Dan Fournier is Chair of the Firm's practice in the Gulf Region. He has been with Blakes for the past 25 years, and for most of that time, he has headed the Firm's energy financial services practice. As Chair of the Gulf region, his main responsibility is to develop the Firm's profile and practice in that region. He also provides Blakes clients with the Firm's resources as they pertain to business emanating to and from the Gulf Cooperation Council. In addition to these responsibilities, he will continue to be available to advise on financings both domestically and abroad.

Dan has advised on the structuring of numerous private and public financings in the development of Canada's energy industry. His expertise also extends to structuring joint ventures between major energy participants and advising on shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements and corporate governance matters.

Dan is regularly sought as counsel in the financing of a number of major infrastructure projects, such as greenfield power projects, pipelines and processing facilities.

Outside of his practice, Dan has authored and has presented a number of papers concerning the financing of income trust, acquisitions and cross-border transactions and currently serves as a corporate director for a number of Blakes clients.

Dan is a member of the Firm's Executive Committee and has served as a member of the Firm's Partnership Committee, the Compensation Committee and as Co-chair of the Finance Committee. He was also the Managing Partner of our Calgary office.

Professional and Volunteer Associations

Dan is a member of The Alberta Law Society, the Canadian Bar Association, the Calgary Bar Association and a former director of Lex Mundi, a non-exclusive association of independent law firms located in more than 160 jurisdictions around the world. He has served on a number of volunteer boards over the years and is currently a founding board member of the Edge School for Athletes in Calgary, a private, not-for-profit high school dedicated to the education and athletic development of young men and women. He has also served as president of the Crowchild Hockey Association and the Silver Springs Golf and Country Club.

Industry Recognition

Dan is continuously recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as one of the leading banking and project finance lawyers in Canada. In The Best Lawyers in Canada 2010, he was voted by peers as one of the leading lawyers in Canada in his areas of expertise.