About 90% of Canada’s technically recoverable oil resources are oil sands bitumen, of which half is economically recoverable with existing technologies. Many technological and economic challenges have been overcome to produce and transport bitumen and to refine it into products such as gasoline and diesel fuel. In conjunction with a thorough understanding of the legal environment in which the industry operates, our multidisciplinary team of oil sands legal advisors has a long tradition of excellence in mergers and acquisitions, tax, competition law, securities, financing, labour and employment, real estate, technology, litigation and insolvency.
-
Suncor Energy on its C$1.468-billion acquisition of TotalEnergies EP Canada Ltd., which holds a 31.23% working interest in the Fort Hills oil sands mining project.
-
Cenovus on the sale of its Tucker thermal oilsands project in northeast Alberta to Strathcona Resources Ltd. for C$800-million.
-
Suncor Energy Inc. on its acquisition of an additional five per cent interest in the Syncrude joint venture from Mocal for C$920-million.
-
Encana Corporation and PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. in connection with the transfer of fee-simple oil and gas and related assets by Encana to PrairieSky and subsequent C$1.67-billion initial public offering of PrairieSky by Encana.
-
Cenovus Energy Inc. in the acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ 50% interest in the FCCL Partnership, the companies’ jointly owned oil sands venture, and the majority of ConocoPhillips’ Deep Basin conventional assets in Alberta and British Columbia.
-
Suncor Energy Inc. on its agreement to acquire Murphy Oil Company’s interest in the Syncrude oil sands joint venture for approximately C$937-million.
-
TransCanada Corporation on the establishment of its partnership with Phoenix Energy Holdings Limited for the construction and operation of the C$3-billion Grand Rapids Pipeline System.
Blakes and our lawyers are recognized as energy leaders in the most recent editions of the following publications:
-
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Thanks to the recognition of our clients and peers, Blakes has been named 2024 Projects & Energy Law Firm of the Year.
-
Chambers Canada ranks Blakes in Band 1, its top tier, for Energy: Oil & Gas nationwide in Canada. Client comments include: “Blakes provide a superb client service and have incredibly high-skilled lawyers” and “Blakes has a very strong team with strong expertise.”
-
Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Blakes and members of our Energy & Energy Infrastructure group have been recognized for their expertise in energy law since 2003. Client comments include: “They stand out for the depth of partners who are active participants in the field. They are at the forefront of cutting-edge work” and “We model our group on Blakes — they are extremely entrepreneurial and extremely outward-focused.”
-
The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada – Since 2002, our energy lawyers have been recognized as top-tier legal practitioners.
-
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – Blakes and our lawyers are consistently selected as leaders in energy law by their peers.
-
The Best Lawyers in Canada – Our energy lawyers have been consistently ranked as leaders in their field since the inaugural edition published in 2006.
Practice Areas
- Alternative Energy
- Capital Markets
- Carbon Capture & Storage
- Commercial Real Estate
- Corporate & Commercial
- Energy & Energy Infrastructure
- Energy CleanTech
- Energy Litigation
- Energy M&A and Divestitures
- Energy Major Projects
- Energy Regulatory
- Energy Transition
- Environmental
- Financial Services
- Foreign Investment
- Indigenous
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Tax
People
-
Paul SinghPartner | Toronto
-
Keith R. ByblowPartner | Calgary
-
Peter KeohanePartner | Calgary
-
Ky KvislePartner | Calgary
-
Christine MillikenPartner | Calgary
-
R. Ben RogersOffice Managing Partner | Calgary
-
Holly StewartAssociate | Vancouver
-
Keith R. ByblowPartner | Calgary
-
Peter KeohanePartner | Calgary
-
Ky KvislePartner | Calgary
-
Christine MillikenPartner | Calgary
-
R. Ben RogersOffice Managing Partner | Calgary
-
Holly StewartAssociate | Vancouver
-
Paul SinghPartner | Toronto