Announcement
Lexpert Ranks 16 Davies Partners as Energy Leaders
Sept. 25, 2023 – The 2023 Lexpert Special Edition: Energy names 16 Davies partners among Canada’s top practitioners. Comprising a cross-disciplinary group of lawyers, Davies’ Energy practice regularly acts for clients on cutting-edge projects and transactions. This year, the following partners are recognized...
Announcement
Seventeen Davies Partners Recognized as Energy Leaders
Oct. 05, 2022 – The 2022 Lexpert Special Edition: Energy has named 17 Davies partners among Canada’s top practitioners. Among our notable work over the past year, we have advised Umicore SA/NV, a circular materials technology company headquartered in Belgium, in the development and construction of a...
Announcement
Elliott Investment Management L.P. Settles with Suncor Energy
July 21, 2022 – Davies acted for Elliott Investment Management L.P. in its accumulation of a material stake in Suncor Energy Inc. and subsequent engagement with Suncor, leading to an agreement to appoint three new directors immediately with a potential fourth to be added depending on Suncor’s performance against...
Announcement
Umicore to Build First-of-Its-Kind Factory for EV Battery Components in Ontario
July 20, 2022 – Davies is acting for Umicore SA/NV, a circular materials technology company headquartered in Belgium, in the development and construction of a manufacturing plant for electric vehicle battery materials. The facility will be the first of its kind in North America to produce both precursor and...
Announcement
Enerflex to Combine with Exterran
Jan. 25, 2022 – Davies is acting as Canadian financing counsel to Enerflex Ltd. in establishing a US$600-million revolving credit facility and a US$925-million bridge credit facility for its US$735-million business combination with Exterran Corporation. The cross-border deal will create a premier integrated...
Announcement
Hydrostor Secures Growth Financing from Goldman Sachs
Jan. 10, 2022 – Davies acted for Hydrostor Inc., a developer of Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) projects, in securing a US$250-million preferred equity financing commitment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Private Equity and Sustainable Investing businesses. This is one of the largest...
Announcement
Enbridge Completes Sale of Interest in Noverco
Dec. 30, 2021 – Davies acted as Canadian counsel to Enbridge Inc., a leading North American energy infrastructure company, in the sale of its 38.9% minority ownership interest in natural gas distributing company Noverco Inc. to Trencap L.P. for $1. 14 billion in cash. With the deal closed, Trencap, a consortium...
Announcement
Fourteen Davies Lawyers Named Energy Leaders
Oct. 01, 2021 – Lexpert Magazine has named 14 Davies partners among Canada’s top energy lawyers in its 2021 Special Edition: Energy . Over the past year, our team has helped clients successfully execute some of the most significant and innovative deals in the energy sector, including: Axium...
Bulletin
Going Green: Recent Climate Change and Energy Developments
Nov. 23, 2020 – While Canada, along with the rest of the world, continues its efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, several recent federal and provincial announcements have confirmed that government has not lost sight of the threat posed by global climate change. Federal Target Net-Zero by 2050 On November...
Announcement
Fourteen Davies Partners Named Energy Leaders
Oct. 30, 2020 – The Lexpert Special Edition: Energy has recognized 14 Davies partners among Canada’s elite lawyers in the energy sector. With a reputation for excellence in this sector, we worked on some of this year’s most significant and innovative energy deals, including: Axium Infrastructure Inc.’s equity...
Announcement
Three Davies Projects Named Deal of the Year at PFR Awards
Sept. 09, 2020 – Davies is proud to have advised on three transactions honoured with “Deal of the Year” awards at the 17th annual Power Finance & Risk (PFR) Awards: Northwest Hydro: Canadian Deal of the Year. Davies acted for Axium Infrastructure Inc. and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company in their...
Bulletin
IESO Releases Contract Review Directive Report
Sept. 03, 2020 – Last fall Ontario’s Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines directed the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to retain an independent third party to undertake a targeted review of existing generation contracts in the province (see our November 8, 2019 bulletin ). The stated...
Announcement
Three Davies Projects Honoured with Deal of the Year at IJGlobal Awards
July 15, 2020 – Demonstrating our strength and capability across the energy and infrastructure market, Davies advised on three deals named “Deal of the Year” at this year’s IJGlobal Awards, announced on July 13: Corner Brook: North America Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year. Davies acted as lead...
Bulletin
Ontario to Review Existing Generation Contracts
Nov. 08, 2019 – The Ontario government recently issued an Order in Council approving the issuance of a directive to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) with a view to “identifying viable opportunities to lower electricity prices for Ontario consumers while maintaining system reliability. ” The...
Bulletin
Climate Change and Sustainability: New Standards for Sustainability Reporting and Disclosures
Oct. 03, 2019 – In Davies Governance Insights 2018 , we discussed the growing environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement and the trend toward increased reporting and disclosure of sustainability-related issues, including climate change and its related risk management by reporting issuers. In 2018 and...
Bulletin
Environmental Update: Recent Regulatory Developments
Sept. 20, 2019 – This past summer witnessed a number of significant legislative changes to Canada’s environmental regimes at both the federal and provincial levels. The highly anticipated Impact Assessment Act came into force along with amendments to the Fisheries Act , while changes to provincial regimes in...
Announcement
Eleven Davies Partners Recognized as Energy Leaders in ROB/Lexpert Special Edition
Aug. 30, 2019 – The Report on Business/Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Energy Lawyers has once again recognized our reputation for excellence in the energy sector, naming 11 Davies partners among the best in the field for 2019. Comprising a cross-disciplinary group of lawyers, Davies’ market-leading...
Bulletin
Ontario Court of Appeal Rules That Federal Carbon Pricing Scheme Is Constitutional
July 03, 2019 – The Court of Appeal for Ontario has delivered its decision in the constitutional reference, initiated by the Ontario government, relating to the federal carbon pricing scheme. The Court was asked to consider whether the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA) is unconstitutional, either in...
Bulletin
The InterOil Saga Continues: Yukon Court of Appeal Asked to Rule on “Fair Value”
Mar. 21, 2019 – ExxonMobil has filed a notice of appeal to the Yukon Court of Appeal, appealing the lower court’s decision in Carlock v ExxonMobil Canada Holdings ULC . In the decision under appeal, the Yukon Supreme Court sided with dissenting shareholders in determining that the fair value of an InterOil share...
Bulletin
Canadian Court Awards Significant Premium to Negotiated Deal Price in Determining “Fair Value”
Feb. 27, 2019 – Note: On March 18, 2019, ExxonMobil filed a notice of appeal to the Yukon Court of Appeal. We will be watching the progress of the appeal and will report on the decision once it is released. The 2017 acquisition of InterOil by ExxonMobil continues to generate cases of interest to M&A...
Announcement
Davies Lawyers Unrivalled in Chambers Global 2019
Feb. 19, 2019 – Chambers and Partners has once again recognized Davies as a top Canadian law firm in the 2019 edition of Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business . This year’s guide recognizes 39 Davies lawyers with 45 rankings, including 16 lawyers ranked Band 1 – more than any other law firm...
In the News
Alex Pike Shares Her Insights on Canada’s Proposed New Impact Assessment Framework with National Magazine
Nov. 23, 2018 – In an article published in National Magazine , Davies partner Alex Pike shares her perspectives on Bill C-69, a package of bills intended to reform Canada’s system of impact assessment for major resource projects. While the promise of C-69 was that it would put the science first, some of its...
Bulletin
Federal Government Moves Forward with Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change
Oct. 25, 2018 – This week, the federal government announced its intention to implement its carbon pricing regime beginning in 2019. Certain provinces and territories 1 have requested the application of all or part of the federal regime. Other provinces are on track to meet federal requirements with their own...
Bulletin
Québec Issues Compensation Regime for Adverse Effects on Wetlands and Bodies of Water
Sept. 26, 2018 – The Regulation respecting compensation for adverse effects on wetlands and bodies of water (Regulation), enacted on August 17, 2018, was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on September 5, 2018. It came into force on September 20, 2018, except for certain rules respecting work on...
Announcement
Davies Receives Highest Percentage of Band 1 Rankings in Chambers Canada 2019
Sept. 26, 2018 – Davies has once again been recognized as one of Canada’s top law firms in Chambers Canada 2019 , with 26 of our lawyers receiving Band 1 rankings – the highest percentage among all firms relative to firm size. The firm also received the highest percentage of lawyer rankings relative to firm size,...
Bulletin
Green Energy Act Repealed and Municipal Powers to Oppose Renewable Energy Reinstated
Sept. 21, 2018 – The Ontario government has introduced Bill 34, which would repeal the Green Energy Act, 2009 . The new legislation, introduced on September 20, 2018, maintains the right of the government to enact regulations to promote renewable energy in the future. However, the current intention to restrict...
Announcement
Leaders in Energy
Aug. 31, 2018 – Davies’ status as a leader in the energy sector has been reaffirmed in the 2018 Report on Business/Lexpert Special Edition – Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers . Nine Davies partners were named in this year’s guide: William M. Ainley William Buchner Vincent A. Mercier ...
Announcement
Enercare to Be Sold to Brookfield for $4.3 Billion
Aug. 01, 2018 – Davies acted for Enercare Inc., one of North America's largest home and commercial services and energy solutions companies, in its $4.3-billion sale to Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners by way of plan of arrangement. Under the deal, which received the unanimous approval of...
