Calgary’s leading oil and gas lawyers take center stage as Lexpert unveils the results of our latest comprehensive yearly peer review. Check out the full list of Alberta’s most recommended lawyers and law firms in the field in our practice area rankings.
Oil and gas law is the branch of the legal profession that governs oil and gas production. In the survey, the practice encompasses all areas of upstream and downstream work, including exploration, construction, financing, taxation, environmental approvals, joint ventures and syndication, and federal and provincial regulatory applications.
Most frequently recommended oil & gas lawyers
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996
Janice Buckingham is the chair of the oil and gas practice and co-lead of the energy practice at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. She is also a partner at the firm. Buckingham devotes her practice to the acquisition, divestiture and structuring of complex energy exploration, development, production, infrastructure, liquefaction, transportation and storage projects in Canada. She represents clients in upstream, midstream and downstream asset and share purchase, sale and swap transactions. Buckingham also advises clients on multi-billion-dollar joint venture development, ownership and operation of conventional and unconventional energy resources, LNG and oil sands projects. She is a strategic advisor on all types of contractual issues arising from industry standard form and negotiated production sharing, processing, transportation, storage, marketing, construction, participation, joint operating and service-related agreements. Her practice is complemented by eight years of business experience where she served as vice president of a TSE-listed company.
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Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the bar: 1989 (AB); 1993 (ON)
Shawn H.T. Denstedt is Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s vice-chair of Western Canada. He specializes in energy, mining, environmental, regulatory and Aboriginal law. Denstedt advises companies primarily the natural resource industry. He has advised Canada’s largest energy industry associations with regards to regulatory reform for energy project developments. Denstedt has appeared in major regulatory proceedings before the Alberta Energy, Alberta Utilities Commission, National Energy Board, Federal Environmental Assessment Joint Review Panels, Ontario Energy Board, Alberta Environmental Appeal Board and various other appeal boards. He has also successfully represented clients in the development of multi-billion-dollar projects, including pipelines, oil sands, shale gas, LNG, hydro-electric, mining and offshore developments. He has also advised clients on their obligations to Aboriginal groups and negotiated resource development and IBAs with Aboriginal groups on behalf of resource developers.
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Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1992
Patrick T. Maguire serves as the vice-chair and managing partner at Bennett Jones LLP’s Calgary office. He acts for energy companies in Canada and internationally on a range of transactions, including purchases, sales, joint ventures, energy project development, project financing and energy commodity transportation, processing and sales. Maguire also assists borrowers and lenders in structuring and negotiating full and limited recourse financing arrangements for oil, gas and electricity companies. He has co-authored papers for several legal publications and has taught oil and gas law at the University of Calgary. Maguire is a former president of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation and member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
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Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 2001
Vivek T.A. Warrier is a partner and co-head of the national energy industry team at Bennett Jones LLP’s Calgary office. He specializes in infrastructure project development and private mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector. His practice encompasses the entire petroleum, natural gas and power value chain, from upstream exploration and production to midstream transportation and processing solutions and the marketing of energy products. Recently, Warrier has been engaged as primary counsel on projects at the forefront of emerging trends in the Canadian oil and gas industry, including the development of LNG export facilities on both the West and East coasts of Canada, renewable energy projects across the country, joint ventures in emerging resource plays in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and the development of greenfield pipelines and crude oil rail transloading facilities throughout western Canada.
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Consistently recommended oil & gas lawyers
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 2006
George Antonopoulos is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP. He is an expert in energy law and acts for energy companies on a broad range of commercial transactions. His practice focuses on the planning, drafting, negotiation and completion of complex energy transactions and project work in both the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors. Antonopoulos advises clients on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, joint venture arrangements, commodity transportation, terminalling and storage arrangements, corporate reorganizations and energy project development. He has also developed an expertise in joint venture and partnership relationships in large scale energy projects, specifically in the unconventional resource areas of oil sands and shale gas development. Antonopoulos frequently advises on both the transporter and shipper side of oil and gas pipeline transportation projects, including the drafting and negotiation of long-term transportation arrangements.
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Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2004
Simon C. Baines is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s energy group in Calgary. He devotes his practice to complex commercial matters relating to the energy industry and the development, acquisition and divestiture of upstream, downstream and transportation-related energy projects. These include offshore, renewable energy, LNG, oil sands and conventional and unconventional oil and gas. Baines has market-leading expertise and experience in assisting clients in commercial matters relating to offshore development projects, including the drafting and negotiation of joint operating agreements and acting as project counsel in negotiations with host governments on fiscal and royalty regimes, local benefits requirements and equity participation. He also assists offshore producers as consortium counsel in the development and formation of offshore transportation and transshipment systems. Baines has in-depth knowledge and experience in alternative and renewable energy projects. He assists clients and leads multi-disciplinary teams in the structuring and development and acquisition and divestiture of wind and solar renewable energy projects.
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Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the bar: 1985
Randall W. Block is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s commercial litigation group. He specializes in dispute resolution in the energy and oil and gas industries, including regulatory proceedings, commercial litigation and arbitration. Block has appeared before the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, Alberta Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada, Alberta Utilities Commission, Alberta Energy Regulator, National Energy Board and various arbitral panels. He has also sat as an arbitrator. Block has written and lectured on various issues in oil and gas law, and major energy and oil sand projects. Block is an expert in regulatory proceedings, corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration related to the energy sector. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2005. Block is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1978
Robert T. Booth is a partner at Bennett Jones LLP’s corporate department. He specializes in energy, resources and infrastructure. Booth has represented clients in oil and gas exploration, production and marketing and engineering, procurement and construction contracts for major oil sands. He has also acted on mining and processing facilities, major pipeline transportation projects, electric power generation and transmission and energy utility businesses. His experience includes structuring businesses and advising management in strategic decision making for Canadian and foreign corporations. Booth obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada. He serves on the boards of public companies. He has served as a director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and Canadian Energy Law Foundation. Booth is also a past president of the Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada and an honorary counsel for the Conference of Defence Associations and CDA Institute.
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Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1995 (SK); 1998 (AB)
Marie H. Buchinski is the head of Bennett Jones LLP’s utilities and rates practice group. She is also a member of the firm’s regulatory and environmental practice group, and energy and oil and gas industry team. Her practice focuses on providing strategic advice and counsel on both federally and provincially regulated oil, gas and electricity regulatory matters. Buchinski advises clients on a variety of complex regulatory matters, including tolls and tariffs, energy and utility developments, facilities approvals, jurisdictional issues, Indigenous matters, pipeline access, and energy imports and exports. She regularly appears on behalf of clients in processes before the Canada Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission and Alberta Energy Regulator. Buchinski has also appeared before the Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal Canada and Alberta Surface Rights Board. She regularly advocates for clients before the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Federal Court of Canada on related appeal matters. Buchinski has assisted in the preparation of numerous publications and blogs.
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Law firm: Torys LLP
Year called to the bar: 1998
Chris Christopher serves as partner at Torys LLP. He advises oil, gas and power companies on a variety of commercial projects and transactions. His practice encompasses the acquisition and divestiture of energy assets and advising on a variety of aspects pertaining to energy project development, including joint ventures, construction, operation and maintenance, logistics and transportation, processing and marketing arrangements as they relate to LNG, oil sands, shale gas and power projects. Christopher’s legal expertise is supplemented by five years of business experience in various oil and gas companies.
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 2001
John R. Cusano is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP in Calgary. He practises in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance and regulatory law. Cusano maintains an active energy practice, where he regularly appears before provincial and federal regulators with matters related to market rules applications, transmission system expansions and cost of capital and other tariff issues. He has extensive experience in contractual agreements related to surface rights, natural gas liquids, facility applications, processing service agreements, pipeline agreements and cost of service issues. His experience extends to matters before various regulatory tribunals, including the Energy Resources Conservation Board, Alberta Utilities Commission, National Energy Board and the Surface Rights Board.
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Law firm: Torys LLP
Year called to the bar: 1987
Luigi A. Cusano is the managing partner of Torys LLP’s Calgary office. He devotes his practice to administrative, regulatory and environmental law and commercial litigation in the energy sector. Cusano is involved in the restructuring of Alberta’s electricity sector and has experience in all aspects of both regulated and unregulated electricity sectors. He also boasts extensive regulatory experience in the oil and gas sector. Cusano has appeared before numerous regulatory tribunals, including the Alberta Utilities Commission, Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board, British Columbia Utilities Commission, Alberta Environmental Appeal Board, Alberta Surface Rights Board and the National Energy Board. He is an expert in litigating securities and energy industry-related matters. Cusano has appeared in all levels of Alberta courts and has extensive experience in mediation and arbitration.
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Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 1979
Donald G. Davies is a senior partner at full-service business law firm Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. He specializes in energy law, with a focus on the regulatory and litigation fields. For more than 30 years, Davies has represented oil and gas producers, pipeline companies and industry organizations in proceedings before the National Energy Board. He has acted for both proponents and interveners in many applications for the approval of pipeline facilities and for the determination of pipeline tolls and tariffs. His cases typically involve complex environmental, aboriginal, constitutional, jurisdictional, economic and financial issues. Davies also has extensive experience before the Alberta energy regulators, including the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Alberta Utilities Commission. He has acted for proponents of various energy projects, including oil sands developments, pipelines, power plants and well and field facilities. He also represents clients in regulatory proceedings relating to electrical power facilities and utility rates and services.
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 2004
Laura K. Estep is a member of Dentons Canada LLP’s energy regulatory practice group in Calgary. She is also a member of the firm’s Canada board. Estep has significant experience in assisting major oil and gas companies through all stages of the regulatory process, including representation before the National Energy Board, the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Alberta Energy Regulator. She has appeared at various levels of the courts on energy-related appeal and judicial review matters. Estep advises energy clients on land acquisition and compensation matters. Throughout her career, she has had the benefit of being seconded as in-house counsel to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and to a major oil and gas producer in Alberta.
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Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 1992
Wayne W. Fedun serves as senior partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. He has practised oil and gas law in Canada and internationally since being called to the Bar. Fedun has negotiated and prepared a variety of energy industry agreements. These include share and asset purchase and sale, joint venture, project development and finance, facility, engineering, procurement and construction, transportation, marketing and offshore agreements. These agreements have related to projects ranging from several million to several billion dollars and have involved conventional energy matters, large and complex transactional arrangements, heavy oil and oil sands, LNG, gas storage arrangement, transportation, offshore drilling and production projects.
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Law firm: Torys LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996 (ON); 1996 (AB)
Derek S. Flaman is a partner at Torys LLP. He devotes his practice to commercial law in the energy sector, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and project development in the oil and gas industry. Flaman is an expert in the acquisition and divestiture of upstream, midstream and downstream assets, onshore and offshore exploration and production matters, pipeline and transportation matters and the marketing of energy and energy-related products. He has worked with private equity funds, exploration and production companies, institutional lenders and midstream and downstream companies. Flaman is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and the Canadian Bar Association natural resource law and international business law sections.
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Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the bar: 1983
Brock W. Gibson is the chair of business law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He specializes in corporate and commercial law with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and private equity transactions. His clients include leading issuers, financial institutions, investment dealers, energy and service companies. Gibson has advised on some of the largest commercial transactions in Canada. Brock is also a member of the advisory board of the Canadian General Counsel Awards.
