TORONTO · CANADA · AMERICAS · GLOBAL

Helping organizations secure land access,
build trusted partnerships and
deliver complex projects.

Strategic advisory and legal services for clients and organizations navigating complex relationships and business environments.

I bridge different priorities and perspectives to develop and deliver effective strategies, achieve
durable agreements and implement governance frameworks that hold up to real world pressures.

I work effectively across jurisdictions with multifunctional and cross-cultural teams to facilitate understanding, fill gaps, mentor people, and drive projects and permitting across the finish line.

Whether you have a strategy issue, a legal governance issue, a communications, coordination or
capacity issue, I've tackled them all — often when these are intertwined — to clear the path for
your success.

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CLIENTS

Who I Work With

I serve clients across all sides of resource, infrastructure, and economic development — from individual and collective land and rights holders, communities and Indigenous Nations, to the companies, investors, founders and governments who need durable partnerships with them. I bring the same 360 degree depth of expertise to every side of the table.

First Nations Mining & Energy Infrastructure Investors & Capital Government Founders & Companies

First Nations, Government & Communities

Equity partnerships, IBA negotiations, governance frameworks, EDC strategy, funding access, UNDRIP alignment, duty-to-consult guidance, and capacity building.

Mining, Energy & Infrastructure

Social license strategy, Indigenous engagement, land access agreements, regulatory permitting, community relations systems, and dispute resolution.

Investors & Project Developers

Due diligence on social and legal risk, bankable agreements, stakeholder risk assessment, ESG frameworks, and connecting projects with the right partners and capital.

Founders & Companies

New and joint venture formation, policy advisory, funding strategy and application support, reconciliation-aligned project structuring.

"I have sat on all sides of the table — representing industry, First Nations, government, and others. That experience is what allows me to speak each party's language and deliver durable agreements and solutions."
ABOUT

About Adam — Principal Advisor & Counsel

I help clients navigate the complex relationships and pathways that determine whether ventures or projects succeed.

Over more than two decades, I've worked with resource companies, Indigenous Nations, governments, investors, executive teams and other clients, to solve difficult business relationship challenges, build trusted partnerships, solid governance, and deliver projects in complex surface operating environments.

My career has taken me from the field and executive offices of mining and energy companies to the leadership of an Indigenous economic development corporation, and now into strategic advisory and legal practice. Along the way, I've learned that successful projects rarely hinge on technical ability and legal advice alone. They depend on reconciling interests and understanding, aligning people inside and outside organizations, and having the right strategies, governance and management systems in place to support a clear path forward. Resolving complex dynamic issues requires synching multiple tactical actions and iterating these until the finish line is reached.

Throughout my career I've helped negotiate agreements that unlocked major resource investments, earn and maintain social license to operate, established Indigenous equity partnerships and joint ventures, built organizations and governance frameworks from the ground up, secured land access and permitting for complex projects, and led multidisciplinary teams through challenging operational and stakeholder environments.

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Fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

Adam McEniry
Adam McEniry
JD — Toronto Metropolitan University, Faculty of Law
MBA — Ivey School of Business, Western University
BA Honours — International Studies (Economics & Development), York University
Diploma — Management & Resolution of Social-Environmental Conflicts, Catholic University of Peru
Certificate — IFC Social & Environmental Performance Standards
Certificate — Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Certificate — Investor Relations (CIRI)
LEGAL & ADVISORY

Core Service Areas

My practice integrates legal services with strategic advisory — delivering outcomes that are legally sound, commercially viable, and aligned with stakeholder realities.

Strategic Advisory

  • Land Access, Rights & Negotiations
  • Social Licence & Stakeholder Strategy
  • Sustainability Integration & Performance
  • Indigenous & Local Economic Development
  • Strategic Partnerships & Capital Connections
  • Local Content, Supplier & Workforce Development
  • Funding & Development Partnerships*
  • International & Industry Standards**
  • Team Building & Mentorship

Legal Services

  • Venture, Equity & Partnership Creation
  • Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA) — Negotiation & Drafting
  • Commercial JV & Participation Agreements
  • Governance, Policy & Fiduciary***
  • Contract Drafting, Review & Negotiation
  • Regulatory Navigation & Permitting
  • Dispute Prevention & Resolution
  • Duty to Consult & Aboriginal Rights
  • Human Rights Risk Assessment

* Funding & Development Partnerships includes government programs, development agencies, foundations and other funding partners.

** International & Industry Standards include UNDRIP, IFC Performance Standards, ICMM, IRMA, TSM and ISO management systems.

*** Governance, Policy & Fiduciary services include advice to Indigenous Nations, corporations and economic development corporations.

