Background

Shane Freitag is a partner working in our Toronto office. Shane was called to the Alberta Bar in 1983, and has been called to the Northwest Territories Bar, the Nunavut Bar, and the Ontario Bar. Shane received his law degree from the University of Windsor and has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan.

Shane has been a Corporate, Commercial and Regulatory lawyer throughout his career and has been actively involved in Energy issues in Ontario, Alberta and Northern Canada.

Areas of Practice

• Energy Markets/ Electricity and Natural Gas
• Corporate Commercial Group

Rankings and Recognitions

• Recognized in the 2011 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Energy - Electricity)
• Recognized in Who's Who Legal: Canada 2011 (Capital Markets)

Professional Experience

• Is the Toronto Regional Manager of the Oil & Gas Group.
• Advised, developed and negotiated purchase power agreements and natural gas agreements in Ontario and the Northeast/Midwest U.S.
• Actively participated in the restructuring of the Ontario electric industry, the development of the IMO Market rules and OEB licensing and codes.
• Assisted in the lease of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station to British Energy through the negotiation of transitional purchase power agreements and transmission connection arrangements.
• Undertook and assisted in the negotiation of the Market Power Mitigation arrangements for Ontario Power Generation.
• Advised on U.S. regulatory and commercial issues relating to FERC, DOE, ISO's and RTO's.
• Assisted in the reorganization of Ontario Hydro, and the incorporation of Ontario Power Generation.
• Actively participated in the restructuring of Alberta electric industry, the review of Alberta Electric Marketing Act (EEMA) and the development of the Electric Utilities Act.
• Participated, assisted and directed the transition of EPCOR Utilities Inc. from a City owned department to a stand alone major Alberta Utility.
• Participated and assisted in the negotiation of the first Water/Electric Utility strategic combination in Canada.
• Advised on and drafted purchase power agreements and natural gas agreements in Alberta.
• Acted as Counsel to the Government of the Northwest Territories before the National Energy Board on export application for Mackenzie Delta gas.
• Participated in the development and subsequent agreement between the Federal Government and the Northwest Territories to transfer responsibility for oil and gas resources (Northern Accord) to the Northwest Territories.
• Directed and participated in the acquisition by the Government of the Northwest Territories of the Northern Canada Power Commission from the Federal Government including the development of the new Public Utilities Act and the Northwest Territories Power Corporation Act.
• Assisted in the negotiation of an umbrella agreement with a Mine Operator to close the Town of Pine Point in the Northwest Territories.
• Acted as Counsel to the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board and Highway Transport Board.

Professional and Community Activities

• Member of the Canadian Bar Association, American Bar Association and International Bar Association Section on Energy and Natural Resources Law.
• Regular Participant in Edison Electric Institute Legal Committee Meetings.