Leading oil and gas lawyers in Calgary

Calgary’s leading oil and gas lawyers take centre stage as Lexpert unveils the results of its comprehensive yearly peer review. Check out the full list of Alberta’s most recommended energy lawyers and law firms 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

Janice Buckingham

Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Year called to the Bar: 1996

Recent Articles

Canada's budget unveils steps for open banking and domestic investment

Jane Angel at the Canadian Film Centre, on why AI is still mainly ‘off limits’ for filmmakers

Rebecca Ma has been appointed as head and deputy general counsel at Interac Corp.

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 full-service business law 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. Buckingham is consistently ranked as among the country’s best oil and gas lawyers.

Shawn H.T. Denstedt

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 is considered among the top oil and gas lawyers in the country.

Patrick T. Maguire

Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP

Year called to the Bar: 1992

Patrick T. Maguire serves as managing partner at business law firm 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 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 is considered among the best oil and gas lawyers in Canada. Maguire has co-authored papers for several legal publications and has taught oil and gas law at the University of Calgary. He is a former president of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation and member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

Vivek T.A. Warrier

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. Warrier is recognized as one of the country’s top oil and gas lawyers.

Consistently recommended oil & gas lawyers

George Antonopoulos

Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP

Year called to the Bar: 2006

George Antonopoulos is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP and is considered among the leading oil and gas lawyers in the country. 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.

Simon C. Baines

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. Baines is recognized as one of the top oil and gas lawyers in the country.

Brian J. Bidyk

Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Year called to the Bar: 2002

Brian J. Bidyk is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s business law group in Calgary. His practice encompasses a variety of corporate and commercial matters, with a specialization in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in the oil and gas, electricity and renewable power industries. Bidyk is often called upon to advise major oil and gas corporations in the upstream, midstream and service sectors, and electricity developers and producers in M&A divestitures and the development and construction of projects. Bidyk’s expertise includes the preparation and negotiation of a variety of agreements within the energy industry such as asset and share purchase, asset exchange, participation, joint venture, partnership, power purchase and tolling agreements. He acts as corporate secretary for several of his clients and has developed corporate finance experience through his work with both public and private companies in equity and loan financings. Bidyk is one of Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

Randall W. Block

Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

Year called to the Bar: 1985

Randall W. Block is a partner at business law firm 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 is considered one of the best oil and gas lawyers in the country. He 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.

Robert (Bob) T. Booth

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 is recognized as one of Canada’s top oil and gas lawyers. He has represented clients in oil and gas exploration, production and marketing and engineering, procurement and construction contracts for major oil sands. Booth 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.

Marie H. Buchinski

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 is considered among the country’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

Chris Christopher

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. He is recognized as one of the top oil and gas lawyers in Canada.

Luigi A. (Lou) Cusano

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 and is recognized as among the best oil and gas lawyers in the country. 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.

Donald G. Davies

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. Davies is considered among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

Robert J. Engbloom

Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Year called to the Bar: 1976

Robert J. Engbloom serves as counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, transactional, governance and general business matters. Engbloom has acted as lead counsel on a variety of significant transactions and has extensive experience in providing advice on M&A, reorganizations and related-party transactions. His practice includes advising boards of directors and special committees on both governance matters and substantive transactions. Engbloom also boasts considerable experience on a range of corporate finance matters, representing issuers and underwriters in a variety of public and private financing matters nationally and internationally. He serves as corporate secretary or director of several public and private corporations. Although Engbloom’s practice is primarily in the natural resources and energy areas, he also acts for clients and on transactions in other industries. Engbloom is considered as among Canada’s best oil and gas lawyers.

Laura K. Estep

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. Estep is recognized as among the country’s best oil and gas lawyers.

Wayne W. Fedun

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. He is considered as one of Canada’s top oil and gas lawyers.

Derek S. Flaman

Law firm: Torys LLP

Year called to the Bar: 1996 (ON); 1996 (AB)

Derek S. Flaman is a partner at Torys LLP and is recognized as one of Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers. 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.

Brock W. Gibson

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. He is recognized as one of the leading oil and gas lawyers in the country.

Bradley S. Gilmour

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, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Board, the Canada Energy Regulator and the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board. He is ranked among the country’s best oil and gas lawyers.

Donald E. Greenfield

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 is considered among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers. Greenfield 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.