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1996 (AB); 2005 (BC)
Bradley S. Gilmour is a partner and the head of the regulatory department at Bennett Jones LLP. His practice is focused on environmental, regulatory, energy and Aboriginal law. Gilmour provides advice on a range of environmental legal issues, including due diligence, environmental approvals, release and incident reporting, contaminated sites and environmental prosecutions. He has been defense counsel on many of the most significant environmental and regulatory prosecutions under environmental and energy legislation. Gilmour boasts significant experience in facility approval applications associated with a broad range of energy, natural resource, chemical, petrochemical, hydro, biofuel, wind and other industry types and involving federal and provincial environmental impact assessments. His experience includes helping clients in obtaining approvals for oil sands mining and on-site projects, upgrading and refining projects, LNG facilities, conventional oil and gas wells, pipelines and facilities, carbon capture and storage, biomass, hydro and other renewable projects. Gilmour has appeared before the Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Board, Canada Energy Regulator and Alberta Environmental Appeals Board. He holds a BSc in chemistry and MSc degree in environmental science.
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Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1979
Donald E. Greenfield is a partner at the corporate department and a member of the Bennett Jones LLP’s oil and gas practice and China practice groups. He is also a member of the firm’s competition, antitrust and foreign investment practice group. Greenfield has 40 years of experience in domestic and international asset and share sales and acquisitions, LNG and oil sands development, production sharing contracts, production and facilities construction and operating matters, production sale contracts, financings, joint ventures, limited partnerships and farmouts. He has contributed to several Canadian Energy Law Foundation and Association of International Petroleum Negotiators seminars and has taught courses for Insight, the Conference Board, the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen.
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Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the bar: 1989
Mungo Hardwicke-Brown is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and major energy infrastructure project development law. Hardwicke-Brown devotes his practice to the energy industry with experience across all sectors, including oil and gas, oil sands, pipelines, LNG terminalling and supply arrangements and power generation and transmission. Hardwicke-Brown also boasts expertise in public-private partnership projects. He has extensive transactional leadership experience, including in the areas of public markets, tax, regulatory, trade and competition, employment, pensions and litigation. Hardwicke-Brown has authored and co-authored several papers and spoken at numerous conferences and industry associations, including the Canadian Energy Law Foundation and the US-based Association of Corporate Counsel.
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Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the bar: 1999 (AB); 2012 (NT); 2014 (BC)
Martin Ignasiak is a partner and the national co-chair of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s regulatory, environmental, Aboriginal and land group. He has extensive experience in market regulation (electricity, tolls, and tariffs) and in developing and executing strategies for obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for large scale industrial projects, including oil sands facilities, mines, pipelines and electric generation facilities, including renewables. In his capacity as a regulatory lawyer, Ignasiak has negotiated numerous impact benefit agreements. He has appeared before all levels of court, including the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada.
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1982 (ON); 1991 (AB); 1994 (NT)
Loyola G. Keough is a partner at Bennett Jones LLP’s regulatory and environment department. He acts primarily for project developers, pipelines, industry associations, utility companies, gas buyers, producers and financial institutions. Keough boasts significant experience in oil, gas, electricity, LNG, compressed natural gas and natural gas liquids, with matters relating to tolls, tariffs and facilities. These include Aboriginal and environmental implications and imports and exports. Keough also has considerable experience in addressing deregulation issues in both the gas and electric industries. He practises before the Canada Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission and Alberta Energy Regulator. Keough has also participated in proceedings before the British Columbia Utilities Commission and the PUB of the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
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Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1995 (AB); 1995 (ON)
Maureen E. Killoran is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. She has a national litigation practice focused on complex commercial disputes and energy and resource industry matters. Killoran works in the firm’s Calgary and Vancouver offices. She is a seasoned trial and appeal lawyer with extensive arbitration experience. Killoran currently acts on several high-profile disputes. She is the lead litigation counsel on the $10-billion Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project and has represented the project at the Federal Court of Canada, Federal Court of Appeal, British Columbia Supreme Court, British Columbia Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada in judicial reviews, appeals, Aboriginal and constitutional issues, injunctions and a constitutional reference case. She joined the firm as a partner in 2005 and as managing partner of the Calgary office. Killoran is the first woman in Alberta to hold a leadership position at a national firm. She is a frequent speaker on disputes, energy, Aboriginal, constitutional and environmental topics.
Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 1997
KayLynn G. Litton is partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s Calgary office, where she leads the Canadian energy practice. Litton boasts more than 20 years of experience assisting clients in relation to a variety of commercial projects and transactions. Her practice includes the negotiation and drafting of complex transactional, corporate, commercial and operational agreements for clients in a variety of energy sectors. Litton regularly represents clients in domestic and international acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, joint venture projects in the upstream, midstream and renewable energy sectors, pipeline and other midstream contracts, corporate reorganizations, Aboriginal consultation and other commercial and contractual matters.
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Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1989
David J. Macaulay is a partner and the co-head of the power and renewable energy practice group at Bennett Jones LLP. He represents clients in the energy sector, both domestically and internationally. Macaulay has significant experience in the development of commercial energy projects in both the renewable and non-renewable sectors, with an emphasis on structuring power projects (solar, biomass, gas, coal, hydro, wind, battery, and other fuels), pipelines, storage (including carbon capture) and other energy infrastructure projects, renewable natural gas and conventional oil and gas projects and joint ventures with Indigenous groups relating to such projects. With respect to Canadian frontier energy projects, Macaulay has acted for Mackenzie Valley Pipeline and the Terra Nova and Sable Island offshore projects. Internationally, he has represented clients in the acquisition of significant energy infrastructure assets in Australia and the structuring of power development projects in the UK, Australia, Mexico and South America.
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1994
Shawn M. Munro co-chairs Bennett Jones LLP’s energy industry team. He is also the past chair of the firm’s environmental law and Aboriginal law practice groups. With 25 years of experience in regulatory, environmental and Aboriginal law proceedings in Alberta, British Columbia and other provinces, Munro advises on major energy developments, including conventional oil and gas, oil sands, heavy oil, sour gas, coalbed methane and shale plays. He also advises on petrochemical and LNG projects, pipelines for gas, oil, liquids and carbon dioxide, power lines and generation projects, waste management facilities and pipeline spills. Munro acts on production disputes such as common carrier, processor and rateable take, gas-bitumen and gas-coal. He advises project proponents in First Nation and Métis consultation, agreements and access on traditional lands, reserves and settlements. Munro represents clients at various tribunals, including the Alberta Energy Regulator, Utilities Commission, Environmental Appeals Board, Natural Resources Conservation Board, Surface Rights Board and Métis Settlements Appeals Tribunal.
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the bar: 2005
Terri-Lee Oleniuk is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. She devotes her practice to project-related issues concerning natural resource development with a specialization in regulatory, environmental and Indigenous law matters. Oleniuk acts for a variety of companies in environmental assessments and regulatory proceedings to obtain approvals for major developments in the oil and gas, pipeline, mining, natural-gas processing, petrochemical, electricity transmission, hydro, solar and wind sectors. She also represents clients in front of administrative tribunals in related matters such as tolls and tariffs, regulatory investigations and inquiries. Oleniuk frequently advises clients on a variety of agreements with Indigenous groups and negotiates impact benefit agreements. She has appeared before the Canada Energy Regulator, Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission, Alberta Natural Resources Conservation Board, British Columbia Utilities Commission, Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and Federal-Provincial Joint Review Panels in respect of environmental assessment proceedings. She has also appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal of Alberta.
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the bar: 1987
Chrysten E. Perry is the managing partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP’s Calgary office. She also co-heads of the firm’s energy group and is a member of the partnership board. Perry boasts more than 30 years of experience practicing corporate and commercial law related to energy projects. She structures, negotiates and drafts agreements for joint ventures, partnerships and other investments in the energy industry. Perry is widely known for her expertise in operating and governance matters, complex asset purchase and sale and equity purchase and sale transactions. Her seasoned practice also involves processing, sales and transportation, marketing and operational issues facing energy companies. Perry’s advice is frequently sought in connection with the strategic and business law aspects of oil and gas projects by companies working in the upstream and downstream sectors and by pipeline and midstream companies.
