Michael handles disputes, litigation, arbitration and administrative law matters for clients, with significant experience representing clients in oil and gas and energy litigation, commercial litigation, expropriation, municipal law, bankruptcy and insolvency, and energy regulatory proceedings.
Michael regularly appears before the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal, and various commercial arbitrators and administrative tribunals (including the Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Land Compensation Board).
Prior to completing his articles with BLG in 1999, Michael clerked with the Alberta Court of Appeal and Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench.
Within BLG’s Calgary office, he serves as the Regional Group Manager of our Disputes Group, the Regional Co-Leader of our Appellate Advocacy Group, and Co-Chair of BLG Calgary’s Pro Bono Committee.
Michael provides legal services through a Law Corporation.
Experience
- Reference Re Impact Assessment Act, 2020 ABCA 94 – Constitutional reference related to the validity of the federal Impact Assessment Act and its associated regulations.
- Hudson King v Lightstream Resources Ltd, 2020 ABQB 149 – successful trial judgment in oil and gas net profits interest agreement accounting dispute.
- Kuzoff v Talisman Peru BV Sucursal del Peru, 2020 ABQB 111 – successful summary dismissal of claim of breach of contract or wrongful dismissal.
- Reference re Environmental Management Act, 2020 SCC 1 and 2019 BCCA 181 - Constitutional reference related to the ability of British Columbia to regulate heavy oil in possession of the operator of a federal pipeline or railway.
- ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp and Shell Canada Limited, 2019 ABQB 727 – application for summary judgment related to responsibility for environmental liabilities in the Arctic.
- Canadian Pacific Railway Company v Hatch Corporation, 2019 ABQB 392 – application to set aside service ex juris and forum non conveniens.
- Fort Hills Energy LP v Jotun A/S, 2019 ABQB 237 – application to set aside service ex juris and forum non conveniens, and for breach of duty of full and frank disclosure on ex parte application.
- PWP Xerion Holdings III LLC v Binnion, 2018 ABCA 421 – stay pending appeal of letters rogatory enforcement order.
- Bard v Canadian Natural Resources Limited, 2016 ABQB 267 – e-discovery and production of oil and gas financial accounting records.
- Toyota Tsusho Wheatland Inc v Encana Corp, 2016 ABQB 209 – litigation and arbitration related to alleged breach of oil and gas joint venture agreement.
- Kallisto Energy Corp. Application for a Well Licence Crossfield East Field, 2013 ABAER 013 – well licence application in proximity to storage reservoir.
- Nexxtep Resources Ltd v Alberta (Energy Resources Conservation Board), 2013 ABCA 186 – leave to appeal denial of well suspension application.
- Talisman Energy Inc v Esprit Exploration Ltd, 2013 ABQB 132 – dispute over ownership and environmental liabilities associated with sour gas processing plant.
- In the Matter of the Intended Expropriation by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo re Sports and Entertainment Complex Project, (2013 Inquiry Officer) – expropriation inquiry.
- Nexxtep Resources Ltd v Talisman Energy Inc, 2013 ABCA 40 – oil and gas purchase and sale agreement ownership dispute.
- Sandhu v MEG Place LP Investment Corp, 2012 ABCA 266 – confirming notice of disallowances of claims in bankruptcy process.
- Terra Energy Corp. Applications for an Oil Effluent Pipeline Grande Prairie, 2012 ABERCB 012 – oil effluent pipeline approval application.
- Radomski v Calgary (City), 2012 CanLII 60873 (AB LCB) – expropriation compensation hearing.
- Martyna Enterprises Ltd v Calgary (City), 2011 CanLII 95389 (AB LCB) – expropriation compensation hearing.
- EPCOR Water Services Inc. v Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition Society, 2021 ABLPRT 734 – client received rare split decision from the LPRT, where minority would have granted $45,000 in costs against the appellants (ERVCCS).
- Reference Re Impact Assessment Act, 2020 ABCA 94 – Constitutional reference related to the validity of the federal Impact Assessment Act and its associated regulations.
- Hudson King v Lightstream Resources Ltd, 2020 ABQB 149 – successful trial judgment in oil and gas net profits interest agreement accounting dispute.
- Kuzoff v Talisman Peru BV Sucursal del Peru, 2020 ABQB 111 – successful summary dismissal of claim of breach of contract or wrongful dismissal.
- Reference re Environmental Management Act, 2020 SCC 1 and 2019 BCCA 181 - Constitutional reference related to the ability of British Columbia to regulate heavy oil in possession of the operator of a federal pipeline or railway.
- ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp and Shell Canada Limited, 2019 ABQB 727 – application for summary judgment related to responsibility for environmental liabilities in the Arctic.
- Canadian Pacific Railway Company v Hatch Corporation, 2019 ABQB 392 – application to set aside service ex juris and forum non conveniens.
- Fort Hills Energy LP v Jotun A/S, 2019 ABQB 237 – application to set aside service ex juris and forum non conveniens, and for breach of duty of full and frank disclosure on ex parte application.
- PWP Xerion Holdings III LLC v Binnion, 2018 ABCA 421 – stay pending appeal of letters rogatory enforcement order.
- Bard v Canadian Natural Resources Limited, 2016 ABQB 267 – e-discovery and production of oil and gas financial accounting records.
- Toyota Tsusho Wheatland Inc v Encana Corp, 2016 ABQB 209 – litigation and arbitration related to alleged breach of oil and gas joint venture agreement.
- Kallisto Energy Corp. Application for a Well Licence Crossfield East Field, 2013 ABAER 013 – well licence application in proximity to storage reservoir.
- Nexxtep Resources Ltd v Alberta (Energy Resources Conservation Board), 2013 ABCA 186 – leave to appeal denial of well suspension application.
- Talisman Energy Inc v Esprit Exploration Ltd, 2013 ABQB 132 – dispute over ownership and environmental liabilities associated with sour gas processing plant.
- In the Matter of the Intended Expropriation by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo re Sports and Entertainment Complex Project, (2013 Inquiry Officer) – expropriation inquiry.
- Nexxtep Resources Ltd v Talisman Energy Inc, 2013 ABCA 40 – oil and gas purchase and sale agreement ownership dispute.
- Sandhu v MEG Place LP Investment Corp, 2012 ABCA 266 – confirming notice of disallowances of claims in bankruptcy process.
- Terra Energy Corp. Applications for an Oil Effluent Pipeline Grande Prairie, 2012 ABERCB 012 – oil effluent pipeline approval application.
- Radomski v Calgary (City), 2012 CanLII 60873 (AB LCB) – expropriation compensation hearing.
- Martyna Enterprises Ltd v Calgary (City), 2011 CanLII 95389 (AB LCB) – expropriation compensation hearing.
- EPCOR Water Services Inc. v Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition Society, 2021 ABLPRT 734 – client received rare split decision from the LPRT, where minority would have granted $45,000 in costs against the appellants (ERVCCS).
