Katherine Hensel

Katherine is a citizen of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation. Katherine has built a diverse practice providing advice and acting in disputes concerning the assertion of inherent jurisdiction and other Indigenous and treaty rights, the duty to consult, commercial matters, public inquiries (including as Assistant Commission Counsel to Ontario’s Ipperwash Inquiry, and counsel to a number of parties at Canada’s Missing and Murdered Women’s Inquiry), coroners’ inquests, employment law and workplace investigations, child welfare matters, and select criminal cases.

Katherine is the recipient of a number of awards for her innovative and passionate advocacy for human rights and the advancement of social justice, including the Minaake Award for Human Rights and Advocacy from the Native Women’s Resource Centre and the Arleen Goss Young Advocates Award from the Advocates Society.

Katherine is regularly asked by law faculties, professional associations and regulatory bodies, First Nations and Tribal Councils, and others to speak and teach in her field of practice.  She served as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law from 2011 to 2019.   Katherine was also a member of Ontario’s Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2020. 

Prior to joining Foglers, Katherine founded and served Indigenous clients through her own firm, Hensel Barristers, from 2011 to 2021.  During that time, she was repeatedly acknowledged by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory and The Best Lawyers ™ in Canada in their rankings.  In 2021, the Globe and Mail recognized Hensel Barristers as one of the top 19 law firms in Canada practicing in the field of Aboriginal and Indigenous law. In 2023, she was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer.