Lawson Lundell LLP > Calgary, Canada > Firm Profile

Lawson Lundell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Canada > Dispute resolution: British Columbia Tier 2

Lawson Lundell LLP‘s British Columbia team, which fields lawyers in both Vancouver and Kelowna, handles a range of disputes mandates that includes commercial litigation, class action defence, competition and antitrust litigation, securities litigation and environmental and Indigenous disputes. The group’s expertise extends to administrative, constitutional and public law matters, ADR, insurance litigation and product liability matters. Civil and commercial litigator and public law specialist Laura Bevan steers the practice. Additional key contacts include Craig Ferris KC, who handles matters including trust disputes, pharmaceutical product claims and consumer pricing issues; and Marko Vesely KC, who focuses on class actions, defamation, shareholder disputes, pension litigation and commercial arbitration.

Energy and natural resources > Mining

With offices throughout British Columbia, Calgary and the Northwest Territories, Lawson Lundell LLP harnesses regional strength to advise major international mining companies on high-value M&A and project development. The practice's comprehensive service covers mining finance, permitting mine construction, mining infrastructure, litigation and tax, labour and environmental matters. The Vancouver-led team is led by Khaled Abdel-Barr, who brings strength to complex joint ventures, strategic alliances and royalty and streaming agreements; and Karen MacMillan, who provides expertise in cross-border M&A and matters involving the ownership and development of major projects. Other key figures include Stuart Breen, who draws on over 25 years of experience in the practice space, and Michael Li, a specialist in corporate governance and securities regulatory matters. All lawyers mentioned work in the Vancouver office.

Energy and natural resources > Power Tier 2

A dominant force in Western Canada, Vancouver-headquartered Lawson Lundell LLP is considered by many as a leader for power regulation matters in BC, while it additionally enjoys close links with utilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The team enjoys a particularly strong relationship with trophy client BC Hydro; notably, energy and utilities specialist Jeff Christian (Vancouver/Calgary) is representing BC Hydro as a member of the Canadian delegation negotiating a modernized Columbia River Treaty with the US. Clara Ferguson (Vancouver/Calgary) is also a leading regulatory specialist. The group further includes transactional partner Lana Shipley (Vancouver); Ian Webb (Vancouver), who advises on regulatory and commercial matters; and energy litigator, Michael Donaldson KC (Calgary).

Canada > Indigenous law Tier 2

Lawson Lundell LLP‘s practice group regularly handles energy and infrastructure development projects, including mining projects, oil sands projects, transportation and shipping infrastructure projects and LNG projects on behalf of governmental and Indigenous organizations. Vancouver-based Keith Bergner, who co-leads the department, specializes in Indigenous, energy and power and regulatory mandates across western and northern Canada. Alongside him, Calgary-based John Olynyk majors on advising oil sands developers, oil-and-gas companies and mining companies on environmental regulatory matters and Indigenous consultation issues. Corporate and commercial specialist Lana Shipley and litigator Brad Armstrong KC, both of whom are based in Vancouver, are additional key contacts.

Canada > Pensions Tier 2

The Vancouver-based pensions group at Lawson Lundell LLP is routinely instructed by corporate and union clients seeking support with establishing, governing, litigating, investing in and terminating pension and employee benefit plans. Murray Campbell directs the practice group and specializes in the reorganization and modernization of pension and benefit plans. Also noted are Kenneth Burns (pension plan governance and regulatory applications); Lisa Chamzuk, whose practice has particular emphasis on multi-employer pension plans and health and welfare trusts; and Meghan Popp, who focuses on the legal and regulatory issues that impact single and multi-employer plans.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3

Vancouver-headquartered Lawson Lundell LLP’s strategic focus on Western and Northern Canada ensures that it maintains a well-staffed Calgary platform and it is active in oil and gas matters across BC, Alberta and beyond. Combining strength in transactional and regulatory work, the team additionally brings to bear significant complementary expertise in environmental and Indigenous law. The group is co-led from Calgary by Paul Negenman, whose oil and gas practice spans transactions, regulatory issues and litigation, and firm general counsel John Olynyk, who specializes in Indigenous, environmental and regulatory law.

