Regulatory, environmental and Indigenous-Related Legal Issues

We know regulatory, environmental and Aboriginal law. Which means we understand the challenges your business faces in these areas and can work with you to resolve them.

We work closely with our clients to resolve their regulatory issues. Our team knows how to address the intricacies of administrative law – you'll get sound practical advice to suit your needs when you work with us.

Energy and electricity projects

If you are in the oil and gas or electricity sectors, we can help you with all manner of regulatory proceedings. This includes projects subject to federal and/or provincial environmental assessment legislation. We can also help you with pipeline and electricity toll and tariff matters.

Land access and water rights

We help clients with:

Project and environmental approvals
Competition
Freedom of information and privacy protection
Human rights
Land use planning
Occupational health and safety
Pipeline and electrical toll and tariff matters
Water rights and usage
Municipal development approvals
Electricity market matters

Aboriginal law

We advise on First Nations consultation issues and project related consultation matters, including:

Tax, corporate and commercial planning associated with land claim agreements and impacts and benefits agreements
Negotiating and drafting taxation, fiscal financing and own source revenue agreements on behalf of Aboriginal governments with the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments
Interpretation of impacts and benefits, revenue sharing and royalty agreements
Drafting, interpreting and administering trusts for settlement of land claim, impacts and benefits, capital monies and commercial settlement funds for benefit of Aboriginal beneficiaries
Structuring commercial arrangements among Indigenous-owned commercial entities and Aboriginal Governments and industry participants

Deep litigation bench strength

When things don't go to plan, we can guide you on consultations and resolving disputes with local landowners and non-governmental organizations. Our lawyers routinely appear before all types of provincial and federal regulatory tribunals, including:

Canada Energy Regulatory
The Competition Bureau and Tribunal
Alberta Energy Regulatory
Alberta Utilities Commission

We are involved in regulatory appeals and judicial review applications in the Alberta Court of King's Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada.

What our clients say

"They never lose sight of strategic business goals or broader market realities. Lawyers use their expertise to facilitate good, practical, business-friendly solutions." – Legal 500 Canada 2020

Representative work

Path2Zero

Represented Dow Chemical Canada on various regulatory aspects to its $8.5 billion Path2Zero petrochemical expansion project.

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.

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.

Government of Alberta's TMX reconsideration before the National Energy Board

Co-counsel to the Government of Alberta in respect of the expedited Trans Mountain Expansion Project reconsideration hearing where the National Energy Board recommended that the Project proceed.

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.

$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.

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.

Canyon Services Group Inc.'s acquisition by Trican Well Service Ltd.

Counsel to Canyon Services Group in the $637 million acquisition by Trican Well Service Ltd.

Encana Corporation's $2 billion disposition of assets

Counsel to Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.) in the $2 billion disposition of its Bighorn assets in Alberta to Jupiter Resources Inc.

Canadian Natural Resources Limited's $3.1 billion acquisition

Counsel to Canadian Natural Resources Limited in its $3.125 billion acquisition of Devon Energy Corp.'s Canadian conventional assets, excluding Horn River and the heavy oil properties.

Environmental and restoration matters arising from the construction of a transmission power line

Counsel to an Alberta-based power producer in connection with environmental remediation and restoration obligations arising out of the construction of a transmission power line in a National Park in conjunction with a pipeline project.

Appearances before the Alberta Utilities Commission

Representation of various stakeholders and stakeholder groups in AUC proceedings pertaining to the development of electrical transmission facilities.

Government of Alberta respecting constitutional challenges to Alberta legislation

Counsel to the Government of Alberta before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench and Federal Court of Canada in respect of injunction applications sought by the Province of British Columbia challenging the constitutionality of the Preserving Canada's Economic Prosperity Ac tGovernment of Alberta in respect of the TMX Reconsideration Proceeding.