Anne Drost, Montréal

About Anne

Anne is a Partner in the Business Law group with over 30 years of experience working with clients in the railway and energy industries. Anne's practice focuses on commercial transactions, project development and regulatory compliance matters, and proceedings before administrative tribunals.

She has been involved in significant and complex transactions including cross-border rail acquisitions and mergers. Anne provides legal and practical advice to clients at all stages of project development, including with respect to obtaining regulatory approvals and permits as well as devising and implementing land acquisition strategies. She also advises clients on matters relating to Indigenous law, such as consultation requirements, and with respect to drafting and negotiating agreements with Indigenous communities.

Anne represents clients in regulatory proceedings before the Canadian Transportation Agency and the Canadian Energy Regulator.

Anne is fluent in English and French.

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Select Experience

Recent representative matters include:

Representing Canadian Pacific Railway Company in several real estate and commercial transactions
Representing Hy2Gen Canada in the development of a green hydrogen-energy project in Quebec
Representing oil and gas pipeline companies in the development of new projects, looping and network expansions, relocations, abandonment, utility crossings, and disputes before regulators
Negotiating on capacity funding, communications protocols and impact benefit agreements with First Nation communities in Quebec and New Brunswick in the context of energy and mining projects
Advising on climate change issues, including regulatory disclosures and carbon trading matters
Performing environmental due diligence for the financing of wind-farm projects and mining projects
Negotiating financings and joint operations of oil and gas exploration wells
Assisting with the development of voluntary corporate policies regarding Indigenous engagement, human rights and business practices, and security and privacy protocols
Advising on lobbying compliance and registration procedures

Awards & Recognition

Anne is recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

The Best Lawyers in Canada (2020–2024: Energy Regulatory Law, Environmental Law; 2016–2024: Energy Law)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Repeatedly Recommended – 2018-2023: Energy (Oil & Gas); 2015–2023: Indigenous Law; 2018–2023: Mining)
The Legal 500 Canada (2018, 2020: Indigenous Law; 2021–2022: Environment)
Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers 2021 – Independently Rated Lawyers (As nominated by senior in-house counsel)
Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys (National Litigation Star: Energy/Resources)

Professional Activities

Anne is a regular sessional lecturer at the McGill University Faculty of Law. She has taught courses on law and international development, energy law and climate change, land use planning, environmental law, and municipal law.

Anne is a member of the Pipeline Association of Quebec, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, Women in Mining Canada, the New England-Canada Business Council and the Canadian Bar Association.

She is also a member of a working group established under the auspices of the UN Global Compact Network Canada to assist Global Action Canada to prepare a Canadian Manual on the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct.