In 2024/25, Miller Thomson’s power practice added five new clients to its roster. It also strengthened its contentious firepower with the April 2025 hire of Vancouver-based litigator Tim Pritchard from JFK Law LLP, who brings strong expertise in energy and regulatory disputes.

MLT Aikins LLP continues to gain ground in the power projects space, with its recent work spanning mandates in the solar, hydropower, nuclear and utilities spheres.

Striking a balance between transactional and regulatory work, McCarthy Tétrault’s power practice draws on its extensive national platform to provide full-service coverage of deals, projects and regulatory matters, while also offering complementary expertise in environmental and Indigenous law. Toronto-based transactional specialist Seán O’Neill leads the national power group and recently acted alongside the oil and gas team to advise TransAlta on its C$542m acquisition of Heartland Generation from Energy Capital Partners. Other key transactional contacts in Toronto include experienced senior counsel David Lever, who is highly regarded for power projects, and Suzanne Murphy, who specializes in power-related M&A and corporate finance, while Louis-Nicolas Boulanger is recommended in Montreal. Gordon Nettleton — who splits his time between Toronto and Calgary — heads the national energy regulatory practice and is advising Hydro One Networks on its application before the Ontario Energy Board to construct the Waasigan Transmission Line Project. Also noted on the regulatory side is Calgary-based Kimberly Howard, who handles both power and oil and gas work. The practice was further bolstered by a duo of high-profile hires in 2024: in June, regulatory and environmental law-focused Selina Lee-Andersen joined in Vancouver from Miller Thomson, while in November, transactional energy partner Maxine Ethier joined in Toronto from CPP Investments.

A destination practice for transactional and regulatory work, Torys’ power group draws on industry experts in both its Toronto and Calgary offices, while it also leverages a sizable US platform. Acting for all key market stakeholders, the team counts some of Canada’s largest power entities among its clients, including private and public utilities such as Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One Networks, as well as developers, Indigenous communities, investors and project sponsors. On the transactional side, Toronto-based national infrastructure and energy co-head Krista Hill is widely recognized as a market leader. Hill is acting together with fellow Toronto transactional power specialist, Valerie Helbronner, to advise the Nuclear Waste Management Organization on its landmark C$26bn deep geological repository project for the disposal of used nuclear fuel. Other key transactional partners in Toronto include ‘industry titan for renewables’ Huw Evans. A deep regulatory bench is led from Toronto by Charles Keizer, who routinely appears before the Ontario Energy Board on rates, licensing and leave-to-construct matters. Also noted for regulatory work in Toronto are counsel Jonathan Myers and incoming counsel Daliana Coban, who joined in October 2024 from Toronto Hydro. In Calgary, regulatory specialists include energy litigator Lou Cusano, senior counsel David Wood and senior associate Gino Bruni.

Bennett Jones LLP’s power practice forms a key part of its signature energy offering. Combining strong skill sets in transactional and regulatory work, the group is particularly distinguished by its projects expertise, where it works closely with the firm’s prominent infrastructure unit. The national power and renewables team is co-led out of Calgary by transactional partner David Macaulay, who specializes in power projects, joint ventures and M&A deals, and energy regulation head Martin Ignasiak. Calgary-based regulatory partner Jessica Kennedy is also noted for her experience across the full range of power generation, transmission and distribution matters.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP advises on transactional, regulatory and contentious power matters, with experience in representing all key industry stakeholders, including government entities, electrical utilities, developers, lenders and investors. The group is particularly recognized for its expertise in power projects, where it stands out for its ability to draw on its market-leading construction offering. Toronto-based John Vellone heads the national energy practice and handles both commercial and regulatory work; he is currently advising the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) on the 600MW electricity trade agreement between the Governments of Ontario and Québec. Other key names in Toronto include power section head Shane Freitag and electricity markets co-chairs Mark Rodger and Rob Blackstein. In Calgary, energy litigator Jonathan Liteplo and regional managing partner Alan Ross KC are recommended.

The Toronto-based power practice at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is heavily oriented towards transactional mandates, where it acts for major domestic and international power companies, utilities, investors and lenders on M&A, investment transactions and project finance. Among its recent highlights, Toronto-based commercial energy specialist Nicholas Williams advised the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) on its amended agreement with Bruce Power for the C$13bn refurbishment of six nuclear units. Anthony Spadaro is also recommended for power transactions, while Sarah Powell and associate Robyn Barabash are key contacts for energy regulatory and related environmental law matters.

Fasken handled a series of billion-dollar power deals during 2024/25, while also maintaining a thriving regulatory practice that draws on the firm’s robust environmental and Indigenous law expertise. A prominent Vancouver team includes regulatory litigator Christopher Bystrom, who co-heads the energy and climate practice; he recently advised BC Hydro on its application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission for approval of two Bridge River System projects. Also in Vancouver are commercial and regulatory energy specialist Ron Ezekiel and regulatory partner Matthew Ghikas. In Calgary, Brenden Hunter is noted for regulatory work, while Brendan Sawatsky handles M&A and project development. The far-reaching national group also includes Montreal-based energy and climate co-head Pierre-Olivier Charlebois and Toronto-based transactional partner Ian Palm.

The power practice at Gowling WLG is widely recognized for its ‘unique expertise in the nuclear law industry’, while it also brings extensive transactional and regulatory experience in the renewables and energy transition sectors. Thomas Timmins leads the Canadian energy practice and handles a broad mix of commercial and regulatory work; he recently advised Alectra Utilities on the end-to-end procurement and rollout of Ontario’s AMI 2.0 smart metering program. The group also includes high-profile nuclear expert Ahab Abdel-Aziz, energy regulatory specialist Ian Mondrow and nuclear law-focused associate Magdalena Hanebach. All named lawyers are based in Toronto.

Lawson Lundell LLP’s focus on Western Canada pays dividends in a regionally oriented client base that includes utilities, power companies and government entities. Particularly well known for its strength in the regulatory and projects spheres, the group also stands out for its ability to link up with the firm’s leading Indigenous law team. Jeff Christian (Vancouver/Calgary) is a go-to regulatory expert and recently acted alongside commercial energy partner Lana Shipley (Vancouver) to represent the Province of British Columbia and BC Hydro in ongoing renegotiations with the US regarding the Columbia River Treaty. Other regulatory specialists include group head Clara Ferguson (Vancouver/Calgary), Ian Webb (Vancouver) and Michael Donaldson KC (Calgary).

Highlighted as a leader for ‘regulatory and strategic policy development advice’, Norton Rose Fulbright’s power group is additionally equipped to handle transactions and project development. Regulatory specialist Matthew Keen (Vancouver/Calgary) heads the practice and recently advised the Alberta Electric System Operator on its successful application to the Alberta Utilities Commission for approval of its Demand Opportunity Service rate. Next-generation partner duo Kaitlin Long (Calgary) and Michael Manhas (Vancouver) are also noted for regulatory work. Traditionally focused on Western Canada, the team bolstered both its Toronto and transactional offerings with the recent hire of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s former power head Vivian Kung. Projects partners David Eeles (Calgary) and Alison Babbitt (Ottawa) are also recommended.

Regulatory work is a key focus for Stikeman Elliott LLP’s power practice, which has strong experience in representing government entities and supervisory bodies in complex, market-shaping proceedings. The team also draws on the wider firm’s M&A, project finance and infrastructure groups to handle transactions. In Toronto, energy co-head Glenn Zacher and projects and infrastructure co-head Patrick Duffy are both highly regarded for regulatory matters; together, they represented the IESO in new transmission infrastructure approvals, among other issues. Also in Toronto, energy, real estate and projects partner Lanette Wilkinson and corporate, finance and projects specialist Aaron Fransen are noted for transactional mandates, while up-and-coming corporate partner Dominique Rolland is recommended in Montreal.

Toronto firm Aird & Berlis LLP punches above its weight in the power sphere, with recent work spanning high-profile mandates in both the regulatory and transactional areas. Acting for a broad mix of energy companies, utilities, government entities and Indigenous communities, the team is equipped to advise on the full life cycle of a power project. David Stevens ‘provides a host of solutions to any problem’ and is highly regarded for regulatory matters. Commercial energy specialist Ron Clark co-heads the department alongside regulatory partner Dennis O’Leary.

From platforms across Canada, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s multidisciplinary power practice draws on specialists in commercial, regulatory and project-related matters. Key names include projects partner Mark Johnson, who divides his time between Toronto and Ottawa and handles nuclear, renewable and conventional power projects. Also recommended for transactions are Keith Byblow (Calgary), Scott Clarke (Calgary), Sébastien Vilder (Montreal) and next-generation partner Ky Kvisle (Toronto). The national energy regulatory group is co-led by Calgary-based Terri-Lee Oleniuk, who is noted for oil and gas and power-related work, and Toronto-based counsel Reena Goyal, who joined in June 2024 from McCarthy Tétrault. Former team head Vivian Kung recently left the firm. In October 2025, Vivek Bakshi and Jamie Thomas joined the Toronto team from Dentons.

Cassels’s power group is distinguished by its ability to plug into the firm’s full-service regulatory practice, which spans energy, environmental and Indigenous law. Leveraging strong capabilities in project approvals and development, Indigenous-owned projects and contentious work, the team also handles M&A and investment deals. Calgary-based regulatory chair Jeremy Barretto is the key contact for a diverse national group that also includes Aboriginal law head Thomas Isaac (Vancouver), regulatory, energy and Indigenous law partner Arend Hoekstra (Vancouver), and Sandra Gogal (Toronto), who specializes in regulatory, environmental and Indigenous law.

Arguably better known for its oil and gas offering, Dentons also houses a significant power practice that is particularly active in projects and M&A deals. Alongside its transactional capability, the team stands out for its cross-border firepower and routinely works with lawyers across the firm’s global network to advise on multi-jurisdictional matters. Energy regulatory head Bernard Roth (Calgary) is a key contact. Calgary-based partners Hazel Saffery and Laura Estep are also recommended for commercial and regulatory work, respectively. In October 2024, former department co-head Vivek Bakshi departed the firm together with Jamie Thomas.