Mungo Hardwicke-Brown

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. He is recognized as a leading oil and gas lawyer in Canada.

Christopher R. Harris

Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Year called to the Bar: 2008

Christopher R. Harris is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He advises clients on a variety of transactional and commercial matters, including both domestic and international matters. He has significant experience in all facets of the energy industry, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, project development and other arrangements such as power and commodity supply and off-take agreements. He is considered one of the best oil and gas lawyers in the country. Outside of the energy industry, Harris has a wide variety of experience advising clients in areas such as agriproducts, industrial services and technology, including the acquisition of technology-based businesses. Harris is a member of the board of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation.

Michael A. Hurst

Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP

Year called to the Bar: 1976

Michael A. Hurst is a partner and the manager of Dentons Canada LLP’s energy transactions practice in Calgary. He is also the firm’s national and global energy sector lead for Canada. Hurst is an expert in energy law. He is recognized as one of the country’s top oil and gas lawyers. Hurst advises clients on oil and gas upstream, midstream and pipeline acquisitions, the structuring of greenfield projects, financing transactions and product sales arrangements. He has worked on infrastructure projects in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, the Canadian arctic and offshore areas and South America. Hurst has also acted in the structuring of three large oil sands joint ventures.

Loyola G. Keough

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, the Alberta Utilities Commission and the Alberta Energy Regulator, and has participated in proceedings before the British Columbia Utilities Commission and the PUB of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Keough is considered among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

Maureen E. Killoran

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. Working on 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, the Federal Court of Appeal, the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the 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. She was the first woman in Alberta to hold a leadership position at a national firm. Killoran is a frequent speaker on disputes, energy, Aboriginal, constitutional and environmental topics. She is considered among the best oil and gas lawyers in Canada.

Shawn M. Munro

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. He is recognized as one of the country’s top oil and gas lawyers.

Chrysten E. Perry

Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP

Year called to the Bar: 1987

Chrysten E. Perry is the managing partner of business law firm Stikeman Elliott LLP’s Calgary office. She also co-heads of the firm’s energy Group. She has more than 30 years’ experience practising corporate, commercial and mergers and acquisitions law related to oil and gas projects. Her practice spans several sectors, including conventional petroleum and natural gas, LNG, NGLs, heavy oil, shale and coalbed methane. Perry is consistently ranked as among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

R. Ben Rogers

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 recognized as among the country’s best oil and gas lawyers. He is also a past director and current president of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation.

Alan L. Ross

Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

Year called to the Bar: 1996 (ON); 1999 (Eng & Wales); 2003 (NY)

Alan L. Ross is the managing partner of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Calgary office. He is also the national leader of the firm's public policy and government relations group. Ross practises administrative and regulatory law, with a focus on regulatory proceedings of pipeline transmission, and oil and natural gas, renewables and electricity markets. He also practises in the international trade area, including NAFTA and Canadian International Trade Tribunal dispute resolution. He has extensive knowledge in corporate governance and telecommunications issues. Ross is also a member of the firm’s oil and gas and US groups. He has appeared on behalf of energy clients before the National Energy Board and provincial regulators, including the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the British Columbia Utilities Commission and the Ontario Energy Board. He also has significant experience with regulators in the United Kingdom, the European Union and the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Ross is considered among the top oil and gas lawyers in Canada.

Jason D. Roth

Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP

Year called to the Bar: 2001

Jason D. Roth is a partner and the head of the capital projects industry team at Bennett Jones LLP. His practice focuses on infrastructure development projects. Roth represents owners, developers and contractors in domestic and international infrastructure, LNG, power, electrical transmission, pipeline, natural gas processing and other projects. He provides strategic advice, structuring and drafting and negotiation of design, engineering, procurement and construction, engineering and procurement, engineering, procurement and construction management and owner-managed contracts related to such projects. In addition, Roth assists clients in procurement and supply chain matters and contract administration issues, including change order management and warranty issues. He is recognized as among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

James H. Smellie

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 focus includes commercial arbitrations and appearances in the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, provincial superior and appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He is considered among the country’s leading oil and gas lawyers.

Lawrence E. (Laurie) Smith

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 is recognized as among Canada’s leading oil and gas lawyers. Smith is also past counsel to the National Energy Board of Canada.