• About
  • Offices
  • Careers
  • Students
  • Alumni
Background Image
Logo Bennett Jones
  • People
  • Expertise
  • Resources
  • Search
  • Menu
  • Search Mobile
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All

FEATURED AREAS

Energy
Funds & Finance
Mining
Capital Projects
All Industries
Crisis & Risk Management
Environmental, Social & Governance
Governmental Affairs & Public Policy
All Practices
Insights
Media
Events
Subscribe
COVID-19 Resource Centre
Business Law Talks Podcast
Kickstart
New Energy Economy Series
People
Featured Areas
All Practices
All Industries
About
Offices
Careers
Insights
Events
Search
Search
 

Energy Litigation

  • Download PDF
  • Key Contacts
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Download PDF
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events

Bennett Jones has served the Canadian energy industry for almost 90 years and has played a major role in the industry's evolution and diversification. Today, the business is global, the issues cross borders and treaties, and interests involve many stakeholders.

Our energy litigation practice is distinguished by our understanding of the technical aspects of the business, with lawyers who possess the educational background and industry training to operate in the language of our clients, whether from a geological, environmental or engineering perspective, or when interpreting reserve, scientific or financial reports.

From both domestic and international perspectives, our energy litigators have represented large integrated energy companies, independent producers, refiners, pipelines, distributors of energy products, investors, and the wide range of service companies that support the sector. Disputes have touched all areas of the industry, including oil, bitumen, natural gas, hydrocarbons, nuclear energy, hydroelectricity, natural gas liquids and coal.

Our experience has taken us around the world and encompasses a wide range of appellate work, mediation and arbitration. From title disputes and breaches of joint venture agreements, to royalty underpayment and fiduciary claims, our energy litigators have appeared before all levels of court, arbitration panels, and provincial, national and international administrative tribunals such as the Alberta Energy & Utilities Board, the National Energy Board, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Disputes have also involved operating agreement matters, rate-setting, third-party claims, compliance proceedings, ownership of hydrocarbon rights, lease and license issues, rights of first refusal, mass tort claims involving personal injury and environmental accidents, marketing disputes, and anti-trust issues.

Key Contacts

  • E. Bruce Mellett E. Bruce Mellett, Partner
  • Michael P. Theroux Michael P. Theroux, Partner
  • Related Lawyers

Recent Experience

Argent Energy, an Alberta income trust that operated and managed oil and gas properties located in the U.S., sold substantially all of its assets in its cross-border CCAA/Chapter 15 proceeding.
Wood Group Mustang (Canada) Inc., in defence of an action commenced by Canadian Natural Resources Limited, relating to the failure of an underground emulsion pipeline in 2009. Amounts claimed are in excess of $80 million.
Edge Natural Resources LLC, in the acquisition of Canamax Energy Ltd. by Edge and senior management and certain other shareholders of Canamax in a transaction valued at approximately $82 million.
An oil and gas company in a successful application for judicial review of a decision of the B.C. Surface Rights Board: Progress Energy Canada Ltd v Salustro, 2014 BCSC 960.
Leading global well service companies, in the defence of claims arising from fracturing and related oilfield applications.
Ares Management LLC, in its investments in Plasco Energy Group Inc.
Qatar Aluminum Limited, with its rebuild project of its primary aluminium products plant; Doha, Qatar.
ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd., in its successful appeal from an Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Order purporting to require it to hold the proceeds of sale of an asset in a deferral account.  The successful appeal confirms that the Board has no jurisdiction over utility assets not required to provide utility service and that the utility is entitled to the sale proceeds without any conditions. ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. v. Alberta (Energy and Utilities Board) 2009 ABCA 171.
Marathon Oil Corporation, in its US$6.9-billion acquisition of Western Oil Sands Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement.
A petroleum producer, in a claim relating to rights of first refusal.
Mystique Energy Inc., a public oil and gas exploration company, in its Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings, including preparing a Plan of Arrangement pursuant to which the client's public shell was, through a reverse takeover, merged with an acquiring private company.
National energy company, in defending a claim by a works contractor arising in the construction of a multi-billion-dollar oil sands project.
Pipeline company, in defending a delay and lost productivity claim arising in the construction of an oil and gas pipeline.
National energy company, in defending a multi-million-dollar delay and lost productivity claim by a works contractor arising in the construction of a multi-billion-dollar oil sands project.
A major creditor of Calpine Canada Resources Corporation, in Calpine's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings.
International energy company, in a series of UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings relating to multiple multi-million dollar disputes arising out of the ownership and operation of a gas field in the Caspian Sea.
Joint venture partner, in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the ownership and operation of an oilfield in Asia.
An oilfield service company, in successful arbitration proceedings dismissing claims arising from a patent license dispute concerning certain downhole technology.
A large oil and gas exploration and production company, in a recent complex litigation matter involving a freehold lessor, the termination of a petroleum and natural gas lease and the lessor's entitlement to damages.

