About

Provided by Fasken

Our Global Energy and Climate Group brings together energy, environmental, climate and Indigenous law experts to come up with solutions other firms might miss.


Fasken’s Global Energy and Climate Group advises energy industry clients across a wide spectrum of legal service needs. Whether you are permitting a new pipeline or constructing a new transmission line, dealing with a labour disturbance at a generating facility, filing a new application with a utilities commission, or starting an M&A process on wind farms, our multi-disciplinary team of professionals can help you succeed.


Net-zero commitments, energy storage, new technologies, evolving business models, Indigenous reconciliation and equity, supply mix changes; there can be no doubt that the energy sector and market are changing at an unprecedented rate with pressure, and opportunities, coming from a variety of sources and directions. Today’s energy sector can best be described as Energy in Transition.


Whether you are developing new projects or refurbishing an existing facility, implementing unique banking and green financing strategies, transacting carbon, pursuing an M&A transaction, or procuring and onboarding new carbon negative technologies, our multi-disciplinary team of global energy professionals can help you succeed.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Energy: Power - Canada

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Fasken is a respected law firm with a solid environmental department. The team represents businesses from the energy, mining and transportation sectors, offering substantial expertise across contaminated site management, environmental assessment and risk management, and regulatory compliance in the context of major power projects. It has additional expertise in climate change and carbon trading matters, as well as fisheries and habitat issues. The law firm is also experienced in environmental dispute resolution, both in defending clients against environmental charges and in resolving disputes through arbitration and mediation.

Work Highlights

  • Fasken assisted Corporation Financière Champlain in environmental due diligence in relation to its purchase of the assets of Manulift in Canada.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Charles F Willms
S
Charles F Willms
S
Senior Statespeople

Vancouver-based Charles Willms has a wealth of experience in the field of Aboriginal law, including with regard to petroleum and natural gas rights. He is very well-versed in dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, and garners considerable respect from the market.

Charles is outstanding.

Kevin O'Callaghan
1
Kevin O'Callaghan
1
Band 1
Kevin O'Callaghan leads Fasken's Indigenous law group from Vancouver. He advises clients on mining projects and pipeline proposals, providing experience in both strategic and contentious Aboriginal engagement mandates.

Kevin is very knowledgeable especially on the regulatory and permitting side.

Kevin's insight and experience is invaluable and his personal interaction and emotional intelligence is incredibly important to the work we do.

Kevin's expertise on this matter has been phenomenal.

Kevin is the definition of calm and collected in every situation. He is able to quickly see solutions and develop effective strategy.

Kevin is an all-round business guy. He has a strategic understanding of our stakeholders and a deep understanding of our business challenges.

Rosalind Cooper
1
Rosalind Cooper
1
Band 1

Rosalind Cooper offers substantial experience in environmental matters out of the law firm's Toronto office, with a particular focus on environmental impact assessments and contaminated land litigation.

Her approach is calculated, smooth and very sophisticated indeed.

Rosalind is very pragmatic and very responsive, which is really important to us. She can communicate with different levels and types of personnel in our operations, which is a beneficial skill.

Rosalind Cooper is excellent and at the top of her field. She is very smart and will dig into files despite her senior level.

Brian C Kelsall
2
Brian C Kelsall
2
Band 2

Based in Toronto, Brian Kelsall advises clients across a suite of industry sectors including infrastructure, energy and natural resources, and is respected for his handling of infrastructure development and project finance mandates.

Brian is my go-to for all complex and sensitive negotiations.

His industry knowledge and understanding of the market is really good, particularly in project financing. He is also really good at coming up with innovative approaches.

Brian is really strong. He is really helpful at providing structure, support, guidance and direction.

Ella Plotkin
2
Ella Plotkin
2
Band 2

Leading the firm's infrastructure and projects group out of Toronto, Ella Plotkin covers a breadth of project finance matters pertaining to infrastructure and project development. She is sought after for her handling of mandates covering sectors including transportation and energy.

Ella is really good at drafting and managing a project file. She is really good at getting the right people in the right places. In terms of driving results, we would look to her for that.

Ella is my go-to for day-to-day issues and an outstanding leader in her field.

Ella is a very strong partner, who consistently delivers value and high service levels.

Adam Lewinberg
3
Adam Lewinberg
3
Band 3

Adam Lewinberg is a partner in the firm's Toronto office. His practice is focused on construction projects and structured finance matters.

He is disciplined and diligent and I appreciate his perspectives.

Adam is extremely responsive.

I really appreciate Adam's work. His client service is just so helpful. He works so hard and he clearly cares about the project.

I truly appreciate and admire his knowledge of the industry and his ability to problem solve difficult issues in a manner that results in a positive outcome for all sides.

Adam is Mr. Reliable. He always gets the job done.

