Brittaney Labranche copy 1

Brittney N. LaBranche

Partner

403.260.0344
blabranche@bdplaw.com
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Education:
University of Alberta, Bachelor of Laws, 2011

University of Lethbridge, Bachelor of Arts (with Great Distinction), 2008

Bar admission: Alberta 2012
Industries:
Agribusiness, food and beverage, Construction, Government and not for profit, Oil and gas, Power, Renewables and energy transition, Start-up and early-stage companies
Practice areas:
Business law, Commercial agreements, Corporate governance and disclosure, Competition and foreign investment, Corporate reorganizations, Joint ventures and other business combinations, Energy, Environmental, social, and governance (ESG), Mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions

Experience

Brittney's focus is on:

Energy

  • Oil and gas transactions including asset and share acquisitions and dispositions, mergers, amalgamations and the formation and organization of corporations, partnerships and joint ventures
  • Negotiating and drafting oil and gas-related agreements
  • Advice regarding joint ownership and the conduct of joint operations
  • Oil and gas due diligence, including title review and drilling opinions
  • International oil and gas transactions
  • Energy projects

Commercial transactions

  • Asset and share acquisitions, mergers and divestitures
  • Corporate reorganizations
  • Negotiating and drafting commercial agreements
  • Corporate governance
  • Corporate and asset due diligence
  • General corporate and commercial matters

Competition law and foreign investment

  • Securing regulatory approvals for mergers from the Competition Bureau, Investment Canada and other regulatory agencies

Community involvement

Since 2019, Brittney has served as the Director of the Heritage Park Society. She is also a member of the Heritage Park Society Governance and Nomination Committee and the Historical, Interpretive and Education Committee. She was also Director and Chair of Pacekids Society for Children with Special Needs from 2013-2018.

Professional involvement

Since 2019, Brittney has been the Director-at-Large of the Petroleum Joint Venture Association. She is also:

  • Committee Member, Organizing Committee for the Canadian Energy Law Foundation Energy Research Seminar, Jasper, Alberta (2018 to present)
  • Course Instructor in Rights of First Refusal - Canadian Association of Landmen
  • Chair and Executive Member, Natural Resources South Section of the Canadian Bar Association (2016-2021)
  • Executive Member, Environmental, Energy and Resource Law National Section (2019-2021)

Professional associations

  • Member, Law Society of Alberta
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association

Published articles

Bill C-69: Introducing the Canadian Energy Regulator and the Impact Assessment Agency, Energy Regulation Quarterly (January 2020)

Presentations

Brittney has also presented at various conferences, panels, seminars, and other events, including: 

  • Understanding the New Canadian Energy Regulator and Impact Assessment Agency, Petroleum Accountants Society of Canada, Insights 2020, March 2020
  • Competitor Collaborations: Competition Act (Canada), BD&P Client Seminar, February 2020
  • Supply, Demand and Differentials: The Price of Canadian Crude, Southern Land Agents Meeting, March 2019
  • Shattering Conventional Notions: The New Reality of Unconventional Resources, PJVA Conference, October 2015
  • Competition Act, Canada Transportation Act and Investment Canada Act, BD&P Client Seminar, July 2015
  • Legal Strategies in Private Mergers and Acquisitions, Legal Education Society of Alberta Seminar, May 2015

Representative work

LNG Canada execution of $11.2B pipeline project

Lead counsel to LNG Canada on its negotiation of revised agreement with Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership to allow for the continued execution of the approximately C$11.2 billion pipeline project.

Sale of interests in the Simonette and Duvernay areas for $263M

Lead counsel for Ovintiv Canada ULC (OVV) in its negotiation, execution and closing of an agreement to sell its interests in the Simonette and Duvernay areas of Alberta to a private purchaser for $263 million

$225 million acquisition of oil and gas from Vermillion Energy

Lead counsel to a private issuer in its $225 million acquisition of oil and gas assets located in south east Saskatchewan from Vermilion Energy.

ARC Resources Ltd.'s $8.1 billion combination

Counsel to ARC Resources Ltd. in its $8.1 billion strategic Montney combination with Seven Generations Energy, resulting in ARC becoming Canada's largest condensate producer, third-largest natural gas producer and sixth-largest upstream energy company.

White Cap Resources $52M disposition

Lead counsel to Whitecap Resources in its $52M disposition of oil and gas assets located in south east Saskatchewan to a private issuer purchaser.

Obsidian Energy Ltd. acquisition in the Peace River Oil Partnership

Counsel to Obsidian Energy Ltd. in its $44 million acquisition of a 45% interest in the Peace River Oil Partnership from its partner (now 100% owned)

Graham Group’s acquisition of AECOM’s energy operations and maintenance business

Counsel to the Graham Group of Companies in the acquisition of the North American assets of AECOM’s Energy Operations and Maintenance Division. The acquisition positions the Graham Group as the third largest construction company in Canada and Western Canada’s largest industrial services company.

Sale of entities to Topaz Energy Corp.

