What are the most significant matters, transactions, or legal initiatives you and your team have been involved in over the past 12–18 months?

This would be our large 2025 merger transaction with Veren Inc. completed by Plan of Arrangement. Prior interesting transactions include complex midstream transactions with PGI and TPZ in 2024, corporate acquisition of XTO from Imperial and Exxon in 2022 together with bespoke banking arrangements, long term CO2 supply agreement for Weyburn CO2 enhanced oil recovery project 2023, 3 simultaneous large oil and gas asset sale transactions winter of 2022/23.

What impact, if any, has AI had on your legal function to date, and how are you approaching its use in a way that aligns with Canadian regulatory, privacy, and ethical considerations?

We find AI very useful for fast, cost effective, in house, legal research in new, or even familiar, areas to develop understanding of the current state of the law and commercial environment – which is then checked by going to actual sources.

How does your legal team contribute to broader business strategy within your organisation, and can you share an example where legal input materially influenced a key decision or outcome?

Our work with the business team is close and collaborative and, with the commercial experience we have developed over the years, we are able to contribute to key elements of complex commercial terms, particularly in areas like forward midstream commitments and energy marketing. Good examples include our complex sale of assets to PGI and Topaz and related gas processing and transportation commitments.