As a destination practice for oil and gas clients, Bennett Jones LLP is one of the few firms equally equipped to handle major energy transactions as well as complex regulatory matters, including industry-shaping litigation. The Calgary-based team is routinely engaged by the full spectrum of stakeholders, from emerging independent producers and operators, through to global industry players and government entities. Among its recent M&A mandates, high-profile department co-head Patrick Maguire acted alongside corporate partner Ashley White to advise Canada Oil Sands on the sale of its equity interest in Japan Canada Oil Sands, which has a 75% working interest in the Hangingstone Oil Sands Project. Luke Morrison is also a key contact for oil and gas transactions. A deep bench of regulatory specialists is anchored by department co-head Shawn Munro, who is highly regarded for environmental law. Other recommended names for regulatory work include Lawrence Smith KC, Martin Ignasiak and Sean Assié. Brad Gilmour joined Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in February 2024.

Recognized by many as a first port of call for oil and gas transactions, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP excels across the full range of M&A, joint ventures, project development and investment matters. The energy practice additionally leverages a broad regulatory offering, which integrates specialists in energy regulation, environmental law and Indigenous law. Among its recent highlights, Calgary managing partner Ben Rogers acted alongside up-and-coming department co-head Christine Milliken to advise TC Energy Corporation on corporate and commercial matters related to the development of the C$12bn Coastal GasLink Pipeline. The Calgary-based group also draws on the transactional expertise of Chris Harris and practice co-lead Keith Byblow, while associate Ashton Menuz provides support. On the regulatory front, department co-head Terri-Lee Oleniuk is sought after for her comprehensive experience spanning regulatory, environmental and Indigenous law issues. Lars Olthafer and Katie Slipp are also recommended for regulatory and environmental compliance and approval processes.

A leading firm in Western Canada, Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP secures strong reviews from clients for its ‘diverse set of professionals with excellent industry and practical knowledge’. Oil and gas work is a mainstay for the one-site Calgary stalwart and it routinely advises across the full life cycle of oil and gas matters, from exploration and production, through to project development and corporate transactions. Among the names to note, managing partner Alicia Quesnel is a go-to expert in the field; she acted alongside next-generation partner Brittney LaBranche to advise LNG Canada on project agreements with Cedar LNG and Coastal GasLink Pipeline for the expansion of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline. Energy head Carolyn Wright is also highly regarded for oil and gas transactions. Other key contacts include Aaron Rogers, who is a former in-house counsel for Inter Pipeline; senior counsel Garth Parker; and associate Natasha Wood. In January 2024, Ashley Weldon left the firm.

Well weighted between transactional and regulatory work, Norton Rose Fulbright’s oil and gas team represents key domestic and global industry players on large-scale M&A, project development, corporate finance and regulatory proceedings, including environmental and Indigenous law-related issues. The firm’s formidable transactional bench benefits from the senior experience of overarching Canadian energy head Robert Froehlich, who recently advised Veren (formerly Crescent Point Energy) on its C$600m disposal of certain non-core assets to Saturn Oil & Gas. Other recommended transactional energy practitioners include go-to specialist Wayne Fedun and oil and gas practice lead Ryan Keays, who are highlighted together as ‘amazingly high-skilled lawyers’; KayLynn Litton, who is particularly recommended for M&A, joint ventures and midstream contracts; and senior associate Sean Wallace, who ‘has experience beyond his year of call’. On the regulatory front, Don Davies KC acts for oil and gas producers and pipeline companies, among other stakeholders, across a wide range of environmental, Aboriginal and constitutional proceedings. Canadian environmental head Alan Harvie is also noted.

Torys’ oil and gas group is a popular choice to handle high-end corporate matters involving the oil and gas industry. The Calgary-based practice acts for a diverse roster of energy clients, including in the upstream (Vermilion Energy, TAG Oil) and midstream (Enbridge, AltaGas) segments — it also frequently acts for downstream players and industry service providers. Department head Chris Christopher is a force in oil and gas transactions; he recently advised AltaGas on its 50/50 joint venture with Koninklijke Vopak for the phased development of the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility. The team additionally draws on David Cuschieri, whose focus spans corporate and commercial issues in the oil and gas, power and infrastructure spheres; up-and-coming partner Peter Danner, who has an emphasis on corporate and M&A in the energy, infrastructure and mining areas; and counsel Amy Maginley, who is also noted for energy transactions. Senior associate Gino Bruni is recommended for regulatory matters, including environmental work.