THE DIFFERENCE

What Makes This Approach Unique

All-Sides Experience

Former mining & energy executive, founding CEO of an Indigenous development corporation, and sustainability leader across multiple countries — I understand the commercial, community and operational pressures that determine projects from every side.

Legal & Strategic Precision

As a practising lawyer and strategic advisor, I bring legal discipline to agreements, governance, partnerships and regulatory matters — helping turn strategy into practical, defensible arrangements.

Capital & Partners Network

Beyond advice and legal services, I connect clients with capital, financial partners, technical expertise and other relationships that can help move projects forward.

CAPITAL & PARTNERSHIPS

Connecting Projects with the Right Partners, Capital & Structure

Identifying the right opportunity is only the beginning. Moving from concept to execution requires the right partners, capital, governance and expertise. Drawing on more than 20 years across First Nations, industry, government and project development, I help clients structure partnerships, align interests and connect with the people and resources needed to move projects forward.

First Nations Participation, Equity & Capital

Structuring meaningful First Nations participation — from employment, procurement and capacity building to revenue sharing, equity participation and Indigenous finance.

Project Finance & Investors

Connecting projects with institutional investors, impact capital and lenders, while helping put in place the governance, social and Indigenous arrangements that support investment readiness.

Government Funding Strategy

Identifying public funding opportunities for economic development, infrastructure and capacity building, including programs supporting Indigenous participation and reconciliation.

Professional Services Partners

Connecting clients with trusted financial, engineering, environmental, legal and project-development expertise suited to resource and Indigenous partnership projects.

Joint Venture Structuring

Designing and negotiating JV, LP and SPV structures that align economics, governance, decision-making and long-term partner interests.

Stakeholder & Investment Readiness

Helping companies strengthen Indigenous relationships, stakeholder practices and sustainability performance in ways that reduce project risk and support access to capital.

IMMEDIATE VALUE

Where I Can Help Right Now

Engagements typically begin with a focused 90-day mandate that delivers clear, measurable progress — reducing risk, advancing active negotiations, and identifying near-term opportunities.

01

Opportunity & Risk Scan

Review current projects, agreements, and partnerships. Identify immediate legal, governance, and commercial risks — and highlight near-term opportunities being missed.

02

Active File Support

Provide legal review and strategic positioning on 1–2 active negotiations — IBA, JV, land access, or funding — strengthening outcomes and reducing long-term risk.

03

Funding & Capital Strategy

Identify federal and provincial funding streams, align projects with fundable priorities, and activate the right financial partners for your project structure.

04

Land Access & Social Performance

Assess land access status and stakeholder relationships. Identify gaps in consultation, benefit-sharing and community relations — and build a practical plan to operationalize sustainability commitments and strengthen social license.

05

Partnership Strategy

Assess existing or potential industry relationships. Define preferred partnership models — equity, revenue-sharing, JV — and position clients for stronger negotiating leverage.

06

Governance Review

Review governance structures for EDCs and Nations. Identify gaps in decision-making, oversight, and policy — and introduce practical targeted improvements.

Outcome Clear direction, reduced risk, and tangible advances in active files, projects, partnerships, and negotiations — within 90 days.

On the ground with land rights holders and communities — where access and agreements are earned, agreed and maintained.

TRACK RECORD

Selected Experience

$9M+
First Nation EDC assets built
11
First Nations relations managed concurrently
7
Concurrent operations as VP, Ext Rels & ESG
12+
JVs developed, structured or managed
First Nations
Northern Ontario, Canada

Founding CEO — GMS Economic Development Corporation (Atikameksheng Anishnawbek)

Established the GMS EDC for Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. Led economic analysis and negotiation of equity partnerships with major mining, energy, and infrastructure proponents — driving significant revenue generation growth. Oversaw design and development of an on-reserve industrial park.

Mining
Mexico (7 States)

VP Corporate Affairs & Sustainability — First Majestic Silver Corp.

Led communities, lands, in-country legal, environment, and government relations for a mid-tier silver producer with operations across 7 Mexican states. Directed land negotiations and dispute resolution with ejido landowners, oversaw environmental permitting of capital projects, and built the company's first Social Management System.

Mining
Canada (Multi-province)

Director of Indigenous Relations — Northern Superior Resources

Engaged and managed agreements and relationships with 11 First Nations across Ontario, Manitoba, and northern Quebec for a gold exploration company. Structured consultation processes aligned with duty-to-consult obligations and First Nations priorities.

