Background

Alan Ross is a partner in our Calgary office. Mr. Ross was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1996 and the New York Bar in 2003. Mr. Ross obtained his Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University in 1994. Subsequent to that he graduated with his Master of Business Administration from Oxford University in 2001.

Areas of Practice

• Mr. Ross' practice focuses on administrative law and regulatory matters. He has appeared before the Alberta Court of Appeal, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Energy Resources Conservation Board, the National Energy Board, the Ontario Energy Board and the British Columbia Utilities Commission. Mr. Ross has expertise in electricity and oil & gas infrastructure development, electricity transmission and generation, pipelines, oilsands, renewables, coal and coalbed methane.  Mr. Ross also has significant experience in corporate governance issues.
• He is the regional leader of the environmental law practice for Calgary.

Rankings & Recognitions

• Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Natural Resources Law).
• Recognized in the Lexpert® 2011 Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada (Corporate Lawyer to Watch)
• Recipient of the 2010 Lexpert Rising Stars Award for Leading Lawyers under 40
• Martindale-Hubbell BV® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rating.
• Top Lawyer in the UK designation, New City Media, 2000.

Professional Experience

• Mr. Ross's practice involves representing clients in energy regulatory proceedings, having gained significant experience in all aspects of energy and utility regulation and major project development.
• Prior to joining BLG, he worked as senior in-house counsel in TransCanada Pipeline Limited's regulatory law group and in the corporate/commercial department of an international law firm in London, England.
• Acted as counsel in numerous significant proceedings arising from the restructuring of the Alberta electricity industry.
• Counsel to AltaLink Management Ltd., a transmission facility owner, on all aspects of the approval of a HVDC transmission line designated as Critical Transmission Infrastructure between Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, including the environmental impacts of the line
• Acted for AltaLink Management Ltd. on its Alberta Utilities Commission 2009-10 and 2011-13 general rate applications.
• Advising the Government of Alberta on regulatory, consultation and classification issues related to carbon dioxide and carbon capture and storage project development.
• Acting for AltaLink Management Ltd. on Albert Utilities Commission Inquiries into Hydroelectricity and the implementation of Smart Grid in Alberta.
• Acted for Kinder Morgan Canada Company in 2009 and 2010 before the National Energy Board to successfully reinstate the Windsor-Sarnia portion of the Cochin Pipeline system
• Counsel to 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 (now the ERCB)
• Acted for developers of cogeneration and other independent electric power projects.
• Acted as counsel to TransCanada Pipelines Limited in electricity and gas rates proceedings.
• Appeared before the Ontario Energy Board in pipeline proceedings as counsel for TransCanada.
• Advised on international utilities privatizations and regulatory reform, in countries including Poland, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
• Former special assistant to the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Conferences and Publications

• "Examining the issues that affect gas developments in Canada and the U.S." Canadian Energy Research Institute's 2012 Natural Gas Conference, February 27-28, 2012, Going Global - Shifting the Focus of the Gas Industry
• Environmental Law Cross Country Update – "The Alberta Regulatory Framework - Lean and Green?",  October, 2011 (National Club, Toronto, Ontario)
• “The Changing Legislation and Regulation of Carbon Capture and Storage – Impacts on Purpose, Policy and Projects” 2011 Canada Energy Law Foundation Jasper Seminar/ Petroleum Law Edition, Alberta Law Review
• “Legislative Process and Land Use Issues For Large Scale Projects” Edge on Energy, October 2010
• “Environmental Law Update – Critical Information You Need to Know About the Changing World of Environmental Law”, September 2010 (National Club, Toronto, Ontario)
• Doing Business in Russia, Global Petroleum Show (June, 2010)
• "The Status of Standing”, May, 2010 Canadian Energy Law Forum (Montreal, Quebec)
• " Carbon Pricing - Will It Mean the Death of Coal", Canadian Energy Research Institute's 2009 Electricity Conference, October 19-20, 2009
• “ Regulating Greenhouse Gases - Positioning Your Company in the New Carbon Economy”, Lexpert Conference Series, June 2009
• “Developing Renewable Generation Projects” Lexpert Conference Series, November, 2008
• "Conventional Generation in a Carbon Constrained World", Canadian Energy Research Institute's 2008 Electricity Conference, October 2008
• “Spare Capacity – the Future of Refined Petroleum Products”, World Oil Conference, April 2008
• “Natural Gas Liquids : Capturing New Opportunities and Preparing For Regulatory Change”, Canadian Institute, Canadian Institute Natural Gas Liquids Conference, April 10-11, 2008
• “ Alberta Environmental Law Update”, Canadian Bar Association Seminars, December 2007
• “Entitlement to CBM in Alberta : An Analysis of EUB Decision 2007-024”, Canadian Institute Coalbed Methane Symposium, June 20-21, 2007
• “The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act: An Analysis of Legislative Goals and Administrative Law in Conflict”, Canadian Journal of Administrative Law and Practice (1994-1995).
• “A Silk Purse or a Sow's Ear – Treatment of Evidence in the Fresh, Chilled or Frozen Pork From Canada Trade Dispute”, Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies (1994)
• Frequently quoted on areas of energy and environmental law in the Globe & Mail, National Post and Wall Street Journal

Professional and Community Activities

• Advisory Committee, Canadian Energy Research Institute
• Board of Directors, Alberta Emerald Foundation
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Past Conduct Committee Member, Law Society of Alberta
• Member, Firm’s Management Committee