David Bursey

He is a member of the firm’s Energy, Regulatory, Environmental, ESG, Mining, Power and Renewable Energy practice groups as well as the leader of the firm's Aboriginal Law practice group. He assists clients with project design and approval, community relations and the regulation of operations. He also advises on corporate reputation management, social communication of risk, risk management and governance policies related to environmental practices, Indigenous community relations and other ESG matters.

He represents clients before federal and provincial regulatory tribunals such as the Canadian Energy Regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Commissions of Inquiry, Environmental Appeal Boards and before government review panels during major projects environmental reviews. He has participated in many high-profile project reviews since the 1980’s involving various sectors: energy (oil, gas, electricity and renewable), industrial complexes, aquaculture, municipal infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, airport infrastructure, port infrastructure and marine shipping. He also assists clients with judicial challenges, appeals, compliance issues, injunctions and dispute resolution before at all levels of court and arbitral proceedings.

He advises on various regulated industries including: the licensing, economics and operation of energy pipelines; energy utilities; renewable energy; ports and marine transportation; telecommunications; cannabis and liquor, mining and forestry.

Before joining private practice, David worked with the federal government in Ottawa—first with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and then with the National Energy Board.

David is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, the International Association of Petroleum Negotiators, the Association of Pacific Ports and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association. He is also a former National Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and a former Provincial Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association (British Columbia).

David's expertise is recognized by various peer-reviewed lawyer rating entities including Chambers, Lexpert, Best Lawyers and LexisNexis – Martindale-Hubbell.