Environment | Canada

Bennett Jones is an established law firm with a stellar reputation for environmental law and a strong bench of experts in the field. The services the group offers run the gamut from environmental assessment to regulatory compliance, contaminated site management and the transportation of hazardous substances. The practice draws upon the firm's strength in Aboriginal and energy regulatory law and is also known for its environmental litigation capabilities. The team offers notable experience representing major energy clients in connection with LNG projects and pipeline issues. It also frequently provides strategic advice on environmental crisis management including prevention, emergency response and risk mitigation.

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.

McCarthy Tétrault is a full-service law firm that assists companies from a range of different sectors, including oil and gas, forestry and energy. The environmental, regulatory and Aboriginal law group's expertise includes advising on the environmental assessments of major projects, climate change and environmental litigation. The practice also has notable experience handling the environmental aspects of M&A transactions, with further strength in contamination land disputes, hazardous waste issues and carbon trading. The firm is a popular choice among prominent Canadian and international companies, as well as governmental entities.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg is a dynamic law firm that handles a number of different environment-related matters, including impact assessment, project development and regulatory compliance. The environmental and Indigenous team leverages the firm's wider transactional and regulatory strengths to offer support both nationally and internationally. Its clients include companies from the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors. The firm is highly prominent in the Ontario market and also operates a growing Québec practice.

Gowling houses a well-recognised environmental law team which draws upon the firm's interdisciplinary approach to offer experience across a range of jurisdictions and different environmental services. The practice has substantial expertise in brownfield development, waste and waste water management, and climate change with regard to cap-and-trade systems. The firm regularly handles environmental litigation and also offers expertise representing clients in Northern Canada, including acting on behalf of Indigenous communities.

Torys offers advice 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 also active on contentious issues arising from projects and regulatory proceedings. The environmental law team represents major Canadian and multinational clients spanning numerous industry sectors including oil and gas, chemicals, renewable energy, mining, nuclear, consumer and media. The firm is additionally known for its expertise in climate change law and emissions trading.

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 firm is also experienced in environmental dispute resolution, both in defending clients against environmental charges and in resolving disputes through arbitration and mediation.

Lawson Lundell is a strong Vancouver-based law firm that provides advice to clients in connection with the environmental assessment and approval processes for major projects in Western Canada and the North. The environmental and regulatory practice's experience cuts across a wide range of sectors including transportation, mining and forestry. The team also provides valuable litigation expertise, with experience representing clients in environmental law matters before the British Columbia Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. It offers additional strength in matters involving contaminated site remediation and other hazardous waste issues.

Miller Thomson is a full-service law firm that houses a solid team of dedicated environmental lawyers who cover a range of litigation, regulatory and transactional matters. Its clients include renewable energy and power producers, research institutions and government agencies. The environmental law group provides multifaceted advice including in relation to environmental approvals, permitting, assessment and due diligence. The firm benefits from lawyers based throughout numerous offices in BC, Ontario, Québec and Saskatchewan.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt is a notable law firm with a strong track record for advising clients on a variety of environmental matters including project development, environmental assessment reviews, contaminated land and general compliance issues. The practice is additionally well positioned to represent clients in environmental litigation, such as administrative hearings and civil actions, as well as in the tribunal appeal process. Its regulatory, environmental, Aboriginal and land (REAL) group is respected for its representation of clients from the energy and natural resources sector. The team is primarily based out of the Toronto and Calgary offices, with national reach across Canada.

Stikeman Elliott offers a strong bench of highly skilled practitioners frequently engaged by a roster of leading corporate clients to advise on complex environmental matters. The firm's environmental law group offers considerable expertise assisting with permitting and environmental assessment issues arising from renewable energy projects. It is also noted for its cross-border capabilities, particularly involving the USA.

Willms & Shier is a highly regarded environmental law boutique headquartered in Toronto, whose services run the gamut of environmental issues from litigation to transactions and regulatory advice. The firm's clients include a broad range of municipalities and real estate, transportation and energy companies. Particular areas of strength include advising on the redevelopment of contaminated land, obtaining permits and approvals, and waste water treatment and management. The firm has additional offices in Ottawa, Calgary and Yellowknife.

Borden Ladner Gervais is a full-service law firm with a multidisciplinary environmental law department. The practice is highly regarded for environmental litigation as well as assisting with environmental assessments and permitting. The team offers additional expertise in relation to contaminated sites, storage and transportation of hazardous goods, and emissions. The group's client roster spans the country and includes public and private companies, municipalities and Crown corporations.

Dentons Canada ably assists clients with a range of environmental concerns, including project permitting and clean-up programmes as well as land use planning and conservation issues. The firm also advises on environmental due diligence and offers expertise in relation to the transportation of dangerous goods. The practice leverages the firm's global strength to offer support to Canadian and international clients, particularly in the field of natural resource development. The team is well versed in climate change and emissions law including carbon trading.

Norton Rose Fulbright is an international law firm that 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. With lawyers based in offices from coast to coast, the team has notable experience handling matters for clients from the oil and gas, infrastructure and transportation sectors. The firm also provides advisory services on the environmental aspects of large-scale M&A transactions.