Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Environment

About

Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Companies regularly call on us for solutions when dealing with contaminated-site cleanup and liability, the establishment of municipal landfill and waste management operations, air and water permitting requirements, spill responses, greenhouse gas emissions or the import, export and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances. Our litigators have successfully defended numerous corporations, municipalities and individuals charged with environmental offences or named in government compliance and remediation orders. Preventing problems beforehand, however, is more valuable to companies than solving them once they occur. We develop sophisticated strategies to minimize our clients’ exposure to environmental liabilities and advise clients on management, compliance, due diligence procedures, training and permit requirements for projects with potential environmental ramifications.
We also regularly advise on aboriginal rights and have been involved in virtually every aspect of aboriginal rights and constitutional litigation on behalf of First Nations, including numerous precedent-setting cases. Our lawyers have acted for corporations, organizations, institutions and First Nations in connection with various business opportunities and transactions, and on several landmark claims involving aboriginal rights, lands and natural resources.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Environment - Nationwide - Canada

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Blake, Cassels & Graydon is an impressive law firm with a deep bench and offices across Canada. The environmental law team provides clients with advice on a range of matters, including project development, compliance, chemical and waste regulation, and endangered species law. The group's strengths lie in both corporate matters and litigation at every level of court. It acts for clients, including companies from the mining, oil and gas, and power sectors. Further noted for its strength in Aboriginal law, the team often advises on negotiations with First Nations communities on behalf of energy industry participants.

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Work Highlights

Blake, Cassels & Graydon advised Three Hills Solar Power on environmental and regulatory issues surrounding the 18 MW Three Hills Solar Project, including the application to the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Blakes is excellent and one of the best firms you can go to. You are always going to have quality and timely product delivered. They are so responsive, very consistent and reliable.

Environment respondent
Canada

Blakes knows their substance and also understands the business side of things.

Environment respondent
Canada

The firm has always been able to respond effectively to all of my needs.

Environment respondent
Canada

Blakes is distinguished by the quality of its strategic advice and the extent to which it advocates for us as its client.

Environment respondent
Canada

The team is extremely business-friendly and good to work with as a client.

Environment respondent
Canada

Blakes is excellent and one of the best firms you can go to. You are always going to have quality and timely product delivered. They are so responsive, very consistent and reliable.

Environment respondent
Canada

Blakes knows their substance and also understands the business side of things.

Environment respondent
Canada

The firm has always been able to respond effectively to all of my needs.

Environment respondent
Canada

Blakes is distinguished by the quality of its strategic advice and the extent to which it advocates for us as its client.

Environment respondent
Canada

The team is extremely business-friendly and good to work with as a client.

Environment respondent
Canada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Charles Kazaz

Band 1

Montréal-based Charles Kazaz enjoys an excellent reputation for his work representing companies in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious environmental issues, including contamination claims, remediation and renewable energy advisory work.

He can consistently be relied on for excellent customer service and responsiveness. He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced and takes a practical and business-oriented approach in his work.

Charles has a good relationship with regulators as well as a good understanding of regional market norms.

Charles possesses very strong business acumen. His capacity to quickly assess a situation and to strategically counsel his client is phenomenal.

Charles is knowledgeable, accurate and supportive.

Charles has such a depth of understanding, not just the law, but how our business runs. He provides high-level, strategic advice.

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Jonathan W. Kahn

Band 1

Pre-eminent environmental lawyer Jonathan Kahn advises on a broad spectrum of matters in the environmental space, including cross-border acquisitions and prosecutions and class actions relating to issues such as land contamination. He is based in Toronto.

Jonathan has excellent judgment. He is also very responsive and always gets back to us very promptly.

Jonathan is very knowledgeable and helps us digest complicated topics and explain them to our business partners.

Mr. Kahn is very knowledgeable and understands our business very well. His significant experience allows him to take on difficult tasks and formulate a good strategy.

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Duff Harper

Band 2

Calgary-based Duff Harper has expertise in site redevelopments and the transportation of hazardous goods. He is also experienced in assisting with environmental litigation, as well as carbon offset projects and the environmental considerations of commercial agreements.

Duff is very responsive. He sends very thorough summaries and gives very helpful advice.

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Tony Crossman

Band 2

Tony Crossman advises on a wide range of environmental regulatory issues, representing clients in the energy, fishing and mining sectors out of the firm's Vancouver office. He has further experience assisting with the environmental considerations of commercial and corporate transactions.

I find Tony to be highly technical and thorough in his analysis of matters. He provides good strategic advice and is practical.

Tony has strong experience and gives practical and proactive advice. He is very good at explaining concepts in understandable terms.

Tony is creative, thoughtful and experienced.

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Lana Finney

Band 3

Lana Finney handles a range of environmental matters for private entities, particularly contaminated land claims and advisory work. She is based in Toronto.

She spends the time to understand the issue and is able to recommend very practical solutions. Lana brings creative, out-of-the-box ideas that are valued and appreciated.

Lana is very good at taking complicated matters and sussing out what we really need to know in the case.

Lana provides truly exceptional service. She provides accurate advice and has a high degree of flexibility.

Lana is a delight to work with and I am always comfortable with the advice given. She also responds to our concerns promptly.

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Terri-Lee Oleniuk

Band 4

Terri-Lee Oleniuk is typically sought out for her regulatory expertise. Her environmental practice is complemented by her knowledge of energy regulation and Aboriginal law, particularly in relation to solar projects. She is based in Calgary.

Terri-Lee is very experienced and knowledgeable on the regulatory framework in Alberta, which is constantly evolving. She has great contacts with the regulators and creative ideas to resolve issues.

Terri-Lee is great. She is very client service-oriented, super smart and practical when it comes to environmental and regulatory law.

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