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Forestry

Whether you’re with a private or public forestry company or the provincial or federal government, it’s key to have a skilled legal team who can provide trusted advice and representation on all forestry law issues.

Our multidisciplinary team has a comprehensive grasp of past and present provincial forestry practise and legislation. We have significant experience in:

  • forestry projects
  • corporate/commercial issues
  • regulatory issues
  • environmental matters
  • Indigenous matters
  • provincial regulation governing forestry activities
  • regulatory compliance advice
  • mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations
We have almost 20 years of experience with the softwood lumber dispute in various capacities and have acted in a number of roles for industry organizations. We provide substantive advice to government organizations on international legal obligations to proposed forest policy changes.

Experience - Mergers & Acquisitions

  • $38.6 million acquisition of the Fort St. James Sawmill from Conifex Inc.
  • Acquisition of the assets of Coe Newnes/McGehee Inc.
  • $38 million acquisition of the Meadow Lake pulp mill.
  • $1.1 billion sale of coastal timber assets to Brascan.
  • $39 million acquisition of the Fort St. James sawmill from Canfor.
  • US$457.5 million acquisition of three oriented strand board facilities and related assets in Minnesota from Potlatch Corporation.
  • $56 million acquisition of an oriented strand board facility and related assets in Slave Lake, Alberta from Weyerhaeuser.
  • $40/share take-over of Riverside Forest Products Ltd.
  • Acquisition of a bleached chemo thermo mechanical pulp mill from Louisiana-Pacific in Chetwynd, British Columbia.
  • $163 million acquisition of Norske Skog Canada MacKenzie Pulp Limited.
  • Acquisition of Primex Forest Products Ltd.
  • Acquisition of the High Level Lumber Division of Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. in Alberta.
  • Acquisition of Crestbrook Industries Limited by court approved plan of arrangement.
  • $80 million acquisition of a 50.1 per cent interest in Findlay Forest Industries Inc.
  • Acquisition of MB Paper Limited.
  • $109 million acquisition of Repap Manitoba Inc.
  • $140 million acquisition of the coastal solid wood division of Weldwood of Canada Limited.

Experience - Other

  • Regulatory issues in connection with the liquidation of a forest products company.
  • Regulatory issues in connection with the acquisition of Donohue Inc.
  • Counsel to the Government of British Columbia on issues relating to Skeena Cellulose.

Experience - Corporate/Commercial

  • Joint ownership structures for production facilities.

Experience - Environmental Matters

  • Obtaining injunctions against environmental protesters, which includes acting for forest products companies.
  • Defending charges under the Fisheries Act and provincial environmental protection legislation.
  • Defending administrative contraventions under the Forest and Range Practices Act and its predecessor.

Experience - Aboriginal Matters

  • Counsel to the Government of British Columbia in the Xeni Gwet’in case.
  • Matters relating to Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal title and traditional territories and other legal issues, negotiations and developments involving First Nations.
  • Matters relating to advising archaeological and Heritage Conservation Act issues that affect logging operations.

Key Contact

  • Rick Williams

    Rick Williams

    Partner and National Business Leader, Environmental, Municipal, Expropriation & Regulatory

    Vancouver
    RWilliams@blg.com
    604.640.4074
    View full bio

    Rick Williams

    Partner and National Business Leader, Environmental, Municipal, Expropriation & Regulatory

    Services
    • Environmental
    • Energy – Power
    • Renewable Energy
    • Indigenous Law
    • Disputes

    • [See more on full bio]
    View full bio
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