Lawson Lundell’s Calgary location is newer and smaller than it’s Vancouver flagship, although not by much, and has earned the reverence of peers and clients alike. “They provided advice regarding a longstanding conflict among joint-venture participants, including representation in an arbitration process and advice regarding settlement negotiations, which are currently ongoing,” confirms one client. “They support a dual track approach, supporting the litigation track planning and the negotiation track planning in a collaborative fashion. I am very happy with their service and their people.” The team in this office was recently amplified by a group that decamped from a provincial firm and have acted with aplomb on establishing Lawson as a meaningful market presence on the strength of some key institutional relationships. “That group quickly entrenched itself in this city and came into their own,” observes a peer. Chief among these is Mike Donaldson, who “has really done well with managing that important TransAlta work.” Among several other mandates,
Donaldson acts for this client on an action concerning an agreement with the Province of Alberta, dating to the 1960s, for the development of a hydroelectric dam, pursuant to which the Province promised to not grant mineral rights in or adjacent to the dam lands except on such terms that will not restrict or in any way interfere with the dam’s operation or safety.
The litigation, valued at roughly $350 million, was brought by TransAlta against the Province in 2022 after the Province failed to prevent third-party producers from pursuing hydraulic fracking activity as part of their mineral exploration, in violation of the agreement. The matter was moved to mediation. Shannon Hayes also worked with Donaldson on this matter, and this pair also worked with
Grant Vogeli in acting for Remington Development in the appellate stage of its continued litigation with Canadian Pacific Railway, who, it was determined via the ruling of a trial, had breached its contract to sell a parcel of downtown development land to Remington and sold the land to the Province of Alberta instead. The court awarded Remington $163 million, a decision that Canadian Pacific appealed. The argument was heard in September 2024. Vogeli is noted by peers to be “one of the only partners at Lawson and, and also in all of Calgary, do be doing work not related to oil and gas.”
Shannon Wray and Shailaz Dhalla act for TransAlta in another matter concerning the client’s entitlement to its proportionate decommissioning costs on two properties pursuant to the Power Purchase Arrangements Regulation. The client seeks to recover $75 million by way of a final order from the Alberta Utilities Commission for forecasted decommissioning costs. Wray is championed by one client as “an absolute pleasure to work with and well informed about the business and the law.” Another asserts, “Shannon provides excellent advice, knowledgeable and timely responses, and advice that takes business considerations into account.” Marika Strobl is also a favorite among clients. One testifies, “She cares, and she engages fully with us in what is a very messy situation.” Two younger stars, Alexis Teasdale and Jonathan Selnes, are also developing a strong local following. One contemporary quips, “If you’ll pardon my language, Alexis and Jon work their asses off and are so good. They must be recognized more!” Teasdale is noted for a burgeoning insolvency niche, and Selnes’ practice encompasses commercial, construction, estates, insurance and class actions.