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Ranked Band 1, Energy: Oil & Gas - Canada
Ranked Band 1, Energy: Provincial Regulatory: Alberta
Ranked, Energy: Power; Energy: Mining; Energy & Natural Resources: Mining
Chambers Global The Worlds Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Dispute Resolution: Alberta
Ranked, Band 1, Energy: Oil & Gas
The Legal 500: Canada
Ranked Tier 1, Energy - Oil and Gas
Ranked, Energy and Natural Resources: Mining
Ranked, Energy and Natural Resources: Power
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most frequently recommended, Energy (Oil & Gas), Calgary
Most frequently recommended, Energy (Electricity), Calgary
Repeatedly recommended, Energy (Electricity), Vancouver
Legal Media Group Benchmark Canada
Energy/Resource Litigation Firm of the Year

Insights, News & Events

Blog

Supreme Court of Canada Imposes Good Faith Limits on the Exercise of Contractual Discretion

February 08, 2021
       

Articles

Vasilis Pappas, Romeo Rojas and Gita Keshava Contribute in The Guide to Energy Arbitrations

December 10, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Leads Canada in Energy Law

October 27, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Sweeps Benchmark 2020 Awards

May 29, 2020
       

In the News

Luke Morrison: Force Majeure Not Common in Energy Sector

April 22, 2020
       

Blog

Suspension of Limitations Periods in British Columbia in Response to COVID-19

March 28, 2020
       

Blog

Ontario Suspends Limitation Periods and Litigation Time Limits During COVID-19 Crisis

March 24, 2020
       

Blog

Canada's Attempt to "Forever Alter the Constitutional Balance" Impeded: Alberta Court of Appeal Rules Federal Carbon Pricing Regime Unconstitutional

March 02, 2020
       

Blog

ExxonMobil Wins Climate Change Securities Battle Against New York but the War Continues

December 16, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers

November 29, 2019
       

In the News

Brad Gilmour in Lexpert on Environmental Legislation and Regulatory Law

September 04, 2019
       

In the News

Vivek Warrier on Risk-Sharing Agreements in Oil & Gas in Lexpert

September 04, 2019
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Leads Canada in Energy Law

September 03, 2019
       

Blog

Can an Insolvency Court Extinguish Interests in Land Through Vesting Orders?

July 09, 2019
       

Speaking Engagements

Dealing with Insolvent Counterparties

April 12, 2019
       

Blog

When Is It Too Late to Sue for Environmental Contamination? The ABCA Rules

March 13, 2019
       

Articles

The SCC rules in Redwater: Losing battles but winning the war

March 07, 2019
       

Updates

ABQB Clarifies Test for Lifting the Stay to Replace an Insolvent Operator

February 20, 2019
       

Updates

Not Just Linear Property Tax Priorities: Alberta Court of Appeal on Abuse of Process and Mootness

February 19, 2019
       

Articles

George Vlavianos and Vasilis Pappas Contribute in The Guide to Energy Arbitrations

January 17, 2019
       

Articles

The (Limited) Rights and Obligations of Tenants in Common

January 2019
       

Blog

Energy in the Pacific Rim—What’s New and What’s Next

September 20, 2018
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Leads Canada in Energy Law

August 31, 2018
       

Announcements

Munaf Mohamed Inducted as IATL Fellow

July 30, 2018
       

Blog

Oil Producers Win Another Round in U.S. Climate Change Litigation

July 26, 2018
       

Blog

Oil Producers Succeed in California Climate Change Action

July 04, 2018
       

Updates

Updates to Energy Diversification Act Investment Programs

March 15, 2018
       

Blog

The Energy Industry in Canada in 2018

March 06, 2018
       

Blog

Environmental Aspects of Wind and Solar Projects in Alberta

February 08, 2018
       

Blog

Navigating the Way Forward at GVBOT Energy Forum

December 20, 2017
       

Announcements

Five Bennett Jones Lawyers on the Benchmark Under 40 Hotlist

August 31, 2017
       

Blog

The National Energy Board's Role in Crown Consultation

July 27, 2017
       

Updates

Federal Government Announces Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change

December 13, 2016
       

Blog

Overtime Class Actions Gaining Traction in Canada: Is the Oil Patch Next?

November 21, 2016
       

Announcements

Blair Yorke-Slader Q.C. Admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers

September 22, 2016
       

In the News

Don Greenfield in Lexpert on Canadian Energy Industry

March 18, 2016
       

The firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use

© Bennett Jones LLP 2021. All rights reserved. Bennett Jones refers collectively to the Canadian legal practice of Bennett Jones LLP and the international legal practices and consulting activities of various entities which are associated with Bennett Jones LLP

Logo Bennett Jones