Lexpert reveals the top oil and gas lawyers in Vancouver based on the results of our extensive yearly peer survey. The complete list of British Columbia’s most recommended energy lawyers and law firms is available 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.
Consistently recommended oil and gas lawyers
David W. Bursey
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1984 (ON); 1991 (BC)
David W. Bursey is a partner at Bennett Jones LLP’s energy, environmental and Aboriginal law practice groups. He specializes in energy regulatory law, environmental law, Indigenous community relations and water resource management. Formerly a counsel to the National Energy Board, Bursey boasts extensive experience in the federal and provincial regulatory approval process with an emphasis on energy projects, environmental reviews and Aboriginal rights issues. Bursey represents clients before tribunals and the courts. He also advises resource industry clients, infrastructure developers, municipalities, First Nations and several industry associations in the energy, natural resource, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. Bursey has participated in many major environmental reviews, federal and provincial, on behalf of participants and the project review panel. He is considered one of the best oil and gas lawyers in Canada.
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Paul R. Cassidy
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1984
Paul R. Cassidy is a partner practising environmental law at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. He advises on environmental and natural resources issues, including major project permitting and approvals, environmental assessments, financing, mergers and acquisitions, lender liability, directors’ & officers’ liability, contaminated sites, environmental litigation, due diligence reviews, training and crisis management. Cassidy also advises on energy issues, including LNG projects, power agreements, project siting, climate change and renewable energy development. He frequently provides expert evidence in American proceedings on environmental laws in Canada. Cassidy is also a trained mediator and co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Environmental Arbitration & Mediation. He is considered as among the top oil and gas lawyers in the country.
Kent D. Kufeldt
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the Bar: 1989
Kent D. Kufeldt is a partner at the Vancouver and Calgary offices of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He is also the national business leader of the firm’s securities and capital markets group. His corporate and securities practice embraces equity and debt financings, reorganizations and mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas, mining, renewable power and other energy sectors. Kufeldt has significant experience with M&A and reorganization transactions advising boards of directors and special committees and acting for both acquiring companies and target companies in respect of hostile takeovers and negotiated acquisitions. His clients include companies, limited partnerships, trusts, private equity investors and underwriting syndicates. Kufeldt is ranked as among the country’s best oil and gas lawyers.
Robin M. Sirett
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1984
Robin M. Sirett is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault’s business law group in Vancouver. His practice involves a broad range of regulatory and commercial work for clients in the energy sector, including pipeline companies, distribution utilities, mid-stream service providers, power generators, investors, lenders and industrial and other end-use customers. Sirett has represented applicants and intervenors in numerous revenue requirements, cost of capital, toll design and tariff proceedings and major project applications before the National Energy Board and the British Columbia Utilities Commission. Sirett is one of Canada’s top oil and gas lawyers. He boasts extensive experience in all aspects of the development and operation of energy projects, including advising on project ownership and financing structures, federal and provincial project approval and permitting processes.
Rick L. Williams
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the Bar: 2000
Rick L. Williams is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Vancouver office. He is also the national leader of the firm’s environmental group. Williams regularly represents and advises clients on the commercial, regulatory and litigation aspects of project development, permitting and operations in the energy and natural resource sectors, including land, environmental and Aboriginal issues. He specializes in all forms of dispute resolution, including regulatory proceedings and appeals, corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration. Williams has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia, the Federal Court, the Supreme Court of Canada and various federal and provincial administrative tribunals, including the National Energy Board, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board, and the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal, Environmental Appeal Board, Safety Authority and Surface Rights Board. He is considered one of the best oil and gas lawyers in Canada.
Repeatedly recommended oil and gas lawyers
Samuel W.C. Adkins
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2006
Samuel W.C. Adkins serves as partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He is a corporate and commercial lawyer primarily serving clients in the resource sector, with a strong focus on Aboriginal and project development matters. His practice is national in scope, acting for clients across Canada on a wide range of Aboriginal law issues, including consultation, negotiation and the regulatory process. Adkins has significant industry expertise in the energy and mining sectors and has represented clients on commercial and transactional matters across all project phases. He is recognized as one of the top oil and gas lawyers in the country. Adkins was previously a director and vice-chair of the Association for Mineral Exploration in British Columbia. He is a frequent speaker and commentator on Aboriginal law issues in Canada.
