Best Lawyers for Oil and Gas Law in Canada

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    Crispin J. Arthur
    Lawyer
    Crispin J. Arthur was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Crispin J. Arthur

    Lawson Lundell LLP
    • Recognized Since: 2018
    • Location:
      Calgary, Alberta
    • Practice Areas:
      Securities Law Oil and Gas Law
    Robert "Rob" Desbarats , Q.C.
    Lawyer
    Robert "Rob" Desbarats , Q.C. was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Robert "Rob" Desbarats , Q.C.

    Robert Desbarats Professional Corporation
    • Recognized Since: 2006
    • Location:
      Calgary, Alberta
    • Practice Areas:
      Energy Law Oil and Gas Law
    Ron Ezekiel
    Lawyer
    Ron Ezekiel was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Ron Ezekiel

    Fasken
    • Recognized Since: 2016
    • Location:
      Vancouver, British Columbia
    • Practice Areas:
      Environmental Law Natural Resources Law Oil and Gas Law Energy Law
    Matthew "Matt" Ghikas FCIArb
    Lawyer
    Matthew "Matt" Ghikas FCIArb was awarded 2021 "Lawyer of the Year" in Foundation.Models.Operations.Elasticsearch.BestLawyers.PracticeArea

    Matthew "Matt" Ghikas FCIArb

    Fasken
    • Recognized Since: 2012
    • Location:
      Vancouver, British Columbia
    • Practice Areas:
      International Arbitration Energy Regulatory Law Administrative and Public Law Oil and Gas Law
    Ian A. Mondrow
    Lawyer
    Ian A. Mondrow was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Ian A. Mondrow

    Gowling WLG
    • Recognized Since: 2013
    • Location:
      Toronto, Ontario
    • Practice Areas:
      Oil and Gas Law Energy Law Energy Regulatory Law
    Lorne E. Rollheiser
    Lawyer
    Lorne E. Rollheiser was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Lorne E. Rollheiser

    Gowling WLG
    • Recognized Since: 2019
    • Location:
      Calgary, Alberta
    • Practice Areas:
      Oil and Gas Law
    Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Scobie
    Lawyer
    Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Scobie was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Scobie

    Lawson Lundell LLP
    • Recognized Since: 2019
    • Location:
      Calgary, Alberta
    • Practice Areas:
      Oil and Gas Law Energy Law
    James H. "Jim" Smellie
    Lawyer
    James H. "Jim" Smellie was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    James H. "Jim" Smellie

    Gowling WLG
    • Recognized Since: 2006
    • Location:
      Calgary, Alberta
    • Practice Areas:
      Energy Regulatory Law Natural Resources Law Oil and Gas Law Energy Law
    Paul C. Wilson
    Lawyer
    Paul C. Wilson was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" in

    Paul C. Wilson

    Fasken
    • Recognized Since: 2009
    • Location:
      Vancouver, British Columbia
    • Practice Areas:
      Energy Law Oil and Gas Law Environmental Law Railroad Law Transportation Law

    • Recognized Since: Ones to Watch Since:
    • Location:
    • Practice Areas:

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    Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

    Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.

    Practice Area Definition

    Oil and Gas Law Definition

    The oil and gas industry encompasses the entire life cycle of oil, natural gas, and associated hydrocarbons (commonly referred to as “oil and gas”). All stages are included – from exploration through production, processing, transporting, and sales.
     
    The industry is commonly organized into upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. The upstream sector involves exploration and production, the midstream – refining, processing, and transportation – and the downstream sector – trading and sales.
     
    Oil and gas law primarily concerns contractual, real property, and regulatory aspects that underpin the industry. Oil and gas lawyers tend to specialize in commercial, regulatory, or dispute resolution practices. They are typically involved from the outset of their clients’ activities, including in corporate organization and tax planning. Oil and gas lawyers also assist with mergers and acquisitions, asset acquisitions and divestitures, risk management strategies, dispute resolution (either with industry parties or stakeholders), and regulatory compliance.
     
    Although it shares many commonalities with its global counterparts, Canadian oil and gas law also has certain unique aspects, in part because the majority of Canada’s oil resources are contained in oil sands or found in remote and harsh environments such as the northern Rocky Mountains, the Canadian arctic, and the North Atlantic offshore. Some of those areas are subject to either unsettled land claims or treaty disputes advanced by First Nations and other aboriginal groups.
     
    Production of oil sands oil requires the application of innovative extraction technologies and large scale industrial processes. The associated intellectual property is highly valued and closely guarded. Canada is also highly dependent on its various pipelines and railways to transport crude from oil and gas producing centres to market. The development of new markets outside of North America – and means of accessing those markets – is a high priority. 
     

    Often, oil sands projects involve structuring complex joint ventures among sophisticated parties. Similarly, oil sands projects, as well as transmission pipeline projects, require their proponents to secure extensive and complex regulatory approvals. The approval process is becoming increasingly contentious, protracted, and uncertain. The potential carbon emissions associated with oil sands production have attracted attention and opposition in Canada and abroad. Project proponents are responding by placing increasing importance on careful environmental management (including through innovation and the application of new production technologies) as well as meaningful involvement of affected aboriginal groups. Canadian oil and gas lawyers are playing prominent, and essential, roles in all of these arenas.

    Read Full Definition
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    The oil and gas industry encompasses the entire life cycle of oil, natural gas, and associated hydrocarbons (commonly referred to as “oil and gas”). All stages are included – from exploration through production, processing, transporting, and sales.
     
    The industry is commonly organized into upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. The upstream sector involves exploration and production, the midstream – refining, processing, and transportation – and the downstream sector – trading and sales.
     
    Oil and gas law primarily concerns contractual, real property, and regulatory aspects that underpin the industry. Oil and gas lawyers tend to specialize in commercial, regulatory, or dispute resolution practices. They are typically involved from the outset of their clients’ activities, including in corporate organization and tax planning. Oil and gas lawyers also assist with mergers and acquisitions, asset acquisitions and divestitures, risk management strategies, dispute resolution (either with industry parties or stakeholders), and regulatory compliance.
     
    Although it shares many commonalities with its global counterparts, Canadian oil and gas law also has certain unique aspects, in part because the majority of Canada’s oil resources are contained in oil sands or found in remote and harsh environments such as the northern Rocky Mountains, the Canadian arctic, and the North Atlantic offshore. Some of those areas are subject to either unsettled land claims or treaty disputes advanced by First Nations and other aboriginal groups.
     
    Production of oil sands oil requires the application of innovative extraction technologies and large scale industrial processes. The associated intellectual property is highly valued and closely guarded. Canada is also highly dependent on its various pipelines and railways to transport crude from oil and gas producing centres to market. The development of new markets outside of North America – and means of accessing those markets – is a high priority. 
     

    Often, oil sands projects involve structuring complex joint ventures among sophisticated parties. Similarly, oil sands projects, as well as transmission pipeline projects, require their proponents to secure extensive and complex regulatory approvals. The approval process is becoming increasingly contentious, protracted, and uncertain. The potential carbon emissions associated with oil sands production have attracted attention and opposition in Canada and abroad. Project proponents are responding by placing increasing importance on careful environmental management (including through innovation and the application of new production technologies) as well as meaningful involvement of affected aboriginal groups. Canadian oil and gas lawyers are playing prominent, and essential, roles in all of these arenas.