Few firms can equal Bennett Jones LLP‘s breadth and depth of experience in the oil and gas sphere. Equally adept at transactional and regulatory matters, the group enjoys close links with both private and public sector clients involved in the full range of upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas projects. The firm’s deep bench is led nationally by Shawn Munro, who has a focus on the regulatory and environmental aspects of oil and gas matters, and Vivek Warrier, who specializes in energy transactions. Warrier recently advised Heritage Royalty on the C$728m sale of certain Western Canadian royalty assets to PrairieSky Royalty. Among the other senior names to note, Calgary managing partner Patrick Maguire is recognized for his expertise in commercial transactions, while Brad Gilmour , Loyola Keough and Lawrence Smith KC are seasoned regulatory counsel. Luke Morrison is a thriving up-and-coming transactional specialist. Donald Greenfield recently retired. All named lawyers are based in Calgary.

National powerhouse Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP fields a standalone oil and gas practice, which provides full-service advice to domestic and global energy companies. A top choice for transformational M&A and corporate finance matters, the group also brings to bear strong expertise in project development, operational issues and regulatory work. Transactional partners Keith Byblow and Christine Milliken jointly lead the team, with Calgary managing partner Ben Rogers providing core support. Talented next-generation partner Chris Harris is also a key contact for energy deals and recently advised Shell Canada Energy on the C$900m sale of its Duvernay shale light oil assets to Crescent Point Energy. The group’s regulatory capability is equally extensive, with senior partner Lars Olthafer particularly sought after for his experience in regulatory approvals processes connected to large-scale LNG projects. Terri-Lee Oleniuk and Katie Slipp also specialize in regulatory work, while Mungo Hardwicke-Brown has broad transactional experience. All named attorneys are based in Calgary.

A latecomer to Calgary compared it its top-tier peers, Torys‘ has worked to establish an impressive record locally, and internationally, since its arrival in the market a decade ago. Primarily recognized for its transactional prowess in oil and gas, the firm also has the project development and regulatory expertise to handle all aspects of energy work. Among its recent highlight matters, department head Derek Flaman advised Cenovus on the C$420m sale of its retail fuel network to Parkland Corporation and Federated Co-operatives Limited. Elsewhere, Chris Christopher, highlighted as a ‘go-to lawyer for oil and gas transactions‘, paired up with the wider corporate group to advise AltaGas on the proposed C$1bn sale of its Alaskan utilities business to TriSummit Utilities. Increasingly prominent younger partner Peter Danner is also recommended. All named attorneys are based in Calgary.

Dentons has enjoyed a strong year, which saw the team act on a well-balanced mix of regulatory, commercial and corporate work. Leveraging strong relationships with both domestic and global energy companies, the group’s representation of long-standing client Enbridge stands out, and it also provides ongoing advice to the Canadian energy giant on commercial and regulatory matters connected to the Enbridge Mainline system. Notably, all three department heads lead the Enbridge work, with sector specialist Bernard Roth providing regulatory support, while George Antonopoulos and counsel Michael Hurst handle commercial matters. Regulatory partner Laura Estep is also recommended. The Calgary-based group was recently boosted with the hire of natural resources-focused corporate partner Chris Wolfenberg from Fasken.

A popular choice for cross-border energy M&A, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s Calgary office frequently teams up with its partners across the globe to staff multi-jurisdictional oil and gas matters. Closer to home, the firm is a key participant in work involving Canada’s LNG sphere, the Alberta oil sands and midstream infrastructure transactions, among other areas. Robert Froehlich, who leads the business group in Calgary, is highly regarded for oil and gas transactions; oil and gas head Ryan Keays and experienced partner Wayne Fedun are also key names for energy deals. On the regulatory front, Don Davies KC is a sector specialist.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP stands out for the strength of its regulatory energy offering, including complex administrative law disputes. The team also acts on oil and gas transactions, infrastructure projects and corporate finance matters. In Calgary, Alan Ross KC and senior counsel Randall Block KC are noted for regulatory and administrative proceedings, while environmental law specialist Rick Williams is a key contact for regulatory work in Vancouver. Calgary’s Peter Bryan, who fronts the national practice, has a focus on transactions in the midstream sector. Michael Marion was recently appointed to the bench.

Centred in Vancouver, Fasken‘s combined energy and climate practice has an emphasis on regulatory matters. Routinely appearing before government regulators and all levels of court, the energy team leverages the firm’s top-tier Indigenous law expertise and its robust environmental law offering to provide advice on the full range of applications, approvals, permitting and contentious matters. Vancouver-based commercial and regulatory partner Ron Ezekiel co-heads the national group alongside Montreal’s André Turmel. Vancouver-based energy and regulatory litigator Matthew Ghikas is also noted.

Led out of Calgary by transactional oil and gas lawyers, McCarthy Tétrault‘s practice is well-versed across a range of asset acquisitions and disposals, financings, joint ventures and commercial arrangements. Brian Bidyk, who has recently undertaken transactions for clients such as West Lake Energy and Bench Creek Resources, co-heads the department alongside Kerri Howard, who advises on energy-related M&A, securities offerings and other transactional matters. Gordon Nettleton is a key contact for energy regulatory, Indigenous and environmental law matters.

Among Gowling WLG‘s most prominent files, it recently acted as regulatory counsel to Cenovus Energy in connection with Enbridge’s application to convert its Mainline pipeline system from common to contract carriage. Calgary-based administrative law stalwart James Smellie is recommended for regulatory issues and led on the Cenovus work. Lorne Rollheiser, also based in Calgary, heads the oil and gas practice and handles a mix of regulatory and transactional matters.

With platforms in British Columbia, Alberta and Northern Canada, Lawson Lundell LLP‘s oil and gas practice advises major and junior producers on exploration, transportation, transactional and regulatory matters. Calgary-based Paul Negenman focuses exclusively on oil and gas work, with experience in both transactions and disputes. John Olynyk, also in Calgary, has a more general energy and natural resources practice, which is weighted towards environmental regulatory matters and Indigenous law.