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Overview

Shawn Munro is a partner in the firm’s Regulatory and Environmental Practice Group. He advises and represents clients in relation to the regulatory and environmental aspects of oil and gas and electricity developments, including regulatory proceedings for wells, pipelines, batteries, upgraders, plants, power transmission lines, carbon capture and storage, liquefied natural gas, waste facilities, and renewables including hydro and geothermal.

With 30 years of experience in the regulatory, environmental and indigenous law practice areas, Shawn has undertaken hearings and secured approvals for numerous major projects. Shawn has served as chair of the firm's National Energy Industry Team, chair of the firm’s Environmental Law and Indigenous Law practice groups, and on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Shawn deals with environmental assessments before federal and provincial authorities including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Alberta Environment and Parks and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office. He is experienced with regulatory enforcement, substance release investigations, federal and provincial prosecutions, contaminated site designations, protection orders and commercial due diligence in relation to the environmental matters.

Shawn has assisted clients on negotiated settlements with land interest holders, and with securing rights of entry and participating in surface rights compensation hearings in various provinces.

Shawn also advises on First Nations and Métis issues (including consultation, objections, access and compensation) relating to resource development on traditional lands, reserves and settlements. Examples of First Nations related mandates include addressing objections to major projects, matters of standing, joint venture agreements, consultation and benefits agreements, and appeals of permits and licenses.

Shawn also deals regularly with resource producer disputes such as common carrier, common processor, rateable take, injection and disposal schemes, gas and coal, and gas over bitumen.

Shawn represents clients before Alberta tribunals including the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Environmental Appeals Board, the Natural Resources Conservation Board, the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, and the Métis Settlements Appeal Tribunal; British Columbia tribunals including the British Columbia Energy Regulator, Utilities Commission, and the Surface Rights Board; and Federal tribunals including the Canada Energy Regulator and the Pipeline Arbitration Committee. As well, Shawn acts on related Court proceedings and Appeals.

Shawn resides on his family's ranching operation west of Calgary.

Client Work

Alberta Utilities Commission

  • Numerous hearings for major power transmission line facilities and substations
  • Natural Gas Liquids Inquiry Proceeding
  • Hydroelectric Power Generation Development Inquiry Proceeding

Alberta Energy Regulator

  • Facility approvals for wellsites and pipelines (sour and sweet)
  • Facility approvals for major pipeline projects, including CO2 and HVP Pipelines
  • First two contested multiwell hearing processes relating to coalbed methane development in Alberta
  • SAGD development projects in Ft. McMurray, Cold Lake, and Peace River areas, including one of the first contested hearing processes
  • Gas Over Bitumen proceedings in Fort McMurray and Peace River areas
  • Rateable Take / Common Carrier / Common Processor Proceedings
  • Compulsory Pooling Proceedings
  • Holding and Special Well Spacing Proceedings
  • Review Proceedings for Various Approvals
  • Appropriate Dispute Resolution and Field Facilitation Processes
  • First Nations interventions pertaining to oil and gas development, constitutional challenges and formal interventions in relation to wells, pipelines, upgraders, heavy oil projects, and SAGD development

Alberta Environmental Appeals Board and Alberta Environment

  • Waste management facilities requiring Alberta Environment approval and related Appeals
  • Airshed Approvals and related Appeals
  • Alberta Environment Approvals related to oil and gas development, including conservation and reclamation plans
  • Contaminated site designations, environmental protection orders, enforcement orders and environmental prosecutions

Atco Electric Ltd.

  • Part of the successful proponent team on behalf of the Alberta Powerline consortium, in the Fort McMurray West 500 kV Transmission Project, a design, build, own, operate and finance project valued at $1.43 billion

British Columbia Surface Rights Board

  • Right of entry and compensation proceeding relating to oil and gas development

National Energy Board

  • International and interprovincial pipelines, detailed route approvals, and compensation proceedings

Métis Settlements Appeal Tribunal

  • Multi-well contested compensation proceedings

Murphy Oil Company Ltd.

  • Disposition of certain operated Kaybob Duvernay assets and all of its non-operated Placid Montney assets

Natural Resources Conservation Board

  • Water Dam Facility approval proceedings
  • Sulphur Forming and Handling Facility Approval proceedings

British Columbia Utilities Commission

  • Rateable Take / Common Carrier / Common Processor Proceeding

British Columbia Mediation and Arbitration Board

  • Right of entry proceeding relating to gas development

Recognitions & Awards

Chambers Canada

Ranked, Environment

Chambers Global

Band 4, Environment

Legal 500 Canada

Recommended, Energy - Oil and Gas
Recommended, Energy - Power
Recommended, Environment

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Consistently Recommended, Energy (Oil & Gas)
Repeatedly Recommended, Environmental Law
Repeatedly Recommended, Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada

Ranked, Environment

Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers

Recognized as a leading Energy lawyer 

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

  • University of Calgary, BA (English), 1989, First Class Honours
  • University of Western Ontario, MA (English), 1990
  • University of Calgary, LLB, 1993, W.G. Brown, Q.C. Prize in Advanced Oil and Gas Law

Bar Admissions

  • Alberta, 1994