Duncan McPherson

From our Vancouver office, Duncan practices corporate commercial law focused on energy and infrastructure in B.C. and nationally. Duncan is regarded by clients for his dedication, responsiveness, and pragmatism in managing complex transactions. A strong and effective negotiator, and creative problem-solver, Duncan applies critical industry insights and transactional expertise in helping clients realize opportunities and growth.

Duncan has deep experience in acquisitions and divestitures, and restructurings, having participated in the purchase and sale of major energy and infrastructure assets across Canada, both in high-growth and distressed circumstances. 

Duncan has extensive experience in all aspects of project development, including pre-development agreements, co-ownership agreements, services agreements, tendering, and construction. Duncan has led or participated in teams negotiating, amongst other projects: the development of LNG facilities; offshore oil production facilities; pipelines; liquids terminals; and subsurface storage; as well as water transportation, processing, and waste disposal systems; and gas-fueled and renewables-based power generation. Duncan enjoys working with Canadian and international clients to overcome challenges and establish strong contractual foundations for projects ranging from small pilot projects to multi-billion dollar investments.

Duncan has particular sectoral expertise in energy, including, along with traditional oil & gas and power & renewables, nascent asset classes such as hydrogen-fueled and electrified low carbon transportation, decentralized power generation, power storage, and energy efficiency. He is also focused on the development of transportation and trade infrastructure in Canada.

In addition to his corporate commercial skills, clients benefit from Duncan's extensive knowledge of: indigenous and northern law; shipping and maritime law; and water and environmental regulation. 

Duncan is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Glenbow museum. He has assisted in teaching the Energy Law and Environmental Law courses at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law. Duncan is a member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association. He received a Vineberg Travelling Scholarship from McGill for graduate studies at Sciences Po Paris, where he studied international relations and law. Duncan was a Commonwealth Scholar at Oxford where he studied development economics. Prior to legal studies, he was selected for the Recruitment of Policy Leaders program of the Government of Canada in Ottawa, during which he worked on indigenous and northern policy development. Duncan has also worked for indigenous communities in northern Alberta and the Arctic. He completed his law studies at the University of Toronto, with a year spent at Dalhousie University in Halifax.