Bulletin
The Québec Environment Quality Act: major changes coming in 2018
Feb. 20, 2018 – An Act to amend the Environment Quality Act to modernize the environmental authorization scheme and to amend other legislative provisions, in particular to reform the governance of the Green Fund (Bill 102) was passed on March 23, 2017. Although some portions of Bill 102 came into force on that...
Bulletin
Canada Resets Federal Environmental Assessment for Major Project Reviews
Feb. 09, 2018 – In 2016, the Canadian government launched a formal review of key federal environmental assessment and regulatory processes. Expert panels were established and parliamentary committees engaged to conduct consultations and provide recommendations with respect to the Canadian Environmental...
Bulletin
Pan-Canadian Carbon Pricing Update: Federal Backstop Legislation Proposed
Jan. 18, 2018 – This week, the federal government released, for public comment, draft legislation relating to the proposed federal carbon pricing system. The Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act provides a complex framework for the implementation of a federal carbon pricing “backstop” to be applied to provinces...
Announcement
Leaders in Energy
Oct. 27, 2017 – Davies’ standing as a leader in the energy sector has been reaffirmed in the Report on Business/Lexpert Special Edition Canada’s Leading Energy Lawyers . Ten Davies partners were named in this year’s guide: William M. Ainley Vincent A. Mercier Carol Pennycook ...
Bulletin
Enlarged Carbon Market and New Oil & Gas Statutory Framework in Québec…Predictability or Uncertainty Ahead?
Sept. 22, 2017 – Ontario, Québec and California signed an agreement on September 22, 2017, to integrate and harmonize greenhouse gas emissions cap programs. As a result, Ontario will join the Western Climate Initiative carbon market, with California and Québec, on January 1, 2018. 1 In Québec, this announcement...
Announcement
PSP Investments Announces Strategic Initiatives with Pattern Energy
July 04, 2017 – Davies represented the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers, in a series of transactions with Pattern Energy Group Inc. (PEGI). PEGI is an independent power company, listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and Toronto Stock...
Bulletin
Financial Stability Board Task Force on Climate-Related Disclosures Releases Final Report
June 29, 2017 – On June 29, 2017, the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-Related Disclosures (TFCD) released the report containing its final recommendations . The report provides guidance to assist public companies in more effectively satisfying existing climate-related disclosure requirements. ...
Bulletin
Details Released on Federal Proposal for Pan-Canadian Price on Carbon
May 19, 2017 – On May 18, 2017, following months of speculation on how the federal government will implement its pan-Canadian price on carbon, the government released its technical paper on the federal carbon pricing backstop ( Technical Paper ). As we previously reported in our October 2016 publication ...
Announcement
Davies Earns Top Marks in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2017
May 05, 2017 – The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2017 has recognized 91 Davies lawyers as leading practitioners, with 33 achieving the highest ranking of Most Frequently Recommended in at least one area of specialization. Our firm is also recognized as Most Frequently Recommended in 16 practice areas. ...
Bulletin
Panel Seeks Sweeping Changes to Canadian Environmental Assessment Regime
Apr. 07, 2017 – The Expert Panel for the Review of Environmental Assessment Processes (Panel) released its recommendations regarding the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) on April 5, 2017. Mandated to restore public trust in Canada’s environmental assessment (EA) process and to...
Announcement
Davies Lawyers Unmatched in Chambers Global 2017
Mar. 27, 2017 – Davies’ status as a leading Canadian law firm has once again been confirmed by Chambers and Partners in its annual publication Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business . Davies has the highest percentage of Band 1 lawyer rankings as well as the highest percentage of overall...
Announcement
Fortis Completes Acquisition of ITC for US$11.3 Billion
Oct. 14, 2016 – Davies advised Fortis Inc. in its US$11.3-billion acquisition of ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electric transmission company in the United States. This transformative transaction, structured as a cash and share exchange merger, made Fortis a top-15 North American utility. In...
Bulletin
Pan-Canadian Price on Carbon
Oct. 04, 2016 – On October 3, Prime Minister Trudeau pre-empted climate negotiations with Canada’s premiers by announcing the federal government’s plan to impose a pan-Canadian price on carbon. The plan requires all Canadian jurisdictions to have a system for carbon pricing in place by 2018, with a view to...
Bulletin
United States Joins Canada and European Union in Adopting Transparency Rules
June 29, 2016 – In line with a global trend for greater transparency of payments made by companies in extractive industries to governments of resource-rich countries, the United States has joined Canada and the European Union in adopting “publish what you pay” rules for such companies. These rules are aimed...
