Recent Experience
A large Canadian gas producer, in a large energy project in Mexico, including the analysis of Mexican constitutional issues, NAFTA and WTO rules, procurement laws and regulatory developments.
Access Pipeline Inc., in a $400-million joint
venture between MEG Energy Corporation and Devon ARL Canada
Corporation.
BC LNG Alliance, on environmental, regulatory and Indigenous issues.
Bear Head LNG, in regulatory/environmental
approvals for construction of the plant.
Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., in the development
of a weir and powerhouse across the Peach River at Dunvegan,
Alberta - the Dunvegan Hydroelectric Project.
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, in a reference regarding the application of the User Fees Act to the Telecommunications Fees Regulations, 1995. Aliant Telecom Inc. (Re), 2009 FCA 224
Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund, in the fund's US$1.2-billion acquisition of EnCana Corporation's gas storage business, now known as Niska Gas Storage.
Dominion Exploration Canada Limited, in all
regulatory approvals associated with a multi-well sour gas drilling
program near Drayton Valley, Alberta.
Emera Brunswick Pipeline Company Ltd., in a $350-million pipeline project connecting the Canaport LNG project to
domestic and export markets.
Encana Corporation, in the successful applications
to the Energy Utilities Board for licences for 15 coalbed methane
(CBM) wells, a pipeline, and a compressor addition in the Wimborne
and Twining Fields, this is the first contested coalbed methane
(CBM) decision in the province of Alberta.
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in the
$5.2-billion offshore Hibernia Development Project.
Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation, in the
development of their Mackenzie Delta rights, preparing form of
Concession Agreement, and Bid Package.
Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Group regarding the multi-billion dollar Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Project, in the negotiation and structuring of commercial agreements including ownership agreements among various aboriginal groups and various development, operating, shipping and financing agreements with Imperial Oil, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell and TransCanada Pipelines.
Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, in appearing
before a Joint Environmental Review Panel for an international
pipeline to Boston and in respect of general regulatory matters and
in all subsequent facilities expansion and rate
related issues; acted on four subsequent expansion and laterals.
Mining Association of British Columbia, on a variety of environmental legislative matters.
North West Upgrading Inc., in all regulatory and
environmental approvals associated with the construction,
operation, and reclamation of a bitumen upgrader to be located near
Edmonton; capital cost estimated to be approximately $4
billion.
Sable Offshore Energy Project, in the Joint
Environmental Review Panel hearings and regulatory matters for the
development of an offshore gas project valued at $3 billion.
Suncor Inc., in the Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc. application to the National Energy Board regarding its petroleum products pipeline system.
Synenco Energy Inc., in the approximately $105-million negotiation and execution of a series of agreements related
to SinoCanada Petroleum Corporation's acquisition of a 40-percent
interest in the Northern Lights Oil Sands Project.
Synenco Energy Inc. as lead counsel for all regulatory and
environmental approvals associated with the construction,
operation, and reclamation of the oil sands mine and extraction
facility near Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Undisclosed client, in actions as lead counsel for
all regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the
construction, operation, and reclamation of a multi-billion-dollar
SAGD facility associated with a major SAGD in-situ oil sands
project to be located in Northern Alberta.
Undisclosed client, in counsel for regulatory and
environmental approvals associated with the decommissioning,
remediation, and reclamation of a nuclear facility.
Undisclosed client, in obtaining approvals for
sulphur forming and handling facility, in excess of $30 million.
Undisclosed client, in regulatory and environmental
approvals associated with significant modifications to a major sour
gas processing facility.
Undisclosed client, in obtaining approvals for
various unconventional gas field developments in Alberta, including
coalbed methane from the Horseshoe Canyon and Mannville formations.
CST Canada Coal Limited, in its acquisition of coal assets of Grande Cache Coal LP and Grande Cache Coal Corporation for aggregate consideration of approximately USD$433.9 million.
Alberta Municipal Services Corporation (AMSC), in reorganization of the MuniFunds program, an aggregated investment service with over $25 million invested and the registration of AMSC as an investment fund manager with the Alberta Securities Commission.
Appeal counsel to 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.
Assisted a widely held private business in a reorganization pursuant to a plan of arrangement.
ATCO Electric, in negotiation and structuring of
hedge transactions regarding Regulated Rate Option customer load in
Alberta.
ATCO Gas and Pipeline Ltd., in its successful
appeals of three related Board Decisions regarding the ability of
the regulator to assert jurisdiction over its Carbon gas storage
facilities and related production properties, which assets no
longer serve any purpose for utility service. The court ruled
that revenue generation is not a valid utility service.
ATCO Ltd., in the disposition of ATCO I-Tek Inc. and ATCO's Australian IT operations to affiliates of Wipro Ltd. for aggregate sale proceeds of approximately $210 million.
ATCO Ltd., in the negotiation, structuring and other commercial matters relating to ATCO entering into a strategic alliance with Wipro including 10-year master service agreements governing the provision of IT services by Wipro to the ATCO Group of Companies valued at approximately $1.2 billion.
Canadian counsel to Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. in the proposed acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev of the remaining stake in Grupo Modelo that it does not already own for approximately US$20.1 billion.
Darling International Inc., in its acquisition of all the assets of Rothsay, a division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., for approximately $645 million.
Korea National Oil Corporation, the state-owned oil and gas company of South Korea, in its acquisition of Harvest Energy Trust for approximately $4.1 billion.
One Equity Partners and Systagenix Wound Management, as Canadian counsel, in the purchase of Ethicon, Inc.'s, (a Johnson & Johnson company), Professional Wound Care business.
Pipeworx Ltd., a widely held private business (with operations in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba), in the sale of all of the shares in the capital of Pipeworx Ltd. to PLH Group, Inc. (a US-based portfolio company of Energy Capital Partners (being a US private equity firm)), by way of an exempt takeover bid.
Research In Motion Limited, in its $150-million acquisition of Certicom Corp.
Shareholders of Interair/Fun Sun, in its
acquisition by Thomas Cook Group PLC for approximately $114
million.
Shell Canada Products, in its regulatory, environmental, aboriginal and land matters regarding a proposed refinery project.
Statoil Canada Ltd., in the acquisition by PTTEP Canada Limited of the remaining 60% ownership interest in the Thornbury, Hangingstone and South Leismer oil sands areas in exchange for Statoil's 40% stake in the Leismer and Corner projects and approximately US$200 million in cash.
The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, as successful appellants on a motion for leave to appeal an Order of the Manitoba Public Utilities Board related to the Board's jurisdiction. Manitoba Public Insurance Corp. v. Public Utilities Board, 2011 MBCA 87
The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, as successful respondent in a stated case by the Manitoba Public Utilities Board, in which the Board sought a declaration that it has the jurisdiction to require the disclosure of a wide range of information regarding the Corporation's operations. The Public Utilities Board v. Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation, 2011 MBCA 88
VimpelCom Ltd., in its sale process and disposition of their debt and equity interests in the Globalive group of companies in Canada, including Globalive Wireless Management Corp. (WIND Mobile), including the forgiveness or sale of approximately $2 billion of debt owed by WIND Mobile and the sale of their equity interests in WIND Mobile for approximately $130 million.
Bennett Jones