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Lawrence (Laurie) E. Smith KC

Of Counsel

Of Counsel | Email

T: 403.298.3315

Email

Calgary

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Smith Lawrence
 
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T: 403.298.3315


Email

Calgary

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  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Select Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services
  • Select Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

Laurie Smith is the former Vice Chairman of Bennett Jones and founding head of the regulatory department.

He is former counsel to the National Energy Board (NEB) and a former policy advisor to a Minister of the Government of Canada.

Chambers Canada

"Lawrence Smith [KC] is widely regarded as 'one of the finest utility experts in the country.'"

Laurie is lead regulatory counsel to Alberta's largest gas distributor. He has appeared before NEB and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) joint panels and provincial authorities in connection with numerous power, NGL gas storage, pipeline, offshore energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and utility rate proceedings. He has also appeared as counsel before the federal and provincial appeal courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has presented expert testimony in commercial and NAFTA arbitral proceedings; before the California Energy Commission; and appeared as a witness before the Canadian House of Commons and Senate.

Chambers Canada

"The 'first-rate' Lawrence Smith [KC] offers the experience of a long and fruitful career in energy regulatory law. He is prized for his deep knowledge of the National Energy Board (NEB) and provincial regulators and has represented clients at all levels of court."

Laurie served as a director or trustee of a number of private and public companies and funds, was formerly a member of the Advisory Board to the Montreal Neurological Institute and currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Royal Military College of Canada.

Laurie was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2000.

Education

St. Patrick’s College, Carleton University, BA University of Ottawa, LLB Oxford University (UK), MA 

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1981 Alberta, 1984 

Select Experience

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., in connection with its C$1.19-billion acquisition of an indirect minority equity interest in the Labrador-Island Link from Emera Inc. 
Appeal counsel to ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd., in the Supreme Court of Canada's 2006 landmark decision defending utility property rights against regulatory confiscation. ATCO Gas & Pipelines Ltd. v. Alberta (Energy & Utilities Board), 2006 SCC 4
Appeal counsel to ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd., in its successful appeal from an Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Order purporting to require it to hold the proceeds of sale of an asset in a deferral account.  The successful appeal confirms that the Board has no jurisdiction over utility assets not required to provide utility service and that the utility is entitled to the sale proceeds without any conditions. ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. v. Alberta (Energy and Utilities Board) 2009 ABCA 171
Appeal counsel to ATCO Gas and Pipeline Ltd., in its successful appeals of three related Board Decisions regarding the ability of the regulator to assert jurisdiction over its Carbon gas storage facilities and related production properties, which assets no longer serve any purpose for utility service.  The court ruled that revenue generation is not a valid utility service
ATCO Gas, in its $550-million sale of Viking assets to Burlington
Bear Head LNG, in regulatory/environmental approvals for construction of the plant
Sable Offshore Energy Project, in the Joint Environmental Review Panel hearings and regulatory approvals for the development of an offshore gas project valued at $3 billion
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Partnership, in $452-million and US$281-million bank financing and $260-million and US$240-million bond financing of the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline
Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, in appearing before a Joint Environmental Review Panel for an international pipeline to Boston and in respect of general regulatory matters and in all subsequent facilities expansion and rate related issues; acted on four subsequent expansion and major gas transmission lateral projects
Duke Energy, in the partnership agreement, operating agreements, transportation services agreements and EPC contract, and the project financing (bond/bank) in relation to the Canadian portion of the 1,059-km Maritimes & Northeast System
Emera Brunswick Pipeline Company Ltd., as lead regulatory counsel for a $350-million gas transmission pipeline project connecting the Canaport LNG project to domestic and export markets

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)
Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business
Ranked, Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)
The Legal 500: Canada
Leading Lawyer, Energy — Oil and Gas

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Consistently Recommended, Energy (Electricity)
Consistently Recommended, Energy (Oil & Gas)

 

Best Lawyers in Canada
2021 Calgary Lawyer of the Year - Environmental Law
Recognized for Energy Regulatory Law; Environmental Law; Natural Resources Law
Expert Guides
Recognized as one of the top Energy law practitioners in the world
Finance Monthly
Energy - Lawyer of the Year - Canada
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Received a BV Distinguished Peer Review Rating
Lexpert Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Corporate Lawyers in Canada
Recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the area of Energy – Oil and Gas
Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of Energy - Electricity
Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers
Recognized as a leading corporate lawyer in Canada
Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition - Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers
Recognized as a leading energy lawyer in Canada
Lexpert Special Edition—Canada's Leading Infrastructure Lawyers

Recognized as a leading Infrastructure lawyer

Who's Who Legal: Canada
Recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of energy

Who's Who Legal: Energy
Recognized as a leading energy lawyer

Insights, News & Events

Announcements

Chambers Global Ranks Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2025 Guide

February 13, 2025
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Recognized as Top-Tier Firm in Legal 500 Canada Rankings

November 14, 2024
       

Announcements

42 Lawyers Recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Energy and Mining 2024

September 09, 2024
       

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Energy Regulatory
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