Martin Ignasiak and Jessica Kennedy have joined Bennett Jones as partners in Calgary. They will work closely with the firm's clients across the country to develop and execute strategies for obtaining regulatory approvals for large scale projects and navigating the changing energy regulatory landscape. They have worked on some of the biggest and most complex oil & gas, pipeline, mining and electricity generation and transmission projects in Canada.
"We are thrilled to welcome Martin and Jessica to Bennett Jones. They will bring exceptional value to the firm's clients at a time of great opportunity in the Canadian energy, resources and power sectors," says Hugh MacKinnon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bennett Jones. "Our regulatory practice is already the deepest and most experienced in Canada and they will make it even stronger with their strategic and business-focused advice to clients."
Martin and Jessica regularly advise proponents throughout Canada on consultation requirements and strategies and have negotiated numerous benefit agreements with Indigenous groups and affected stakeholders in the project development process. They also advise on the burgeoning areas of CCUS, hydrogen, critical metals and energy storage, and represent clients before provincial and federal energy regulators, environmental boards and utilities commissions.
Martin was the national co-chair of the regulatory group of a Canadian law firm before joining Bennett Jones. He is a member of the bar in Alberta, the Northwest Territories and British Columbia. He has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta and federally, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Martin is highly ranked by Canadian and global legal directories including Chambers, Lexpert and Best Lawyers in oil & gas, regulatory, Aboriginal law and environmental law.
Jessica has experience in dealing with environmental, regulatory, tariff and Indigenous matters in judicial reviews at the Court of King’s Bench and appeals of administrative decisions before the Alberta and Federal Courts of Appeal. She is educated in environmental biology, law and business.
Bennett Jones is one of Canada’s premier business law firms and home to 500 lawyers and business advisors. With deep experience in complex transactions and litigation matters, the firm is well equipped to advise businesses and investors with Canadian ventures, and connect Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world. Serving more than 93,000 clients since 1922, we are proud to be the firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.