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Randall W. Block

KC

Senior Counsel

Calgary
RBlock@blg.com

Expertise

Kathryn Barnes

Practice Assistant - Team Leader

Calgary
KBarnes@blg.com
403.266.1395
403.232.9649

Randall is recognized as one of the world’s leading lawyers in all forms of dispute resolution in the energy and oil & gas industries.

Randall has appeared before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Alberta Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Alberta Energy Regulator, and the Canada Energy Regulator. He has also sat as an arbitrator.

Randall has written and lectured on various issues in oil & gas law and realization on oil & gas-related security.

He was appointed King's Counsel in 2005, and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2010.

Randall provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Testimonials

Chambers Canada 2023

"One of the leaders of the Alberta commercial Bar, representing an impressive array of oil and gas clients in high-stakes disputes. He is distinguished for his immense dispute resolution experience, from matters of contract and product liability to environmental lawsuits and fraud-related litigation."

Chambers Canada 2023

"Maintains a highly respected litigation practice, which sees him act on regulatory matters within the oil and gas space…He frequently represents major energy clients before the Canada Energy Regulator in proceedings and disputes."

Experience

  • Regulatory
    • AltaLink Management Ltd., a transmission facility owner, on all aspects of the approval of an HVDC transmission line, designated as Critical Transmission Infrastructure between Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, including the environmental impacts of the line, 2009-13.
    • AltaLink Management Ltd. on proceedings relating to the abandonment of the Generic Cost of Capital formula for Alberta-based regulated utilities, 2009.
    • Kinder Morgan Canada Company before the National Energy Board to successfully reinstate the Windsor-Sarnia portion of the Cochin Pipeline system, 2009-10.
    • Sunshine Oil Sands Ltd. on all aspects of its oil sands project development, including regulatory proceedings before the Energy Resources Conservation Board, the successful interim shut-in of 120 producing natural gas wells, the commercial application for project development, and the environmental review.
    • Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. on all aspects of its oil sands project development, including the application for the interim shut-in of 180 producing natural gas wells, the commercial application for project development, and the full environmental impact assessment.
    • AltaLink Management Ltd. on all aspects of the Alberta Utilities Commission Inquiry into the implementation of Smart Grid in Alberta, 2010.
    • ConocoPhillips Canada on all issues relating to the ownership and production of natural gas from coal, including the successful proceedings before the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board/AEUB (now the Energy Resources Conservation Board/ERCB).
    • Husky Oil Operations Limited on regulatory and litigation matters, including the successful application to shut in natural gas production at Cold Lake due to the potential harm to heavy oil recovery through cyclic steam processes, 2006-09.
    • Murphy Oil Company Ltd. on its successful application to preserve its heavy oil resources in the Peace River Arch through the curtailment of natural gas production, 2007-08.
    • Acted as Co-Counsel for Gulf Canada Resources Limited (now ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.), an oil sands owner, on its successful application to the AEUB to shut in gas production in the Surmont area in Northern Alberta. The hearing resulted in the Board-ordered shut-in of 146 producing gas wells in the Surmont area overlying ConocoPhillips’ oil sands interests, 1999-2000.
    • ConocoPhillips on its successful commercial application to the AEUB to operate a 100,000 barrel-per-day steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project at Surmont; included a full environmental impact assessment, 2003-04.
    • Nexen Canada Ltd and ConocoPhillips on the Leismer/Chard hearing before the AEUB, the longest-ever heard by the AEUB. Hearing resulted in a full review of natural gas production in the designated oil sands areas of Alberta, a regional hearing, and ultimate curtailment of natural gas production in the entire oil sands area, 2001-02.
    • Talisman Energy Inc. on various regulatory issues before the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
  • Litigation
    • Acts in corporate take-overs and securities litigation.
    • Represents energy companies in litigation relating to oil & gas operations, acquisitions, and contracts.
    • Acts in shareholders’ disputes and corporate oppression.
    • Conducts arbitration, including gas price arbitration and mediations.
    • Acts in court proceedings relating to fundamental corporate changes such as arrangements, reorganizations and amalgamations, take-overs.
    • Acts in numerous cases involving general corporate commercial matters.
    • Acted for Gulf Canada Resources Limited (now ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.) in numerous split-title oil and gas cases (including the Supreme Court of Canada) establishing that the oil owner remains the owner of all natural gas that evolves from oil during the course of production resulting in the trial judgment confirming the petroleum owners right to solution gas, 2004-11.
