Routinely retained by public and private sector clients, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP‘s infrastructure team is active nationally from its well-staffed platforms in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Equally adept at procurement, project development, infrastructure investment and financing matters, the team is frequently involved in Canada’s most innovative projects. Among its recent private sector-side highlights in Toronto, Catherine Doyle paired up with Mark Johnson to represent Harbour City Resources as the successful proponent in the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Organics Management Infrastructure and Long-Term Operating Contract PPP. On the public sector side, Toronto-based procurement specialist Marianne Smith advised the City of Toronto on the rehabilitation of the FG Gardiner Expressway. Other senior names include Vancouver-based Jeffrey Merrick, who anchors the practice and combines infrastructure and real estate expertise; Toronto-based Judy Wilson, who specializes in procurement and infrastructure development; and Montreal-based infrastructure specialist Alain Massicotte.

A destination infrastructure practice, McCarthy Tétrault brings to bear a full-service national team that routinely represents all key stakeholders in major projects, including proponents, lenders, EPC contractors and government agencies. Led jointly by Vancouver-based infrastructure and project finance specialist, Linda Brown, and project finance and transactional energy partner, David Lever, the group also includes senior partner Godyne Sibay, who has a focus on real property, project development and infrastructure, and projects-focused counsel Gordon Willcocks. Among the department’s up-and-coming names, the increasingly prominent Morgan Troke teamed up with Samantha Cunliffe (both are in Vancouver) to advise the Aecon, Deutsche Bahn, Alstom and FCC consortium on the DBOM contract for the GO Rail Expansion On Corridor Project, the largest project in Metrolinx’s GO Rail Expansion program. Named partners are based in Toronto unless otherwise stated.

The multidisciplinary practice at Torys spans a range of infrastructure, energy, procurement, project finance and M&A matters. Clients additionally highlight the firm’s niche expertise in projects involving Indigenous lands, which was recently evidenced by its advice to the First Nations Major Projects Coalition in matters related to 129 First Nations’ proposed sale of an interest in Trans Mountain Corporation to Indigenous communities. PPP specialist Mark Bain led the Coalition work and co-heads the overarching energy and infrastructure department. Fellow department co-head Scott Kraag leads on project finance and is particularly recognized for his experience in renewable energy projects. The team also includes Daniel Ford, who focuses on infrastructure development and financings, and Tara Mackay, who splits her time between New York and Toronto, and maintains a pan-North American infrastructure practice. Other named lawyers are full-time members of the Toronto office.

Widely recognized for its record in energy and natural resources infrastructure, Bennett Jones LLP‘s capital projects group also handles a significant volume of work in the healthcare, road and rail spheres. Calgary-based Jason Roth chairs the department and advises owners, developers and contractors on an array of procurement and construction matters. In Vancouver, David Little is highly recommended for his broad infrastructure focus, including procurement and PPP, while Charlene Hiller acts on a mix of construction, procurement and environmental law matters.

With a presence in key provinces across Canada, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP‘s extensive geographical spread is supported by a broad sector focus. The infrastructure practice combines partners specializing in procurement, construction and litigation and is active across all core infrastructure sectors, including energy, transportation and social infrastructure. Vancouver-based Robert Shouldice heads the infrastructure team and advises on project planning, structuring and implementation. Other key contacts include Douglas Sanders and Richard Shaban, who co-lead the procurement group out of Vancouver and Toronto respectively, and Calgary-based construction lead Patricia Morrison KC. Vancouver’s Sarah Bird is a talented up-and-coming partner.

Fasken is valued by clients for its ‘extensive experience on major federal and provincial infrastructure projects‘. Housing a unique cross-border practice, which sees the team frequently advise on US PPPs alongside its Canadian work, the firm enjoys close relationships with local government entities, Crown corporations and private-sector clients. Toronto-based Ella Plotkin heads the department and is acting alongside fellow Toronto-based project finance and development partners, Brian Kelsall and Thomas Barlow, to advise Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx on the C$12bn Ontario Line Subway P3 project. Toronto-based procurement and construction specialist, Adam Lewinberg, and Vancouver-based energy chair Paul Wilson are also recommended.

Handling a range of contentious and non-contentious matters, Gowling WLG‘s infrastructure practice is equipped to advise on procurement, construction and project finance, also bringing to bear robust expertise in complementary areas such as environmental and Indigenous law. Toronto-based construction specialist, Ted Betts, co-heads the practice together with Toronto-based projects partner Faithe Holder, who possesses strong real estate experience, and Montreal-based Luc Lissoir, who focuses on infrastructure procurement and transactions. Senior associate Natasha Rana recently joined in Vancouver from DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s infrastructure group is held up by clients for its ability to provide ‘creative, in-depth and tailored legal solutions’. A strong performer in the rail sector, the team also advises on a steady stream of projects in the energy, maritime and healthcare spheres. Vancouver-based Canadian infrastructure head Jay LeMoine specializes in the commercial aspects of infrastructure work. Global infrastructure and resources lead Douglas Buchanan splits his time between New York and Vancouver and focuses on project development, project finance and M&A. Toronto-based project finance partner Sandra Nissan is also recommended.

The sizeable team at Dentons possesses experience in large-scale projects, particularly in the transport sphere, where it has the ability to handle matters relating to procurement, construction and dispute resolution. Montreal-based Ilan Dunsky specializes in infrastructure development, PPP and project finance, with a focus on the energy, transport and health sectors; he co-heads the practice alongside Vancouver-based Jana Mansour, who handles construction and project finance work.