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Revelstoke Dam and Powerhouse on the Columbia River

Practices

Industries

Recognitions / Rankings

  • Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards 2013 names Lawson Lundell Energy/Resource Litigation Firm of the Year.
  • Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2013 recognizes Lawson Lundell for Aboriginal Law, Energy and Natural Resources Law and Environmental Law.
  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2013 top-lists Lawson Lundell in Vancouver for Energy Regulatory Law and recognizes our lawyers for Environmental Law and Natural Resources Law.
  • Best Lawyers in Canada 2013 names Chris Sanderson, QC  Natural Resources Lawyer of the Year and Jeff Christian Energy Regulatory Lawyer of the Year.
  • Chambers & Partners 2013 recognizes Lawson Lundell for Aboriginal Law, Energy: Power (Regulatory) and Environmental Law.
  • Lexpert / American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada 2012 recommends Lawson Lundell in the area of Energy (Electricity).
  • Lexpert Directory 2012 recognizes our lawyers in Aboriginal Law, Energy (Electricity, Oil & Gas), and Environmental Law.
  • Who's Who Legal 2012 recommends Lawson Lundell for Environmental and Oil & Gas Law.

Related Information

Lawson Lundell's energy practice is one of the largest in Western Canada.  Our short video highlights the range of our energy experience.

Public Utility and Regulatory

Lawson Lundell has an extensive practice in public utility law. Members of this group are most active in the energy sector where we act for utilities, major customers and regulators. We also provide public utility advice in the transportation, telecommunications and water utility sectors.

In the energy sector we have acted for applicants and intervenors on matters before the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board (NWT PUB), and the National Energy Board (NEB). We have been lead regulatory counsel to the largest electric utility in British Columbia since 1991. We provide regulatory advice to a number of significant participants in Alberta’s electric industry, and advise a Territorial government in connection with regulated oil and natural gas transportation issues in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. We also have experience in advising Canadian clients in connection with the impact of United States regulatory agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

We have also acted for clients before, or advised clients on issues relating to, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the British Columbia Comptroller of Water Rights.

Key Contacts

Oil and Gas Sector

  • Providing regulatory, environmental and aboriginal advice to proponents of in-situ oil sands developments in Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region
  • Representing a territorial government in connection with the regulatory aspects of natural gas transportation including active participation in the NEB hearings concerning the Mackenzie Gas Project and the application to have the National Energy Board assume jurisdiction over the Alberta system of Nova Gas Transmission Limited
  • Representing Canada’s major producers' association in connection with a broad range of issues before the National Energy Board and before the Federal Courts in connection with First Nation consultation issues
  • Acting for a major oil refinery in connection with all aspects of its downstream activities and before the National Energy Board and BC Utilities Commission in connection with its crude oil and petroleum products transportation issues
  • Acting for a natural gas direct marketer in a dispute with a local distribution utility

Electricity Sector

  • Acting for the largest electric utility in British Columbia in connection with all aspects of the regulation of its system planning, rates, project development, contracting out agreements and power acquisition
  • Advising wind generators in respect of all aspects of their developments in Alberta including negotiating with the Alberta Electric System Operator in connection with transmission interconnections and regulated rates
  • Providing ongoing advice with respect to the implications of litigation and regulatory proceedings arising from the California energy crisis on a major Canadian electricity exporter
  • Obtaining NEB permits in connection with electricity exports from Canada