Shane Freitag
Back

Shane Freitag

National Leader, Energy - Power

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6137

Expertise

Alyssa Riley

Practice Assistant

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6749
416.350.2667

Shane is a partner at BLG and focuses on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters in the resource and infrastructure sectors, including electricity, gas and water.

He acts as counsel for renewable and non-renewable electricity projects, district energy projects and other infrastructure projects. He focuses on underlying key project agreements and regulatory approvals. He has also acted for numerous clients in the purchase and sale of natural gas and electricity, and financial products, hedges and swaps.

Prior to joining BLG, Shane was assistant general counsel and general counsel of large utilities in Ontario and Alberta. He was heavily involved in the restructuring of the electricity industry and utilities in those jurisdictions.

Shane is a member of the firm's Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) initiative.

Testimonials

Chambers Canada 2023

"Chair of the firm's electricity markets group, Shane Freitag is noted for his adept handling of project development across the energy space. Based in Toronto, he offers additional experience representing clients in regulatory and transactional matters."

Chambers Canada 2023

"'He is very practical'."

Chambers Global

“Shane Freitag is well known for his considerable commercial expertise in the power, water and natural gas markets. He also advises his clients, among whom he counts numerous utility companies, on regulatory matters. Interviewees agree that ‘his style is reasonable, unflappable and committed to you as the customer.’”

Experience

  • Counsel to developers, hosts, lenders, purchasers and sellers regarding renewable and non-renewable generating projects in Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alberta.
  • Counsel to the Independent Electricity System Operator regarding the Large Renewable Procurement, Industrial Electricity Incentive Program, the Energy From Waste and the Hydroelectric Contract Initiative.
  • Counsel to purchasers, sellers, buying groups and traders regarding natural gas, electricity and emissions using GasEDIs, NAESBs, ISDAs, EEIs and other standard Master Agreements.
  • Counsel to utilities regarding conservation and demand management agreements, suite metering agreements, connection agreements and terms and conditions of service.
  • Participated in the restructuring of the Ontario and Alberta electricity industries.
  • Assisted in the reorganization of Ontario Hydro and the incorporation of Ontario Power Generation.
  • Assisted in the direction of the transition of EPCOR from a city-owned department to a stand-alone major Alberta utility.
  • Participated in the negotiation of the first combined water and electric corporate utility in Canada.
  • Aided in the development of the agreement to devolve responsibility for oil and gas resources from the federal government to the Government of the Northwest Territories (Northern Accord).
  • Directed the purchase of the Northern Canada Power Commission from the Federal Government and the development of the Public Utilities Act and Northwest Territories Power Corporation Act.

Insights & Events

View All Insights
View All Insights

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member of the Board of Directors, Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO)
  • Chair, International Bar Association, Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (SEERIL)
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2016) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law) and since 2022 (Oil & Gas).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2016) of Chambers Canada — Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Energy: Power - Transactional (Nationwide)).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2019) of Chambers Global — Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Energy: Power - Transactional).
  • Recognized as a 2023 Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer.
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2022) of the Legal 500 Canada as a Leading individual (Energy & Natural Resources - Power).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2011) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Energy – Electricity).
  • Recognized as a leading energy lawyer in the 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018 (and since 2013) editions of the Lexpert®/Report on Business Special Edition on Energy.
  • Recognized as a leading lawyer in the 2023 and previous editions of the Lexpert®/Report on Business Special Edition on Infrastructure.
  • Recognized in the 2018 edition (and since 2015) of Who's Who Legal: Canada (Energy).
  • Recognized as a 2019 Acritas Star (and since 2017).
  • Recognized in the 2019 edition of the Lexpert®/ROB Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Corporate Lawyers.
  • Recognized as a leading lawyer in the 2019 and previous editions of The Legal 500 Canada (Energy: Power).

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2002
  • Nunavut, 2000
  • Northwest Territories, 1986
  • Alberta, 1983
  • LLB, University of Windsor, 1982
  • MBA, University of Saskatchewan, 1979
  • B.Comm., University of Alberta, 1978

Shane Freitag on New Generating Projects

Shane Freitag, a partner at BLG and National Leader of the Electricity Markets Group, discusses BLG lawyers and New Generating Projects.

Please enable Targeting Cookies and refresh the page to clear this message and play the video.