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the bar: 1998
R. Ben Rogers is the managing partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s Calgary office. He is also a co-practice group leader at the firm’s national energy (oil and gas) group. Rogers acts for energy companies on all types of commercial matters across Canada and internationally. He has considerable experience in a diverse range of energy-related matters, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, the structuring of joint venture agreements, midstream matters, project development and the management of the legal aspects of day-to-day oil and gas and commercial matters. Rogers also has considerable experience in both conventional and non-conventional oil and gas development, and in East Coast offshore projects. Rogers is also a past director and current president of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation.
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the bar: 1996 (ON); 1999 (Eng & Wales); 2003 (NY)
Alan L. Ross is the regional managing partner of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Calgary office and chair of the firm’s US practice. He practices administrative and regulatory law, representing energy clients in national and provincial regulatory proceedings. Ross has expertise in the areas of pipeline transmission, oil and natural gas, renewables (solar and wind) and electricity. He also has significant experience with regulators in the UK, EU and the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Ross has represented clients before the Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission, British Columbia Utilities Commission, Ontario Energy Board and Canada Energy Regulator. Beyond the energy sector, he advises clients on regulatory matters in transportation, telecommunications and international trade. Ross received a Queen’s Counsel designation in 2020. He is a member of Young Presidents Organization and is a current and past board member of the Canadian-American Business Council, Western Canada General Counsel Awards and the Calgary International Film Festival.
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the bar: 1989
Bernard J. Roth is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP’s energy regulatory practice group in Calgary. He devotes his practice to administrative law. Since 1993, Roth has been a member of the firm’s energy, regulatory and environmental law practice groups, where he has worked on numerous energy projects. This experience has included appearances before the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board, Alberta Utilities Commission, British Columbia Utilities Commission, National Energy Board and various levels of courts on appeal and judicial review matters concerning these regulatory tribunals, including the Alberta Environmental Appeal Board and Natural Resources Conservation Board.
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Law firm: Gowling WLG
Year called to the bar: 1975 (ON); 2002 (AB)
James H. Smellie is a senior partner at business law firm Gowling WLG’s Calgary office. His practice focuses on energy regulatory matters, administrative law and litigation. In the oil and gas sector, Smellie boasts extensive experience as counsel before the National Energy Board/Canada Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission and other provincial regulatory tribunals. He has represented oil and natural gas producers, transmission pipelines, distributors, governments, petrochemical interests, marketers and shippers in facilities applications, export and import authorizations and tariff issues. In electricity matters, Smellie’s experience as regulatory counsel includes extensive work on behalf of Alberta’s independent system operator and other market participants. This extends to open access matters, tariff issues, export authorizations and numerous transmission system expansions and enhancements. His litigation experience includes commercial arbitrations and appearances in the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, provincial superior and appellate courts and Supreme Court of Canada.
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the bar: 1981 (ON); 1984 (AB)
Lawrence E. Smith is a partner and the founder of the regulatory department at Bennett Jones LLP, where he is also the former vice-chairman. Smith acts as lead regulatory counsel for Alberta’s largest gas LDC and has acted for many major projects, including various gas storage and LNG developments across Canada. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, federal and provincial appellate and trial divisions and arbitration panels. Smith has testified before Canadian Senate and House of Commons, California Energy Commission and retained as an expert witness on commercial and NAFTA arbitrations. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2000. Smith has held directorships for public and private companies. He is a former member of Montreal Neurological Institute Advisory Board and Rhodes Scholar Selection Committees in Alberta and the Prairies. Smith is also past counsel to the National Energy Board of Canada.
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the bar: 1990
Craig N. Spurn is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s corporate group in Calgary. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and commercial and corporate practice areas, with an emphasis on oil and gas law, energy transactions, joint ventures and projects in Canada and international jurisdictions. Spurn is experienced in LNG, oil sands, shale gas, pipelines, midstream, NGL and other energy sector projects and transactions. His clients include Canadian and foreign energy and resource companies, midstream companies, investors, service companies, technology providers, private capital firms and asset management teams.