Canada > Environment Tier 3

Lawson Lundell LLP’s distinctive geographical footprint, which spans offices across Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, uniquely positions it for energy and natural resources-related environmental work. Primarily noted for its formidable record in the mining area, the group also excels in the agriculture, forestry, energy, transport and manufacturing sectors. It further stands out for its ability to leverage its prominent Indigenous and dispute resolution practices for support on large-scale matters. In Vancouver, Brad Armstrong is a go-to environmental expert, with Laura Duke, Jennifer Nyland and Christine Kowbel also recommended. In Calgary, seasoned specialist John Olynyk and up-and-coming partner Shailaz Dhalla are noted.

Canada > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Lawson Lundell LLP leverages the expertise of its team to advise domestic and multinational corporates across sectors ranging from tech, mining, forestry, energy and financial services to manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and real estate, on corporate governance, corporate finance and securities, M&A, fund formations and pension fund transactions. The practice is headed by a trio of M&A experts: Valerie Mann, who heads the firm’s technology law practice, and who acts for private equity and venture capital funds; Jagdeep Shergill, a specialist in pension plans; and David Allard, an expert in corporate reorganizations and restructurings and corporate governance matters. Other key figures include Greg Hollingsworth, who draws on a tax and accounting background; Amaan Gangji, who frequently handles cross-border M&A work with Allard; Andrew Robertson, whose transactional experience spans such industries as insurance, forestry and food and beverages, and Jack Yong, the leader of the Vancouver office’s Asia Pacific Group. All the lawyers mentioned work in Vancouver.

Canada > Dispute resolution: Alberta Tier 4

Lawson Lundell LLP's Calgary office handles a range of contentious mandates, among them commercial, securities and corporate litigation, shareholder disputes, class action defence, insolvency litigation and domestic and international commercial arbitration. Practice lead Shannon Hayes specializes in commercial litigation, contractual and business tort disputes and arbitration. Michael Donaldson KC is noted for his experience in energy, commercial and securities litigation; he is particularly well-versed in electricity, and oil and gas and petrochemical-related disputes.

Canada > Labour and employment Tier 4

Lawson Lundell LLP‘s British Columbia-based practice takes care of a range of labour and employment matters, among them occupational health and safety matters, collective bargaining, wrongful dismissals, workers’ compensation and benefits litigation. Practice lead Robert Sider KC specializes in advising on the labour and employment aspects of commercial transactions, as well as day-to-day labour and employment issues. Also noted are Nicole Skuggedal (arbitration); Deborah Cushing (wrongful dismissal, employment standards, business immigration, labour relations and human rights issues); and Ryan Berger, who focuses on employment and dismissal cases.

Canada > Real estate Tier 4

The Vancouver-based real estate practice at Lawson Lundell LLP advises institutional and private investors, contractors, developers and government agencies, across such sectors, on a diverse spectrum of matters, ranging from acquisitions and divestments, development, financing and leasing to litigation, Indigenous law, tax and environmental issues. The team is headed by Peter Tolensky, who draws on over 20 years of experience to assist utility, mining and pipeline companies, pension funds and a wide range of private entities. Tolensky also brings expertise to the negotiation of retail, office and industrial leases for landlords and tenants. Other key figures include veteran sector authority Jack Yong and commercial and residential development specialist Scott Anderson.

Canada > Tax Tier 4

Lawson Lundell LLP's tax department focuses on advising Canadian institutional investors, including pension plans, on domestic and international tax matters that include income tax, sales tax, property tax and the tax structuring of acquisitions and divestitures. The group is also equipped to handle tax disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency. Vancouver-based Leonard Glass and Reinhold Krahn specialize in transactional tax matters and share leadership of the practice. Calgary-based Nancy Diep majors on the tax aspects of M&A transactions and reorganizations.