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James D. Beeby

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

Partner

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

Mahnaz Jan Ali

Financial Services Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montréal

Alexis Fol

Associate

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has closed a C$1 billion financing to support Aéroports de Montréal's major infrastructure expansion projects. These projects are part of

Canada Infrastructure Bank Closes

Canada Infrastructure Bank Closes C$1 Billion Financing to Support Montréal-Trudeau Transformation

Vincent Larose

Summer Law Student at Bennett Jones Montreal

Summer Student

On May 6, 2025, Hydro-Québec launched a call for tenders (A/O 2025-01) for the acquisition of a 300-megawatt (MW) block of electricity generated from photovoltaic solar energy. This is the first commercial call for tenders dedicated to the development of this technology in Quebec, with the aim of reaching 3,000 MW of solar capacity by 2035.

About Hydro-Quebec

Hydro-Québec Announces Call for Tenders for 300 MW Acquisition

Richard Burgos

Real Estate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montreal

Sam Kennedy

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montréal

Louis-Philippe Otis

Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Montreal

Bennett Jones advised Metcor Inc. on its acquisition by DCM Group Inc., a Canadian aerospace manufacturer. Metcor is a Quebec-based metal heat treatment company with over 75 years of experience.

DCM Group a Thrust Capital Partners Portfolio Company Acquires Metcor

DCM Group, a Thrust Capital Partners Portfolio Company, Acquires Metcor

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

Steven L. Major KC

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

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

Melanie Teetaert

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

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


Bennett Jones Client Work Canada Infrastructure Bank Closes C$1 Billion Financing to Support Montréal-Trudeau Transformation July 16, 2025 Authors Yannick BeaudoinPartner Mahnaz Jan AliPartner Alexis FolAssociate Sam KennedyAssociate The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has closed a C$1 billion financing to support Aéroports de Montréal's major infrastructure projects. These projects are part of the 2028–2035 Flight Plan, a development initiative aimed at increasing capacity at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. This financing—one of the largest in CIB’s history—was announced at a press conference held at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on July 16, 2025. Bennett Jones advised the CIB on the financing, using an innovative quasi-equity structure. The Bennett Jones team was led by Yannick Beaudoin (Infrastructure), including Mahnaz Jan Ali (Financial Services), Alexis Fol (Infrastructure) and Sam Kennedy (Commercial Transactions). 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 Yannick Beaudoin, Partner Montréal • 514.985.4529 • beaudoiny@bennettjones.com Mahnaz Jan Ali, Partner Montréal • 514.985.4542 • janalim@bennettjones.com Alexis Fol, Associate Montréal • 514.985.4567 • fola@bennettjones.com Sam Kennedy, Associate Montréal • 514.985.4556 • kennedys@bennettjones.com

Canada Infrastructure Bank Closes C$1 Billion Financing to Support Montréal-Trudeau Transformation

Authors