Matthew Ghikas

Practice Areas

Matthew (Matt) Ghikas, FCIArb is a leading energy and regulatory counsel who is also available to act as arbitrator or mediator in energy, natural resource and other commercial disputes. He has practiced law for over 25 years, primarily in British Columbia but also in proceedings across western Canada. He has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) since 2018, is a roster arbitrator for arbitral institutions and has acted as arbitrator in a variety of matters. Matt has completed the Mediation Intensive at the Program on Negotiation (Harvard Law School Executive Education).

Although Matt has a commercial and construction litigation background, his primary focus for many years has been the energy industry. Complex, multi-party regulatory litigation requires a strategic approach, combined with knowledge of the role of regulation and the energy industry. Matt understands the industry. He also understands that energy companies have long-term relationships with regulators, governments, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders. He is attuned to how policy and political forces are changing the environment in which companies operate. Clients appreciate Matt’s practical day-to-day advice and collaborative style, which enables Matt to participate seamlessly in cross-disciplinary project teams that include in-house counsel, accountants, engineers, economists and scientists.

Matt represents a diverse range of western Canadian regulated clients in the energy, transportation and public insurance industries. They have included the largest natural gas utility in BC, both large electric utilities in BC, electric transmission companies, a LNG facility owner, the owner of an oil refinery and retail and wholesale gasoline business, a thermal energy utility, the largest electric utility in Manitoba, the providers of regulated universal compulsory automobile insurance in both BC and Manitoba, and a provider of regulated ferry services. Matt has also acted as counsel in railway rate final offer arbitrations and Canadian Transportation Agency applications.

Matt’s experience with energy and utility companies includes: all manner of rate-related applications; energy project approvals; electrification and decarbonization initiatives; renewable energy; rate design; cost of capital/return on equity; procurement and energy supply contracts; abandonment and decommissioning; resiliency and emergency planning; force majeure; customer complaints; vegetation management and environmental issues; compliance with electric mandatory reliability standards (MRS); open access transmission tariff (OATT) disputes; landowner disputes; and disputes over use of municipal land for energy infrastructure.