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Sean Assié

Regulatory, Environmental and Aboriginal and Indigenous Law Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner

Denise D. Bright

Public and Private Company Financial Transactions and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner 

David Bursey

Regulatory, Environmental, ESG and Aboriginal Law Lawyer for Energy and Natural Resource Clients at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Clients across Canada and internationally rely on Bennett Jones for strategic legal guidance in the energy sector. Our inclusion in the Lexpert Special Edition: Energy reflects our deep knowledge of our clients’ businesses in energy-related industries.

Twenty Five Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexperts Special Edition on Energy

Twenty-Five Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexpert's Special Edition on Energy

Martin Ignasiak KC

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Shawn M. Munro

Energy Lawyer | Oil & Gas and Electricity Development Regulatory and Environmental Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

David J. Macaulay

Power and Renewable Energy Project Development Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

The growing data centre industry continues to be a focal point of the Alberta Government’s economic diversification strategy. Policy work aimed at attracting data centre investment to the province is ongoing and interest in data centre development is high, resulting in an unprecedented amount of connection requests being submitted to the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) to obtain power from the grid.

Large Load Integration on Alberta Electricity Grid

Large Load Integration on Alberta's Electricity Grid: The AESO's Proposed Approach for Data Centre Connections

Jessica Kennedy

On Monday, May 12, 2025, more than 80 stakeholders gathered for an energy innovation event hosted by Energy Storage Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Nuclear Association and the Canadian Hydrogen Association. The event showcased Alberta’s leadership in integrating energy storage, hydrogen and nuclear technologies—key pillars for a secure, abundant and prosperous energy future.

How Alberta is Shaping the Future of Energy Solutions

Melanie L. Aitken

Global Antitrust and Competition Law and Litigation Advisor at Bennett Jones Washington

Managing Principal, Bennett Jones (US) LLP

Abbas Ali Khan

Mining, Technology, Securities and Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Sabrina A. Bandali

International Trade, Regulatory and Investment Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Bennett Jones has been recognized in the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chambers.com/law-firm/bennett-jones-llp-global-2:2791" target="_blank">Chambers Global Guide 2025</a>, with 49 lawyers ranked across 19 practice areas. Clients in Canada and around the world trust us to navigate their most complex legal matters. Our inclusion in Chambers Global Guide 2025 highlights our commitment to an exceptional client experience, deep industry knowledge and long-standing client relationships.

Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2025 Guide

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

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

Shawn Munro and Wally Braul Interviewed on Aboriginal Law in National Post

Authors


Bennett Jones In The News Shawn Munro and Wally Braul Interviewed on Aboriginal Law in National Post July 18, 2012 Authors Shawn M. MunroPartner In the National Post article, "Native Issues a Growing Area of Law," Drew Hasselback spoke with Shawn Munro on the growth of Aboriginal Law in Canada. Also in the article, Wally Braul comments on the changing nature of deals including First Nations where equity in projects is being requested by involved First Nations. 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 Shawn M. Munro, Partner Calgary • 403.298.3481 • munros@bennettjones.com