Brenden Hunter
3
Brenden Hunter
3
Band 3
Based in the firm's Calgary office, Brenden Hunter provides counsel on a wide range of regulatory issues, including rate design and project development applications. He often acts on behalf of Crown corporations and transmission companies.
Bridget Gilbride
3
Bridget Gilbride
3
Band 3

Bridget Gilbride is held in high esteem for her Indigenous law practice, which features particular expertise in litigation surrounding commercial and regulatory issues. She is based in Fasken's Vancouver office.

Bridget is very detail-oriented and thorough.

Bridget is an academic and, at the same time, very practical and strategic in her advice. She brings those two qualities together, which is hard to find. She is also highly responsive.

Bridget provides us with very high quality and strategic advice. She is proactive and is able to see the big picture.

Bridget is very smart, very practical and very hard-working.

Kai Alderson
3
Kai Alderson
3
Band 3

Kai Alderson has established a strong reputation for representing clients in the energy, infrastructure, mining and natural resource industries in their negotiations with Aboriginal groups.

Kai has an excellent ability to handle difficult and often emotionally-charged negotiations with clarity and a sense of calm, always providing sound legal advice.

Kai keeps things moving and is very practical. He is willing to provide real advice about risks.

Matthew Ghikas
3
Matthew Ghikas
3
Band 3
Vancouver-based Matthew Ghikas is experienced across a broad array of regulatory mandates in the power sector, including project applications, ratemaking approaches and disputes.

Matthew's communication style is very measured, very strategic and thoughtful. He doesn't look to pick fights, he looks for solutions.

I have always admired his legal and writing skills, his knowledge of utility business and his ability to identify potential problems and recommend solutions.

Pierre-Christian Labeau
3
Pierre-Christian Labeau
3
Band 3
Pierre-Christian Labeau has particular experience representing governmental entities and mining companies out of Fasken's Québec City office, providing notable experience in Aboriginal and constitutional law.

Pierre-Christian's experience in dealing with First Nations is probably his biggest asset.

Pierre-Christian is a dedicated and competent lawyer, available for difficult situations.

Pierre-Olivier Charlebois
3
Pierre-Olivier Charlebois
3
Band 3

Montréal-based Pierre-Olivier Charlebois acts across both contentious and commercial mandates in the environmental law space. As leader of Fasken's corporate social responsibility team, he is particularly well-versed in matters relating to the carbon market, including carbon offsets.

Pierre-Olivier is an outstanding lawyer and has been of immense benefit to our endeavours.

Pierre-Olivier is very rigorous, very efficient and responds in a timely manner.

Pierre-Olivier has a specific expertise in environmental law. He is very knowledgeable and always ready to help.

Christopher Bystrom
4
Christopher Bystrom
4
Band 4
Christopher Bystrom offers robust litigation credentials to clients in the power sector, with notable experience in advising on regulatory matters for utilities companies.

He is responsive to our needs and can adapt his approach based on the level of support that is required on each application/regulatory matter.

Chris’ strengths include his clear and persuasive writing and his the ability to translate complex technical and legal material into accessible language.

W. Thomas Barlow
5
W. Thomas Barlow
5
Band 5

Thomas Barlow is a partner in Toronto and former chair of the firm's infrastructure and projects practice. His diverse projects practice covers the full sector, including major PPP projects and procurement matters. He has further experience representing public and private sector clients in dispute resolution.

Tom provides great legal strategic advice and has a strong understanding of broader infrastructure market considerations and matters.

Tom is excellent in terms of client management and responsiveness and he understands government as well. I really enjoy working with him.

Ranked Lawyers at
Fasken

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Canada

Aboriginal Law

Charles F Willms
S
Charles F Willms
S
Senior Statespeople
Kevin O'Callaghan
1
Kevin O'Callaghan
1
Band 1
Bridget Gilbride
3
Bridget Gilbride
3
Band 3
Kai Alderson
3
Kai Alderson
3
Band 3
Pierre-Christian Labeau
3
Pierre-Christian Labeau
3
Band 3
Energy: Power (Regulatory)

Brenden Hunter
3
Brenden Hunter
3
Band 3
Matthew Ghikas
3
Matthew Ghikas
3
Band 3
Christopher Bystrom
4
Christopher Bystrom
4
Band 4
Environment

Rosalind Cooper
1
Rosalind Cooper
1
Band 1
Pierre-Olivier Charlebois
3
Pierre-Olivier Charlebois
3
Band 3
Project Finance

Brian C Kelsall
2
Brian C Kelsall
2
Band 2
Ella Plotkin
2
Ella Plotkin
2
Band 2
Projects: PPP & Infrastructure

Adam Lewinberg
3
Adam Lewinberg
3
Band 3
W. Thomas Barlow
5
W. Thomas Barlow
5
Band 5