Read more about Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP on cannabis sector litigation
Keith B. Bergner
Law firm: Lawson Lundell LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1997 (BC); 2000 (NU); 2000 (NT); 2010 (YT)
Keith B. Bergner is a partner at Lawson Lundell LLP. He advises private and public sector and government clients throughout Canada on Indigenous law and energy and regulatory matters. Bergner appears as counsel before regulatory tribunals and all levels of Superior and Appellate Courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He acts for clients in the natural resource industries, including mining, oil and gas, LNG, pipelines, hydroelectric generation and transmission, aquaculture and power projects. Bergner advises clients on the extent of the duty to consult and accommodate with regards to the potential adverse effects to Indigenous rights or title by major industrial projects. He also acts as counsel for proponents seeking regulatory permits and approvals and assists with the development of consultation programs and the negotiation of impact-benefit agreements. Bergner represents project proponents and governments in appeals and judicial reviews challenging project approvals. He is recognized as among the Canada’s top oil and gas lawyers.
Anthony J. (Tony) Crossman
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1996 (NS); 2000 (YT); 1985 (Australia); 1996 (BC)
Anthony J. Crossman is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He is recognized as a leading expert in Canadian environmental law and assists clients in identifying and managing environmental risks, providing advice on day-to-day operational issues and solving complex issues. His work specifically includes advising on regulation and management, corporate compliance and due diligence and litigation matters. Crossman boasts extensive experience in the energy, mining, natural resources and forestry sectors, as well as in the manufacturing, real estate, municipal, waste management and transportation industries. He is also an executive member and a past chair of the National Environment, Energy and Resources Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and its Environmental Law Section in British Columbia. Crossman is considered among the country’s leading oil and gas lawyers. He frequently writes for various publications on environmental matters.
Radha D. Curpen
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1986 (MB); 1999 (ON); 2007 (New York); 2016 (BC)
Radha D. Curpen serves as managing partner at Bennett Jones LLP’s Vancouver office. She also co-heads the firm's environmental law and Aboriginal law practices. Curpen boasts extensive experience in environmental, Aboriginal and regulatory matters, and crisis prevention and management. She advises clients in areas such as the transportation of dangerous goods, the defence of environmental litigation and the avoidance and defence of environmental-related prosecutions. Curpen negotiates with regulatory authorities and Indigenous communities regarding project developments and approvals. Clients regularly call her to manage and advise on contaminated site issues and the environmental assessment process. She also provides advise on environmental issues in commercial transactions in jurisdictions across North America. Curpen is considered among Canada’s best oil and gas lawyers.
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Ron Ezekiel
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1995
Ron Ezekiel is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He specializes in energy and natural resources law and is recognized as one of the top oil and gas lawyers in Canada. Ezekiel’s clients include utilities, independent power producers, oil and gas companies and other resource industry clients. His industry knowledge, ability to navigate complex negotiations and broad business transaction background make him an ideal choice for counsel on projects and mergers and acquisitions in the energy and natural resources sectors. Ezekiel has broad experience in carbon markets and environmental commodities. He acts on both acquisitions and divestitures of energy and resource assets, including early-stage and operating independent power projects, mining projects and gas storage facilities. Ezekiel’s expertise covers a variety of complex project development issues including, environmental assessments and permitting, impact benefit agreements and other agreements with First Nations, community benefit agreements, complex joint ventures and co-ownership arrangements, regulatory compliance and structuring considerations for project finance.
Matthew Ghikas
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1999 (BC); 2013 (AB)
Matthew Ghikas is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He is a leading energy and regulatory litigator with expertise in the energy, utility and natural resources industries. Ghikas represents clients before regulators in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta courts, and in arbitrations and mediations. He has qualifications in domestic and international arbitration and is a roster arbitrator for the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Ghikas represents a range of clients in the utility, pipeline, transportation and insurance industries. He advises on rate-related applications and capital project permitting and approvals. Ghikas participates seamlessly in cross-disciplinary project teams that include accountants, engineers, economists and scientists. He boasts extensive experience in international gas and LNG pricing arbitrations, rate arbitrations in the railway industry and commercial arbitration. Ghikas is considered among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.
