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Steven L. Major KC

Commercial Dispute, Construction, Fraud, Police and Personal Injury Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner

Drew C. Broughton

Corporate Commercial and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Kevin Myson

Corporate, Commercial Transaction, Energy, Natural Resource and M&A Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Canada is navigating a "wild frontier" in the energy industry, with a unique opportunity to forge successful and sustainable partnerships both domestically and internationally. This was the rallying call at the Energy Business Forum during the 74th Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) conference in Banff, Alberta, where industry leaders gathered to share visions for the future of Canada's energy landscape.

Key Takeaways From the Wild Frontier Energy Business Forum CEEA 74

Key Takeaways From the "Wild Frontier" Energy Business Forum at CEEA '74

James D. Beeby

Corporate Finance, M&A, Private Equity and Venture Capital Lawyer

Yannick Beaudoin

Project Development, Energy and Infrastructure Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montreal

Angela Blake

M&A, Securities and Corporate Finance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Sixteen Bennett Jones lawyers have been ranked in the 2025 Lexpert Special Edition: Global Mining. This recognition highlights our decades of experience providing practical, strategic legal advice to global mining companies, investors and developers.

Sixteen Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexperts Mining Special Edition

Sixteen Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexpert's Global Mining Special Edition

Andrew Bozzato

Corporate, M&A, Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Simon Grant

Banking & Finance Lawyer, Fintech Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Doug Fenton

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

New amendments and changes to National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds (NI 81-102) and its Companion Policy 81-102CP took effect on July 16, 2025, regulating public investment funds that invest in crypto assets.

New CSA Amendments Regarding Investments in Crypto Assets Come Into Force

New CSA Amendments Regarding Investments in Crypto Assets Come into Force

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

Curtis A. Cusinato

Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital Markets Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Vice Chair and Partner

Vincent M. de Grandpré

Intellectual Property Litigation and Strategy Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Eighteen Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the July 2025 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.lexpert.ca/special-editions/health-sciences-law" target="_blank">Lexpert Special Edition: Health Sciences</a>. The annual feature profiles Lexpert-ranked lawyers in Health Sciences and related practices.

Eighteen Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexperts Special Edition on Health Sciences

Eighteen Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexpert's Special Edition on Health Sciences

Lorelei Graham

Food and Agribusiness Lawyer, IP Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Across the Atlantic, the European Union (EU) and its member states have also been encouraging climate-resilient agri-tech innovation, but their approach to intellectual property incentives has been a bit different. The European Union has set ambitious climate goals (like achieving climate neutrality by 2050) and launched the European Green Deal, a broad policy agenda to support sustainable technologies. While funding and regulations (such as support for sustainable farming practices) are big parts of the EU strategy, there is also recognition that IP rights play an important role in fostering innovation. However, unlike Canada or the recent US pilot program, Europe has not implemented a unified “green channel” for patent examination at the European Patent Office.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part III: Green Without the Label: Europe's Pragmatic IP Approach to Agri-Tech Innovation

Melanie Teetaert

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

Associate

Maruska Giacchetto

This article examines the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in J.P. Thomson Architects Ltd. v Greater Essex County District School Board, 2025 ONCA 378, which provides critical clarification on the interpretation of multi-step dispute resolution (MSDR) clauses. MSDR clauses, commonly used in commercial contracts, outline escalating steps such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to resolve disputes. The Court addressed ambiguities in the drafting of MSDR timelines, emphasizing that specified timeframes should be interpreted as minimum waiting periods rather than strict deadlines. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that barred a party from arbitration due to a perceived failure to meet a 30-day mediation request deadline. This article highlights the importance of precise drafting in MSDR clauses, discusses the implications of the Court's decision, and provides practical guidance for parties drafting or negotiating dispute resolution provisions in commercial agreements.

Do you need to rush to mediate - Ontario Court of Appeal

Do You Need to Rush to Mediate? Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies Interpretation of Multi-Step Dispute Resolution Clause

The United States has long been a major player in both agri-tech innovation and the intellectual property (IP) landscape. In the past, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offered its own version of a green patent fast-track to encourage climate-friendly inventions. Notably, in 2009 to 2011 the USPTO ran a Green Technology Pilot Program that prioritized examination for certain eco-friendly patents. The pilot ended in 2012, but more recently the USPTO brought back the idea in June 2022, with the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which was essentially an accelerated examination program for patent applications directed to fight climate change. Under this program, inventions designed to reduce or monitor greenhouse gas emissions, including many clean energy, sustainability or climate-smart agriculture innovations, could be examined out of turn. Importantly, like Canada’s program, the US pilot did not charge the usual petition fee for expediting. The goal was to spur green tech by making it faster and cheaper to secure IP rights.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part II: Innovation Interrupted: What the End of the USPTO's Green Program Means for Agri-Tech

Climate change is driving a surge in agricultural technology (agri-tech) innovations aimed at making farming more resilient and sustainable. From drought-resistant crops to carbon-capturing soil techniques, these climate-focused agri-tech solutions are crucial for global food security. An often-overlooked piece of this puzzle is intellectual property (IP) strategy, namely how patents and other IP rights are used to protect and incentivize innovation.

