Canada > Energy and natural resources: oil and gas > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Bennett Jones LLP is hailed by sources as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for oil and gas companies, with its broad expertise across corporate, commercial and regulatory matters being a asset to the practice group. Benefiting from one of the largest dedicated energy teams in the market, the Calgary-headquartered national firm is a popular choice for complex, multi-disciplinary files, particularly in the project development and corporate spaces. Its comprehensive industry expertise, which includes the midstream sector, pipelines, LNG and oil sands development, is supported by the wider firm’s robust offerings in environmental, corporate and tax law. On the regulatory side, Lawrence Smith QC and Loyola Keough are considered among the leading names in the market. On the transactional side, Robert Booth QC is highly regarded for exploration and pipeline projects, while corporate co-head Patrick Maguire is sought after for M&A and joint venture transactions. The group also includes highly experienced transactional expert Donald Greenfield QC and up-and-coming industry specialists Kieran Ryan and Vivek Warrier.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s oil and gas practice is evenly weighted between transactional and regulatory matters, with notable expertise in big-ticket M&A, joint ventures, project development and environmental issues. Largely concentrated in Calgary, with the ability to lean on offices from across the firm’s impressive national and international network, the multi-disciplinary group is well versed in all key industry segments, including exploration and production, the midstream sector and major infrastructure development. On the transactional front, Mungo Hardwicke-Brown is a high-profile figure; he teamed up with Keith Byblow to advise Kinder Morgan Canada on the landmark C$4.5bn sale of the Trans Mountain Pipeline system and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project to the Government of Canada. Calgary managing partner Ben Rogers is also a key transactional specialist. On the regulatory side, Lars Olthafer is considered a leading light, while the ‘incredibly talented’ Terri-Lee Oleniuk has been rated as a future star.

Oil and gas is a key pillar at Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP and the Calgary-based firm enjoys strong relationships with Canadian and international energy companies, particularly in the junior market. It also routinely acts for private equity investors, as well governments and state-owned-entities. Best known for its transactional firepower, the group is a popular choice for advice on infrastructure projects, joint ventures, M&A and securities deals. On the regulatory side, it routinely assists with environmental and land use approvals, and lawyers are well versed in provincial and federal regulatory proceedings. Alicia Quesnel, lauded by peers and clients alike as ‘the most trusted oil and gas specialist around’, is a key contact for corporate and commercial matters. Firm vice-chair John Cuthbertson QC and Sean Korney are also experienced transactional specialists. Carolyn Wright, who focuses on indigenous law as well as energy transactions, is an impressive up-and-coming partner.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP houses the pre-eminent oil and gas infrastructure practice, which draws upon impressive skill sets in energy regulation, Aboriginal law and project development matters. In line with the firm’s top-tier transactional reputation, the group is also sought after for complex joint venture arrangements and M&A. The firm’s broad sector focus translates into an equally diverse client list including exploration and production companies, energy infrastructure companies, private equity and pension funds and multi-party consortia. Janice Buckingham, who chairs the oil and gas practice, is recognized for her transactional expertise across the upstream, midstream and transportation spheres. On the regulatory front, Martin Ignasiak and leading light Shawn Denstedt QC are recommended for their broad coverage of regulatory, environmental, Aboriginal and land issues.

Seven years on from its establishment in Calgary, Torys LLP climbs to the first tier on the back of its dominant transactional oil and gas practice. The firm has worked hard to increase its market share in a challenging market and has recently landed key roles on a slew of high-profile energy deals. Notably, the firm was selected to advise Enbridge on the C$4.3bn sale of its Canadian natural gas gathering and processing business to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, which represented the largest Canadian private oil and gas deal of 2018. Group head Derek Flaman, who led the Enbridge deal, is highly regarded for corporate and commercial work. Chris Christopher is also recommended for oil and gas transactions, while Calgary managing partner Luigi Cusano is noted for regulatory matters.

Dentons distinguishes itself by a dedicated focus on oil and gas, with equally strong offerings in transactional and regulatory work. Another key differentiator is the firm’s ability to draw on its wider global energy practice, which provides significant multi-jurisdictional support on cross-border matters. Michael Hurst heads the national energy group and ranks among Canada’s leading transactional specialists. Bernard Roth, who leads the energy regulatory practice, is also highly regarded. Impressive up-and-coming partners include Laura Estep, who advises on regulatory matters, and George Antonopoulos, who handles commercial transactions.

Norton Rose Fulbright is immersed in the oil and gas sector globally and its Canada industry expertise is equally comprehensive. The firm covers the full range of upstream, midstream and downstream transactions for a broad mix of Canadian and foreign oil and gas companies, oilfield service providers and banks. On the regulatory side, Don Davies QC is a standout specialist and is noted for his experience in complex contentious issues. Wayne Fedun, whose key clients include Brookfield Asset Management, Crescent Point Energy and Paramount Energy, is recommended for transactional work. Up-and-coming partner Robert Froehlich, who focuses on transactional matters, heads the department.

Historically known for its emphasis on regulatory matters, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP had an impressive run on the transactional side over the past year. Most notably, the firm was selected by the Government of Canada to advise on its landmark C$4.5bn purchase of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline to enable its inter-provincial expansion. It also remains a key player in regulatory matters, with a strong record in complex litigation. Transactional partner Peter Bryan heads the national group.

Fasken’s multi-disciplinary oil and gas group routinely works alongside the firm’s prominent indigenous law and environmental law practices to excel in infrastructure project development. The firm is also a popular choice for contentious regulatory matters in the oil and gas sphere, where Vancouver-based energy and regulatory litigator Matthew Ghikas is a key name.

McCarthy Tétrault leverages its top-tier corporate offering to advise on cross-border energy-sector transactions. The firm’s increasingly prominent LNG practice is also a key component of the practice. Led out of Calgary by transactional oil and gas specialist Brian Bidyk, the national group also benefits from a strong Vancouver platform.

Gowling WLG houses a full-service oil and gas offering, which is noted for its strong record in the mid-market. On the transactional side, the multi-disciplinary team handles a range of financing, M&A and joint venture agreements. It also fields a robust regulatory practice that regularly links up with its litigation, indigenous and environmental law teams to provide comprehensive coverage on complex mandates. Calgary-based transactional partner Lorne Rollheiser is the key contact.

Lawson Lundell LLP has a solid oil and gas group, which strikes a balance between regulatory and commercial work. Best known for its strength in operational issues, the team advises a range of junior to major producers on exploration, environmental and indigenous law matters. It is also routinely engaged in litigation. Calgary-based Paul Negenman is recommended for his oil and gas-focused transactional practice.