Matthew Keen
Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2006 (AB); 2011 (BC)
Matthew Keen serves as partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. He is an energy regulatory lawyer practising in the inter-related areas of energy law, environmental assessment and permitting, tolls and tariffs and issues concerning Indigenous people. Keen appears before the courts and tribunals such as the British Columbia Utilities Commission, the British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board, the Alberta Utilities Commission and the National Energy Board of Canada. He has extensive experience with major industrial facility applications and the associated environmental assessment and permitting processes, including regulatory investigations and defences. Keen has participated in environmental assessment, joint review panels and Royal Commission processes on behalf of major pipeline, energy and large industrial proponents. He has also represented clients in a broad spectrum of toll and tariff proceedings concerning electricity, natural gas and crude oil pipelines in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Keen is considered among the best oil and gas lawyers in the country. He holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
Maureen E. Killoran
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1995 (AB); 2001 (ON); 2015 (BC)
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. Working out of the firm’s Vancouver and Calgary offices, Killoran is a seasoned trial and appeal lawyer with extensive arbitration experience. She currently acts on several high-profile disputes. Killoran joined the firm as a partner in 2005 and as managing partner of at the Calgary office. She is the first woman in Alberta to hold such a leadership position at a national firm. Killoran is considered one of the best oil and gas lawyers in Canada. She is a frequent speaker on disputes, energy, Aboriginal, constitutional and environmental topics.
Duncan M. McPherson
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2007 (AB); 2013 (BC)
Duncan M. McPherson is a partner at Bennett Jones LLP. He practices corporate and commercial law focused on energy and infrastructure. McPherson has deep experience in acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings, having participated in the purchase and sale of major energy and infrastructure assets across Canada, both in high-growth and distressed circumstances. He also has extensive experience in all aspects of project development, including pre-development agreements, co-ownership agreements, services agreements, tendering and construction. McPherson has led or participated in teams negotiating the development of LNG and offshore oil production facilities, pipelines, liquids terminals, subsurface storage, water transportation, processing and waste disposal systems, and gas-fueled and renewables-based power generation. He is recognized as among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.
Robert R. Shouldice
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the Bar: 1983 (AB); 1988 (BC)
Robert R. Shouldice is partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG). He practises corporate and commercial law in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, public infrastructure projects, energy transactions and projects, transportation sector projects, corporate reorganizations and corporate governance matters. His recent transactions include representing various clients in respect of a number of LNG projects on the west coast of British Columbia, the city Of Edmonton in respect of its $2 billion light rail public-private partnership project and BC Hydro in connection with its $1 billion smart metering infrastructure project. Shouldice also has ongoing representation of several transportation sector clients in various transactions and projects. He is considered one of the top oil and gas lawyers in the country.
Ron Stuber
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1991 (AB); 1992 (England & Wales); 2005 (BC)
Ron Stuber is a partner and co-lead at renewable energy team at Dentons Canada LLP. He devotes his practice to the development and financing of projects and major commercial transactions, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Stuber has extensive international experience advising proponents, lenders and others involved in major projects and transactions. He has spent many years based in London, England with major London law firms, where he advised extensively on energy and infrastructure projects and transactions throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Stuber has also spent time working as corporate counsel to major international oil companies. He is recognized as among Canada’s top oil and gas lawyers.
Read more about Dentons Canada LLP on financing the mining industry
Michael A. Thackray
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1987
Michael A. Thackray is a partner at the Dentons Canada LLP’s energy law group in Vancouver. He is recognized as among the country’s leading oil and gas lawyers, with extensive knowledge in all aspects of energy law and energy litigation. With more than 30 years’ experience, Thackray has been qualified as an expert before the courts in the US and Alberta and has provided expert opinion reports and evidence at trial. He has advised clients on regulatory applications and approvals, litigation, arbitration, expert evidence and testimony, government relations and public policy and mergers and acquisitions. He also gives upstream, midstream and downstream operational advice, and assists clients in infrastructure construction, ownership and operation, and corporate guidance and navigation. Thackray’s clients include large and small exploration and production companies and multinational infrastructure firms. He also deals with cross-border work with private and public companies across Canada, the US and the UK. Thackray currently sits on the boards of several private and public oil and gas companies in North America and internationally.