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I

Fast Tracks and Green Gaps Part I: Planting the Future: Why Canada's IP System May Be the Climate Innovation Sleeper Hit

21 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Agribusiness and Cannabis 2020

Authors


Bennett Jones Announcement 21 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert's Agribusiness and Cannabis 2020 June 11, 2020 Authors James D. BeebyPartner Robert T. Booth KCPartner Drew C. BroughtonPartner Stephen D. BurnsPartner, Trademark Agent Murray G. ColemanPartner Curtis A. CusinatoVice Chair and Partner Sarah E. GilbertPartner Ian M. GoldbergKnowledge Management and Professional Development Lawyer Simon GrantPartner Leonard J. GriffithsPartner Dominique T. HusseyChief Executive Officer Mark P. KortbeekPartner Duncan McPhersonPartner Jennifer A. Miller KCPartner Shawn M. MunroPartner Ted M. ShoubPartner Christopher R. SkeltonPartner Aaron E. SonshinePartner Twenty-one Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked as leaders in agribusiness and cannabis law in the Lexpert Special Edition: Agribusiness and Cannabis 2020: James Beeby Bob Booth Drew Broughton Stephen Burns Murray Coleman Curtis Cusinato Kelly Ford Alan Gardner Sarah Gilbert Ian Goldberg Simon Grant Leonard Griffiths Bryan Haynes Dominique Hussey Mark Kortbeek Jonathan McCullough Rob McDonald Duncan McPherson Jennifer Miller Shawn Munro Darrel Pearson Ted Shoub Chris Skelton Aaron Sonshine Michael Whitt Share by Email Social Media Download Download Subscribe Republishing Requests For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Amrita Kochhar at kochhara@bennettjones.com. For informational purposes only This publication provides an overview of legal trends and updates for informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, please contact the authors. Authors James D. Beeby, Partner • Co-Head of Corporate Department Vancouver • 604.891.5326 • beebyj@bennettjones.com Robert T. Booth KC, Partner Calgary • 403.298.3252 • boothb@bennettjones.com Drew C. Broughton, Partner • Co-Head of Corporate Department Calgary • 403.298.8140 • broughtona@bennettjones.com Stephen D. Burns, Partner, Trademark Agent • Co-Head of Innovation, Technology & Branding Practice Calgary • 403.298.3050 • burnss@bennettjones.com Murray G. Coleman, Partner Calgary • 403.298.3336 • colemanm@bennettjones.com Curtis A. Cusinato, Vice Chair and Partner • Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Toronto • 416.777.5774 • cusinatoc@bennettjones.com , • • Sarah E. Gilbert, Partner Toronto • 416.777.7467 • gilberts@bennettjones.com Ian M. Goldberg, Knowledge Management and Professional Development Lawyer Toronto • 416.777.6087 • goldbergi@bennettjones.com Simon Grant, Partner • Co-Head of Banking & Secured Transactions Practice Toronto • 416.777.6246 • grants@bennettjones.com Leonard J. Griffiths, Partner • Co-Head of Environmental Practice Toronto • 416.777.7473 • griffithsl@bennettjones.com Dominique T. Hussey, Chief Executive Officer • Co-Head of Innovation, Technology & Branding Practice Toronto • 416.777.6230 • husseyd@bennettjones.com Mark P. Kortbeek, Partner Edmonton • 780.917.4273 • kortbeekm@bennettjones.com Duncan McPherson, Partner Vancouver • 604.891.5184 • mcphersond@bennettjones.com Jennifer A. Miller KC, Partner Edmonton • 780.917.4261 • millerj@bennettjones.com Shawn M. Munro, Partner Calgary • 403.298.3481 • munros@bennettjones.com Ted M. Shoub, Partner • Co-Head of Commercial Transactions Practice Toronto • 416.777.5743 • shoubt@bennettjones.com Christopher R. Skelton, Partner Calgary • 403.298.3309 • skeltonc@bennettjones.com Aaron E. Sonshine, Partner Toronto • 416.777.6448 • sonshinea@bennettjones.com