Bennett Jones: Aboriginal Law And Advisors Group

Our Aboriginal Law Group helps project developers navigate the regulatory process in securing approvals for major energy development projects, including consulting and negotiating with Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders. We draw on our top-tier, cross-departmental expertise in the energy, environmental, corporate commercial, regulatory, litigation and tax arenas in shepherding significant projects through to fruition. We structure and negotiate commercial agreements for projects involving aboriginal rights and interests, as well as debt and equity financing arrangements for projects on aboriginal lands or with aboriginal participation.

We understand the risks associated with Aboriginal issues in the context of significant energy development project approvals and work closely with our clients to devise an exposure management plan to identify and manage potential litigation and other issues both pre- and post-closing, including compensation, royalty, surface rights and land access issues. Our unparalleled experience with major development projects enables us to forecast outcomes with a high degree of accuracy.

Select Experience

Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Group regarding the multi-billion dollar Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Project, in connection with the negotiation and structuring of commercial agreements including ownership agreements among various Aboriginal groups and various development, operating, shipping and financing agreements with Imperial Oil, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell and TransCanada Pipelines.