Lead counsel for Reserve Royalty Management Inc. and Reserve Royalty Management Inc. in the negotiation, execution and closing of an agreement to sell all issued and outstanding units of Reserve Royalty Commercial Trust and related entities to Topaz Energy Corp. for approximately $26 million, payable through the issuance of 1,794,886 Topaz shares.

Sale of the of the 131 km Pioneer Pipeline by TransAlta Corporation

Counsel to TransAlta Corporation in connection with the sale by TransAlta and its partner, Tidewater Midstream & Infrastructure Ltd., of the 131 km Pioneer Pipeline to NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of TC Energy Corporation, for a purchase price of $255 million.

Read Case Study

Tourmaline Oil Corp.'s $205 million acquisition of assets from Saguaro Resources Ltd.

Counsel to Tourmaline Oil Corp. in the $205 million strategic acquisition of 50% of the assets of Saguaro Resources Ltd. in the Laprise-Conroy North Montney area of British Columbia. The companies entered into a joint venture agreement to develop the assets, with Tourmaline operating the joint venture and related facilities.

Whitecap Resources Inc's $300 million acquisition of Kicking Horse Oil & Gas Ltd.

Counsel to Whitecap Resources Inc. in its indirect acquisition of Kicking Horse Oil & Gas Ltd., a portfolio company of Quantum Energy Partners, for $300 million.

​Whitecap Resources Inc.'s $560 million combination with TORC Oil & Gas Ltd.

Counsel to Whitecap Resources Inc. in its strategic business combination with TORC Oil & Gas Ltd. from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and others for approximately $560 million.

Headwater Exploration Inc.'s acquisition of Cenovus Energy Inc.'s Marten Hills assets

Counsel to Headwater Exploration Inc. in the $100 million acquisition of Cenovus Energy Inc.'s Marten Hills upstream assets. The transaction comprised $35 million in cash, $50 million common shares of Headwater Exploration Inc. and $15 million purchase warrants.

Ovintiv Canada ULC's termination of joint venture with PetroChina Canada Ltd.

Counsel to Ovintiv Canada for the termination of their 2012 Duvernay shale joint venture and partition of assets.

Athabasca Oil Corporation's $70 million bitumen royalty upsizing

Counsel to Athabasca in the upsizing of the completed bitumen royalty with Burgess Energy Holdings LLC for an extra cash consideration of $70 million.

TransAlta Corporation asset acquisition from Kineticor Holdings Limited Partnership

Counsel to TransAlta Corporation in respect of the agreement with Kineticor Holdings Limited Partnership #2 to acquire the Limited Partnership responsible for developing the Three Creeks Power Project (two 230 MW Siemens F class gas turbines and related equipment) for $84 million.

Bonavista Energy Corporation's strategic asset acquisition for $53.3 million

Counsel to Bonavista Energy Corporation in the acquisition of certain oil and natural gas assets located in West Central Alberta for $53.3 million.

Restructuring of Westmorland Coal Company and its Alberta mining operations

Acted as local transactional agent counsel in regard to the cross border, Chapter 11 driven, restructuring of Westmorland Coal Company and its Alberta mining operations through its Alberta subsidiary corporations. This engagement involved several stages of debt restructuring, a complex tax structured credit bid purchase of all the shares of Westmoreland's Alberta subsidiaries, and various transactional logistics necessitated by Westmoreland's convoluted international corporate structure and Alberta's regulatory environment.

Read Case Study

Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission crude by rail project

Counsel to the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission in connection with the Alberta Government's publicly announced 120,000 bbls/d, $3.7 billion crude by rail (CBR) initiative for the transportation of Alberta crude oil by rail car to markets in the U.S. and Canada.

MEG Energy Corp.'s hostile tender offer from Husky Energy

Counsel to MEG, a Canadian oil sands producer, and its board of directors in response to the unsolicited tender offer by Husky Energy. Husky sought to acquire the entire share capital of MEG for approximately $6 billion.

Gear Energy Ltd.'s $70 million acquisition

Counsel to Gear Energy Ltd. regarding a $70 million plan of arrangement acquisition of Steppe Resources Inc.

$2.8 billion acquisition of Raging River Exploration Inc.

Counsel to Raging River Exploration Inc., a Canadian oil producer, in the $2.8 billion strategic acquisition.

NuVista Energy Ltd.'s acquisition of pipestone business of Cenovus Energy Inc.

Counsel to NuVista in the $625 million acquisition of the Cenovus Pipestone Partnership, which holds assets in the Pipestone area of Northwest Alberta.

NewAlta Corporation's $1 billion merger with Tervita Corporation

Counsel to NewAlta in the $1 billion merger with Tervita Corporation, a Canadian environmental solutions provider, in a stock swap transaction.

MEG Energy Corp.'s $1.5 billion asset disposition

Counsel to MEG in the $1.5 billion disposition of a 50% interest in Access Pipeline and 100% interest in Stonefell Terminal to Wolf Midstream Inc.

Whitecap Resources Inc.'s $940 million acquisition of energy assets

Counsel to Whitecap Resources Inc. in the $940 million strategic acquisition of light oil assets in southeast Saskatchewan.

Murphy Oil Canada Ltd.'s $937 million sale of joint venture interest

Counsel to Murphy Oil Canada Ltd., Canadian subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation, in the $937 million sale of its 5% non-operated working interest in the Syncrude oil sands joint venture to Suncor Energy Inc.

Freehold Royalties Ltd.'s royalty and land acquisition

Counsel to Freehold Royalties Ltd. in the $165 million acquisition of royalty production and lands from Husky Energy Inc.

Murphy Oil Canada Ltd.'s disposition of natural gas assets in British Columbia

Counsel to Murphy Oil Canada Ltd., Canadian subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation, in the $538 million disposition of the Tupper Main and Tupper West gas plants and associated pipelines in northeastern British Columbia to Enbridge G and P Canada Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc.

PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.'s $1.8 billion asset acquisition

Counsel to PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. in $1.8 billion acquisition of royalty assets from Canadian Natural Resources Limited.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $221 million acquisition

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. in the $221 million acquisition of the Westeel division of Vicwest Inc.

Freehold Royalties Ltd. $321 million royalties' acquisition

Counsel to Freehold Royalties Ltd. in the $321 million acquisition of two royalty packages from Penn West Petroleum Ltd.

Competition advice for the sale of a conventional natural gas business to CG Energy Canada

Counsel to Suncor Energy in relation to competition and Investment Canada matters in the $1 billion sale by Suncor Energy Inc. of a majority of its conventional natural gas business to CQ Energy, a newly established partnership between Centrica plc and Qatar Petroleum International.

Encana Corporation's partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation

Counsel to Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.) in the $2.9 billion partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation whereby Mitsubishi acquired a 40% interest in Encana's natural gas assets in the Cutbank Ridge area in BC.

Suncor Energy's sale of conventional natural gas businesses

Counsel to Suncor Energy in relation to competition and Investment Canada matters in the $1 billion sale by Suncor Energy Inc. of a majority of its conventional natural gas business to CQ Energy, a newly established partnership between Centrica plc and Qatar Petroleum International.

TriWest Capital Partners investment in Northern Mat & Bridge Ltd.

Counsel to TriWest Capital Partners, one of Canada's leading private equity firms, in connection with its equity investment in Northern Mat & Bridge Ltd.

Power company's bid to acquire Regional Power Inc.

Advising a power development company on its due diligence and bid to acquire Regional Power Inc., a corporate group with 106 MW of hydroelectric assets in BC and Ontario from ManuLife Financial Corporation.

Acquiring and financing solar projects in Alberta

Counsel to a developer in connection with the acquisition and on-going project finance of five solar projects.

Awards

Recent Honours and Recognitions

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada in Energy Law (2023)

Named in the Legal 500 Canada as a recommended lawyer in Energy and Natural Resources: Oil & Gas (2023)

Publications

January 9, 2024

A Guide to the Far Reaching and Substantive Changes to the Competition Act Pursuant to Bill C-19, Bill C-56 and Bill C-59

October 11, 2023

Update on Bill C-34 – An Act to Amend the Investment Canada Act

October 2, 2023

Important Changes to the Competition Act

November 1, 2022

National security review of foreign investments will be a central aspect of Canada's economic security going forward

August 24, 2022

Voluntary national security notifications now permitted under the Investment Canada Act

August 18, 2022

Interpreting "best efforts" vs "reasonable efforts" in contracts

July 11, 2022

Modernizing Canadian competition laws: The first in a series of anticipated amendments come into effect

March 9, 2022

The Canadian government cautions against Russian-related investments

February 10, 2022

2022 merger thresholds announced under Competition Act and Investment Canada Act

December 7, 2021

The circle of (asset) life: AER implements new life cycle management directive

April 9, 2021

Alberta Energy Regulator implements amendments to Directive 067

March 26, 2021

Criteria for national security review of foreign investments expanded

February 17, 2021

Decreased 2021 merger thresholds under the Competition Act and Investment Canada Act

August 11, 2020

New Order under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) brings temporary timeline extensions and uncertainty for foreign investors

July 30, 2020

Alberta introduces mandatory abandonment spending and new liability management framework

June 23, 2020

Foreign investment policy in the time of COVID-19

June 23, 2020

Make like the buffalo: Competition Bureau of Canada announces flexibility for competitor collaboration amid COVID-19 pandemic

September 19, 2019

Bill C-69: Introducing the Canadian Energy Regulator and the Impact Assessment Agency

May 14, 2019

New merger review thresholds introduced for 2019: the Competition Act and Investment Canada Act

January 7, 2019

Alberta crude oil curtailment: a Q&A. What operators need to know about the amendments to the curtailment rules

December 5, 2018

Government of Alberta Takes Action to Address Unprecedented Price Differential