Environmental Law

We help clients manage environmental risks, secure approvals, and resolve compliance or liability issues, enabling sustainable growth and successful projects.
Key Contact
Griffiths Leonard
Mountains

Overview

Whether evaluating the environmental risk associated with an operating company, a proposed merger or acquisition, purchasing, developing, managing or selling real estate, seeking environmental approvals for an existing or new project, or managing litigation stemming from contamination, companies turn to us for environmental advice. With a client base spanning the range of manufacturing, automotive, steel, real estate, food processing, chemicals, petrochemical, energy, natural resources, utilities, transportation and waste management, to name a few, our environmental group assists clients to identify and resolve issues locally, nationally and internationally.

We focus on finding practical solutions in the most efficient manner possible.

We have built strong relationships with businesses, consultants, lawyers, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations around the world, which allows us to provide timely, efficient solutions to the various legal, technical and public policy issues facing our clients.

,,Bennett Jones LLP’s first-class environmental law group is recognized for its experience in environmental impact assessments related to major infrastructure projects, particularly in the areas of energy and natural resources, which lines up nicely with its firm-wide strength.,,

What Clients Say

The core of our practice involves compliance matters, including the management of environmental risks, as well as the advancement of sustainability (which include compliance and “beyond compliance” elements). Our practice covers many different areas, including the development of environmental/sustainability policies and implementation practices and procedures; relevant and practical proactive (and where necessary reactive) compliance advice; the management of litigation risks; assisting with the purchase, sale and management of properties and businesses; the management and development of contaminated properties, including site investigations, remediation work and brownfield initiatives; conducting environmental assessments for projects, including in the energy sector; assisting with insolvency matters, including with respect to environmental liabilities related to an insolvent or bankrupt company; and obtaining approvals for projects and facilities. We appear in court and before various tribunals and boards to represent clients on liability and enforcement proceedings arising out of contaminated sites, and prosecutions under federal and provincial statutes, as well as municipal by-laws.

We advise buyers, sellers, investors, lenders, borrowers, property managers, underwriters and financial advisors about the various environmental risks related to business and transactions, including the identification of liabilities and the proper management and allocation of these liabilities. This can also include advising on various insurance products that may be available for environmental matters.

Client Work

Alberta Corporation
detailed review of extensive and historic water licences and authorizations for water works and undertakings
Alberta Justice
Government of Alberta in its constitutional challenge of the federal Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69)
Brookfield Renewable Partners
in the Aboriginal community relations, and environmental and energy regulatory aspects, of its energy projects in BC
Kinross Gold
with environmental review, regulatory permitting and Aboriginal community relations for the Great Bear project
Osisko Development
in its agreements with Indigenous groups relating to the development of a new mining project in BC
Upstream Oil and Gas
advice with respect to environmental issues in relation to oil and gas development in British Columbia, including matters respecting climate policy
Varme Energy
advising and advocating for company on its groundbreaking waste-to-energy facility with carbon capture and storage, the first of its kind globally
Westbridge Renewable Energy
regarding regulatory and stakeholder engagement matters pertaining to the development of a portfolio of Alberta projects
Wilbur-Ellis Holdings
in its acquisition of Nachurs Alpine Solutions
Frontier
on its PAK Lithium Project including: corporate, finance, regulatory, environmental, and aboriginal community relations
Access Pipeline
in a $400-million joint venture between MEG Energy Corporation and Devon ARL Canada
A manufacturer and installer in a dispute over a fire in a gas compressor
Environmental consultants in the defence of negligence claims related to TCE/PCE contamination on a commercial site in Ontario
Shell Canada
in environmental matters regarding a proposed refinery expansion project
An international carbon emissions broker, in a Clean Development Mechanism transaction involving the purchase and sale of over $1 billion in certified emissions reductions
Bear Head LNG
in regulatory/environmental approvals for construction of the plant
CUNA Mutual Group
in its acquisition by Co-operators Life Insurance and Central 1 Credit Union
Natsource CF Corporation
in the completion of a series of transactions involving the forward purchase and syndicated onward sale of approximately 44 million certified emission reductions expected to be created by a nitrous oxide decomposition project in China
North West Upgrading
in all regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the construction, operation, and reclamation of a bitumen upgrader to be located near Edmonton
Wilson 5 Foundation
with respect to its commitment of $100,000,000 to the BC Parks Foundation
NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals
in the possible sale of all or substantially all of its assets and the consideration of an amalgamation with 1499642 Alberta
Precision Castparts
in its acquisition of all of the outstanding securities of Centra Industries
Shell Canada
in construction contracts for the expansion of it $6-billion Athabasca Oil Sands Project
Shell Canada
in regulatory, environmental, aboriginal and land matters regarding a proposed refinery project
SkyPower Wind Energy
in the sale of its Terrawinds wind energy project near Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec and related assets for approximately $300 million
Synenco Energy
for all regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the construction, operation, and reclamation of the oil sands mine and extraction facility near Fort McMurray
Synenco Energy
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
RainTree Corporation
in a senior secured credit facility from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation
in the ongoing development and redevelopment of approximately 300 hectares of parks and public spaces along Toronto's waterfront
TriWest Capital Partners
in partnership with Fraser River's senior management team and the existing Principals
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
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 various unconventional gas field developments in Alberta
Undisclosed client, in regulatory and environmental approvals associated with significant modifications to a major sour gas processing facility

Recognitions

Chambers Canada
Ranked Band 1, Environment

Chambers Global
Band 1, Environment

The Legal 500 Canada
Ranked Tier 1, Environment

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Environmental Law (Calgary)
Consistently Recommended, Environmental Law (Toronto and Vancouver)

Griffiths Leonard

Leonard J. Griffiths

Partner  •   Co-Head of Environmental Practice

At the centre of market-shaping deals and high-stakes disputes, Bennett Jones delivers clarity, strategy and results. Our cross-border teams turn complexity into progress, always focused on what drives your success.

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The Bennett Jones Story

At Bennett Jones, legal solutions are our starting point. What drives us forward is knowing our clients inside and out—their ambitions, obstacles and success metrics.

For more than a century, we have shaped outcomes that matter in business, in law and in the broader Canadian landscape. And our commitment extends beyond legal matters: we invest deeply in the communities in which we live and work.