Bulletin
Bill 102: Modernization of the Environmental Authorization Scheme
June 13, 2016 – The Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change (the MSDEFCC ) introduced An Act to amend the Environment Quality Act to modernize the environmental authorization scheme and to amend other legislative provisions, in particular to reform the...
Bulletin
Ontario’s Cap-and-Trade Regime
May 20, 2016 – Ontario’s Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016 , which provides for the initial distribution of free allowances at levels comparable to current emissions, passed on May 18, 2016, and its companion regulation ( O. Reg. 144/16 ) was adopted on May 19, 2016. The legislation...
Bulletin
Mediation in Canadian Competition Tribunal Proceeding Leads to Settlement in Merger Challenge
Apr. 04, 2016 – On March 29, 2016, the Canadian Commissioner of Competition and Parkland Fuel Corp. entered into a consent agreement to resolve the Commissioner’s challenge to Parkland’s acquisition of Pioneer Energy. This marks the first time in a Canadian Competition Tribunal proceeding that a consent...
In the News
Opportunity knocks in energy industry crisis, say lawyers – Lexpert
Mar. 28, 2016 – In a Lexpert article exploring opportunities that may emerge from the uncertain state of the energy sector , Davies partner Sarah Powell discusses how Alberta’s climate-related regulation changes may prompt a significant increase in renewable energy investments within the province.
Announcement
Davies Lawyers Continue to Lead in Chambers Global 2016
Mar. 23, 2016 – Davies’ status as a leading Canadian law firm has once again been confirmed by Chambers and Partners in its annual publication, Chambers Global: The World ’ s Leading Lawyers for Business . Davies has the highest percentage of Band 1 lawyer rankings of any Canadian law firm. The 2016 edition...
Bulletin
“Publish What You Pay” Guidance Finalized
Mar. 21, 2016 – Natural Resources Canada has finalized its implementation tools for the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA), which was proclaimed into force in June 2015. Commonly known as the “ publish what you pay ” standards, ESTMA establishes mandatory reporting standards for payments made...
Bulletin
Ontario’s Carbon Market Revealed
Feb. 26, 2016 – After years of consideration, Ontario has introduced Bill 172, Climate Change Mitigation and Low-Carbon Economy Act, 2016 , and released a draft regulation for Ontario ’ s carbon cap-and-trade program. This is the first step toward Ontario joining the Québec-California carbon market. The Ontario...
Announcement
Fortis Enters into Agreement to Acquire ITC for US$11.3 Billion
Feb. 09, 2016 – Davies acted for Fortis Inc. in connection with its US$11.3-billion acquisition of ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electric transmission company in the United States. Fortis is a leader in the North American electric and gas utility business, serving more than three million customers...
Bulletin
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Important Provincial Initiatives
July 06, 2015 – Québec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change and Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks have both recently announced amendments to provincial regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. Québec Changes to the Québec regulation the ...
Bulletin
“Publish What You Pay” Standards Now in Force for Canada’s Extractive Industries
June 02, 2015 – On June 1, 2015, the federal government declared into force the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act . This Act is the long-promised legislation to establish mandatory reporting standards for payments that Canadian extractive companies make to governments worldwide (commonly known as ...
Bulletin
CSA Provides Guidance to Mining Issuers on Investor Presentations Posted to Websites
Apr. 17, 2015 – On April 9, 2015, the Canadian Securities Administrators released Staff Notice 43-309 (the Notice), setting out Staff’s views regarding investor presentations posted to the websites of mining issuers. The Notice provides practical information to assist mining issuers (mostly at the pre-production...
Bulletin
Ontario and Québec Collaborate to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Apr. 14, 2015 – Yesterday, Ontario announced that it will impose a cap-and-trade system under the Western Climate Initiative, which it joined in 2008. The “ cap ” will set a maximum limit on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that industry can produce in Ontario. Over time, this emissions cap will be...
Announcement
Davies Continues as a Leader in Chambers Global 2015
Mar. 18, 2015 – Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP has again been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms by Chambers and Partners in its 2015 annual publication, Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business . Davies has the highest percentage of lawyer rankings as well as the highest...
Bulletin
New Nuclear Liability Regime Passed
Mar. 03, 2015 – On February 26, 2015, the federal Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act under Bill C-22 received royal assent. Once in force, it will replace Canada’s outdated liability regime for damage from nuclear incidents. The substance of the new legislation generally mirrors four previous bills that...
Announcement
Davies Named Litigation Firm of the Year in Québec and National Competition Firm of the Year by Benchmark Canada
Feb. 25, 2015 – Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is proud to have been recognized at the annual Benchmark Canada Awards for the third time as Firm of the Year in Québec. The firm was also recognized as National Competition Firm of the Year. Matthew Milne-Smith was also recognized as National Insolvency...