates in Mining Law and P3s from Osgoode Hall PD and an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School (2004). Andrew graduated with degrees in the civil and common law from McGill (B.C.L. & LL.B. 2002). The Province of Manitoba named Andrew to their Mining Liaison Committee on Mining and Exploration to make recommendations on attracting new mining investment to the Province. He is also the Vice Chair for the Expert Advisory Council on Manitoba’s climate and green plan. Andrew is the only member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation in Manitoba or Northern Ontario. Andrew routinely speaks to exploration and mining audiences.