Particularly prominent in the regulatory space, Dentons’ oil and gas practice additionally houses a thriving transactional offering. The Calgary-based team is arguably best known for its expertise in the midstream sphere, where it is frequently engaged to advise domestic and multinational energy clients on pipeline-related work. The upstream sector is another key source of mandates. Transactional partner George Antonopoulos co-heads the department and recently advised Enbridge on its C$400m acquisition of the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facilities from FortisBC Holdings. Seasoned counsel Michael Hurst is also noted for energy deals. Group co-head Bernard Roth is a go-to specialist in oil and gas regulation, with Laura Estep and Dan Collins also highly regarded for regulatory work.

During 2023/24, McCarthy Tétrault’s Calgary-based oil and gas group handled a slew of headline-grabbing transactions on behalf of energy companies, with strong showings in M&A, asset exchanges, joint ventures, capital markets and project development. Transactional oil and gas partner Kerri Howard co-heads the team and acted alongside the corporate group to advise Pipestone Energy on its C$1bn sale to Strathcona Resources. Brian Bidyk — who also specializes in commercial and corporate-related work — co-heads the department. The practice additionally leverages an increasingly prominent regulatory offering, which draws on the experience of national environmental co-lead Kimberly Howard, who handles environmental, energy and regulatory law; and Douglas Yoshida, who spearheads the litigation area in Calgary.

Stikeman Elliott LLP’s oil and gas practice is distinguished by the breadth of its transactional offering, which encompasses M&A, finance and project development. Calgary managing partner Chrysten Perry KC spearheads the department and specializes in corporate, commercial and projects-related work; she recently paired up with the firm’s corporate team to advise Spartan Delta on the C$1.7bn sale of its Montney assets to Crescent Point Energy. Other transactional partners include Frederick Erickson, who contributes extensive experience in the upstream and midstream segments, and the increasingly active Kurtis Reed. The department further houses a robust regulatory group anchored by Dennis Langen, who is well versed across both the oil and gas and power spheres.

Oriented towards the midstream sector, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s oil and gas practice is recognized for its dominant regulatory offering, where it handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious administrative proceedings, environmental law work and Indigenous law matters. The sizeable national team also brings to bear significant transactional capability. Calgary managing partner Alan Ross KC is highly regarded for his regulatory prowess. Other regulatory contacts include Calgary-based senior counsel Randall Block KC; Calgary-based oil and gas head Peter Bryan; and Vancouver-based environmental, municipal, expropriation and regulatory head Rick Williams, who also handles commercial work.

Vancouver-headquartered Lawson Lundell LLP’s strategic focus on Western and Northern Canada ensures that it maintains a well-staffed Calgary platform and it is active in oil and gas matters across BC, Alberta and beyond. Combining strength in transactional and regulatory work, the team additionally brings to bear significant complementary expertise in environmental and Indigenous law. The group is co-led from Calgary by Paul Negenman, whose oil and gas practice spans transactions, regulatory issues and litigation, and firm general counsel John Olynyk, who specializes in Indigenous, environmental and regulatory law.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP acts for a diverse mix of energy companies, government entities, consumers and financial institutions, among other clients, on oil and gas matters. The team is particularly noted for its growing regulatory offering under the leadership of Calgary-based Jeremy Barretto, who chairs the national regulatory law group and is well versed across a range of energy, natural resources and infrastructure-related issues. Vancouver-based Arend Hoekstra is also recommended for regulatory work, while Calgary-based department co-head Josef Hocher is a key contact for transactions. Associate Liv Desaulniers left to join the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) in September 2024.

A ‘strategic group regarding public utility regulation in BC’, Fasken’s close links with utilities such as FortisBC Energy pays dividends and it attracts a significant volume of regulatory work in British Columbia and beyond. The team additionally leverages the wider firm’s top-tier Indigenous law practice, as well as its corporate and environmental law offerings, to provide full-service support on oil and gas matters. Recommended names in Vancouver include energy and regulatory litigator Matthew Ghikas; overarching energy and climate group head Ron Ezekiel; and regulatory energy partner Christopher Bystrom. In Calgary, transactional energy practitioner Brendan Sawatsky is noted.

The oil and gas group at Gowling WLG forms a key part of the firm’s wider energy offering and it draws on its sizeable national — and international — platform to handle a range of corporate, finance, construction, litigation and regulatory law matters. Calgary-based Andrew Lamb heads the practice and specializes in transactional work, with a focus on projects and infrastructure-related matters. Calgary-based associate Adriana da Silva Bellini provides support on both regulatory and transactional issues.