Crown Law
Ontario, Canada

Professional Placement — Ministry of the Attorney General

Supported Crown counsel in the Natural Resources & Forestry Legal Services Branch on Aboriginal law, natural resources, and prosecutions matters — including advice on the Crown's duty-to-consult obligations for permit renewals and licensing, defences to Aboriginal land claims litigation, and Crown land matters under the Public Lands Act. Represented the Crown in provincial court hearings under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and Food Safety and Quality Act.

Energy
Colombia, Peru, Brazil

Director, Corporate Responsibility — Gran Tierra Energy

Directed the company-wide corporate responsibility program across three countries with a $15M+ communities budget and 50+ site staff. Developed human rights and security, land access, and local content standards. Led negotiations with indigenous and community groups.

Base Metals
Canada & Indonesia

Corporate Affairs — Vale Base Metals

Managed government, regulatory, and public affairs for a global major. Implemented MAC's Towards Sustainable Mining standard across 4 Canadian sites. Led response to compliance threats from new Indonesian environmental codes — achieving industry collaboration and congressional review of legislation.

Tech & Agri-food
Toronto, Canada

Legal Structures and Pathways — New Ventures in Tech and Agri-food

Land access and capture rights along with permitting analysis for a green-tech firm seeking to monetize under a new carbon credit scheme, as well as an equity buy-in product development venture vested over tangible deliverables and milestones.

Mining
Ecuador

Socio-Environmental Advisory — Copper Exploration & Development

Delivered community relations program set-up, a social and environmental baseline study, and a traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) study for three separately owned copper exploration projects.

Infrastructure
Panama

Land Access & Resettlement — Wind Energy & Copper Mining Projects

Developed Land Acquisition and Compensation Plans, Project Grievance Mechanisms, and Stakeholder Engagement Plans for a large wind energy project and a copper mine affecting indigenous Ngobe and campesino communities.

TESTIMONIALS

What Clients & Colleagues Say

"Adam brought a wealth of knowledge and ability to the role and performed far above my expectations... Adam possesses high intelligence, exceptional interpersonal skills, and deep knowledge of the surface issues our sector faces — a rare and valuable asset for managing ESG governance and key relationships with indigenous peoples, government, and other key stakeholders."

Thomas Morris
President & CEO, Northern Superior Resources

"Adam truly understands the textbook but more importantly how to take it to the field. Perhaps even more rare in the business, he is not afraid to do the heavy lifting. Working in South America he was not only very respectful to the local culture but immersed himself in it."

Ian Harris
Country Manager and COO, Corriente Resources

"Adam played an important role in preparing the messaging for Vale's key stakeholders in government and communities, and improving our systems for community and aboriginal outreach across Vale's Canadian operations."

John Mullaly
Director Corporate Affairs, Vale Base Metals
APPROACH

How I Work

McEniry and Co. ("MaC") is set up as a lean, nimble, hybrid advisory and legal practice to efficiently and effectively provide the expertise you need to address your issues and achieve your goals. I focus on the 20% of actions that lead to 80% of results with a deep personal commitment to your success. I leverage technology and work within your constraints to join you where you're at.

I know good service isn't measured by the length of a report or the complexity of a legal opinion. It's measured by whether it helps clients make the right decisions, agreements, and systems to achieve their aims.

ENGAGEMENT

How I Work With You

Project-Based Mandates

Scoped engagements for specific legal or advisory needs — a negotiation, a contract review, an IBA, a governance restructure, or a risk assessment. Clear deliverables and timelines from the start.

Advisory Retainers

Ongoing strategic counsel and legal support — a trusted advisor available as issues arise, agreements evolve, and relationships develop. Ideal for EDCs and companies navigating multi-year project timelines.

Hybrid Legal + Strategic

Integrated legal and advisory services for complex mandates where commercial strategy, stakeholder management, and legal structuring must move together. The most common model for major transactions.

Fractional Leadership

Embedded, part-time executive leadership — stepping in as interim VP External Relations, General Counsel, or ESG/sustainability lead during a critical build phase, leadership transition, or growth period. Ideal for EDCs and companies that need senior capacity without a full-time hire.

Let's Discuss
How I Can Help.

Whether you're a First Nation or potential partner evaluating an economic development or JV opportunity, a company seeking land access and social license, or an investor assessing risk — I offer a candid initial conversation at no cost.

☎
Phone / WhatsApp
+1 416-880-9066
✉
Email
adam@mceniry.co
🌐
Website
www.mceniry.co
in
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/adammceniry
Languages
EnglishSpanishFrenchPortuguese
Global Experience

18 countries across the Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Panama
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Venezuela
  • Guyana
  • Peru
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Dominican Republic
  • Burkina Faso
  • Ghana
  • Republic of Congo
  • Indonesia
  • Singapore
  • New Caledonia
  • Australia