Aboriginal Law | Global

Blake, Cassels & Graydon has a highly regarded energy team with substantial regulatory and transactional strength, and is heavily involved in significant infrastructure project development across Canada. The firm is regularly called on by some of the major players in the conventional and renewable energy sectors to provide commercial and project finance advice. In addition to handling upstream M&A and infrastructure work in the oil and gas arena, the practice has a strong midstream component. The firm offers a full-service Aboriginal law practice with a particularly strong presence in Western Canada as well as frequently advising on matters in Ontario and Québec. Its lawyers advise on a broad range of environmental matters including project development, compliance, chemical and waste regulation and endangered species law.

Fasken is noted for its nationwide footprint and extensive transactional and 'dirt law' mining experience, as well as its long history in the Aboriginal law field. The firm advises on a wide array of litigation and consultation matters, as well as acting for business clients on commercial agreements and joint ventures with Indigenous groups. Its solid environmental department offers substantial expertise across contaminated sites management, environmental assessment and risk management, regulatory compliance and related dispute resolution. Its lawyers also offer expertise in infrastructure projects and often represent authorities in municipal and provincial projects, as well as acting for sponsors and consortiums in Canada and the USA. The firm hosts a robust energy practice that spans natural resources and power developments and transactions, as well as handling regulatory issues arising in the oil and gas sector.

Lawson Lundell fields a strong Vancouver-based team that leverages the firm's offering in corporate/commercial, environmental and Aboriginal law to assist clients with national energy projects. With a strong resources-focused practice, the group offers substantial experience of LNG, oil sands, mining and pipelines work. It represents industry clients in their negotiations with Aboriginal stakeholders, as well as advising on regulatory and court proceedings. The team's experience cuts across a wide range of sectors including transportation, mining and forestry. Its lawyers also provide valuable litigation expertise, with experience representing clients in environmental law matters before the British Columbia Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. Clients benefit from the firm's additional offices in Calgary and Yellowknife.

Bennett Jones is acclaimed for its leading energy law practice, and is highly sought after for its solid regulatory advice and ample experience of major oil and gas transactions in Canada. It also stands out for its strength in the power market in Alberta as well as in Ontario, where the group advises on significant commercial projects and offers additional expertise in renewable energy and construction. The team advises energy industry clients on their Aboriginal law interests, primarily in relation to large project development, and offers notable strength in litigation relating to Aboriginal rights. It enjoys a stellar reputation for environmental law and offers the full gamut of services, from environmental assessment to regulatory compliance, contaminated site management and the transportation of hazardous substances.

BLG has a talented national team noted for its strength in energy, Aboriginal law and litigation, as well as its significant authority-side infrastructure practice. The firm offers notable experience of title and rights and oil and gas exploration issues, as well as economic and community development, tax and employment law. Its lawyers represent both First Nations and industry proponents in connection with major energy projects and assist a variety of major electricity industry clients, including generators, distributors, transmission developers and government agencies. The team is experienced in commercial matters relating to conventional and renewable project development, including biomass, water, solar and wind power. It is frequently identified for its prowess in the construction space, where it is sought after by design-build contractors and subcontractors.

Cassels Brock is a well-established law firm with a notable platform for the representation of mining and energy industry clients in relation to Aboriginal law issues. The team provides solid expertise advising on impact and benefit agreements and business transactions.

Osler is a strong Canadian law firm with national reach and particular strength in the energy and natural resources sector, advising clients on a variety of environmental matters including project development, environmental assessment reviews, contaminated land and general compliance issues. It has a strong project finance offering and a notable reputation for representing lenders, developers and equity sponsors in infrastructure developments. The team plays a leading role in oil and gas and LNG project development in Canada, and also advises on the procurement, financing, construction and development of major power projects. Its lawyers frequently provide assistance to large energy and oil companies in connection with Aboriginal, environmental and regulatory matters.

McCarthy Tétrault is a full-service law firm that assists companies from a range of different sectors including oil and gas, forestry and energy. Its expertise includes advising on the environmental assessments of major projects, climate change and environmental litigation. Respected as one of the most noteworthy power practices in Canada, the team can regularly be seen advising on both the commercial and regulatory aspects of large domestic and international projects, and is also widely regarded as a prominent player in the infrastructure space. It offers additional expertise in Aboriginal law across Canada, advising on infrastructure development on reserve lands, as well as issues relating to consultation and accommodation.

Norton Rose fields an experienced Canadian team providing knowledge of conventional and renewable power generation, energy regulatory and climate change law, as well as high-profile oil and gas M&A. The firm is well respected for its project financing and procurement, capital markets and M&A expertise and is especially active in Alberta, with further capabilities in Ontario and Québec, as well as advising on multi-jurisdictional mandates. The team offers advice on all aspects of environmental law, including issues related to air, soil and water, as well as endangered species, waste management and climate change. It also provides advice on a broad range of Aboriginal law matters.

Torys is a top Canadian law firm with an esteemed energy and infrastructure practice offering substantive expertise across a range of transactional power matters and in the power regulatory space. It also acts for an impressive variety of major domestic and international clients on the environmental aspects of a wide range of transactions and projects, including high-profile and multi-jurisdictional mergers, financings and redevelopments. The firm is further well known for its expertise in climate change law and emissions trading. It has significant experience of municipal and provincial project development, with broad industry expertise encompassing water and waste water, fibre optics, transit and renewable energy, among other areas. Its lawyers regularly advise on offshore oil and gas and international and cross-border projects.