    • Acted as Co-Counsel for Stampeder Exploration Ltd. in the litigation arising out of Stampeder’s acquisition of Westar Petroleum Ltd. before the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench and the Alberta Court of Appeal; specifically, a successful leave application to the Supreme Court of Canada seeking the reinstatement of the Trial Judge’s award of $1 million punitive damages in favour of Stampeder, 1993-2000.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Commercial Real Estate Subsection, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2025 (and since 2006) edition of Best Lawyers in Canada® (Administrative and Public Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil & Gas Law).
  • Recognized in 2021 and in 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada - Lawyer of the Year (Administrative and Public Law) and in 2024 (Bet-the-Company Litigation).
  • Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2014) of Legal 500 Canada as a "Leading Lawyer” in (Dispute Resolution: Alberta).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy and Mining.
  • Recognized in the 2025 (and since 2016) edition of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)).
  • Recognized in the 2025 (and since 2018) editions of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Litigation: General Commercial - Alberta)).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2020) of Chambers Global — The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Dispute Resolution: Litigation and Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)).
  • Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2020) edition of Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Energy (Electricity), Energy (Oil & Gas), Litigation - Corporate Commercial, Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability, Litigation - Securities).
  • Recognized as a 2023 Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and 2014-2019) of the Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Energy (Electricity)).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2020) of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation.
  • Recognized in the 2022, 2019 edition (and since 2014) of Legal 500 Canada as a "Leading Lawyer” in (Dispute Resolution: Alberta).
  • Recognized in the 2019 and 2018 editions of the Lexpert®/ROB Special Edition – Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers.
  • Recognized in the 2021 edition (and since 2020) of Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys (Energy - Litigation Star).
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and since 2018) edition of the Lexpert®/ROB Special Edition – Canada's Leading Energy Lawyers.
  • Recognized in the 2019 (and since 2015) edition of the Lexpert® Guide to US/Canada Cross-border Lawyers in Canada.
  • Recognized as "Corporate and Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year – Calgary" in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada®.
  • Recognized as a leading litigator in the 2018 edition (and since 2013) of the Lexpert®/Report on Business Litigation Special Edition.
  • Recognized in the 2018 edition of Benchmark Canada (Energy and Natural Resources Local Litigation Star: Alberta).
  • Recognized in the 2018 to 2016 editions of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Dispute Resolution: Alberta - Band 1).
  • Recognized as a leading energy lawyer in the 2017 edition of the Lexpert®/Report on Business Special Edition on Energy.
  • Recognized as the 2017 “Calgary Oil & Gas Law Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in Canada®.
  • Recognized as a leading corporate lawyer in the 2016 Lexpert®/Report on Business Corporate Special Edition.
  • Recognized in the 2017 (and since 2016) editions of Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Local Litigation Star: Alberta" and a "Litigation Star: Energy and Natural Resources."
  • Recognized by the 2016 Client Choice Awards as the exclusive winner in the Energy & Natural Resources category in Alberta.
  • Recognized as the 2013 "Calgary Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in Canada®.
  • Recognized in the 2016 (and since 2013) edition of the Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada (Litigation - Securities; Litigation - Corporate Commercial).
  • Recognized in the 2015 (and since 2012) editions of Chambers Global – The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Band 1: Dispute Resolution – Alberta; Oil & Gas: Regulatory).
  • Recognized by the 2015 Lexology Client Choice Awards as the exclusive winner in the Energy & Natural Resources category in Alberta.
  • Recognized in the 2015 edition of Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Local Litigation Star: Alberta" and a "Litigation Star: Energy and Natural Resources."
  • Recognized in the 2015, 2014 and 2013 editions of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Energy – Electricity, Energy – Oil & Gas, Litigation – Corporate Commercial, Litigation – Directors’ and Officers’ Liability, Litigation – Securities).
  • Recognized in the 2023, 2022 and 2016 edition of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Energy). Recognized in the 2024, 2023, 2022, 2015, 2014 and 2013 editions (Commercial Litigation).
  • Martindale-Hubbell® BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5 Peer Review Rated.
  • Recognized as the Energy/Resources Litigator of the Year 2013 by Benchmark Canada.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Alberta, 1985
  • LLB, University of Alberta, 1984