Alicia K. Quesnel

Managing Partner

Education:

Institute of Corporate Directors, Director's Education Program, ICD.D Designation, 2017

University of Ottawa, Master of Laws, International Trade Law, 1994; Queen's University, Bachelor of Laws, 1993

University of Calgary, Master of Arts, International Relations, 1989

University of Lethbridge, Bachelor of Arts, 1987

Bar admission: Alberta 1995

Industries:

Oil and gas, Power, Renewables and energy transition

Practice areas:

Business law, Commercial agreements, Corporate governance and disclosure, Competition and foreign investment, Corporate reorganizations, Joint ventures and other business combinations, Energy, Environmental, social, and governance (ESG), Private equity, Infrastructure and project development, Mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions

Experience

Alicia's focus is on:

Energy and commercial transactions

Large scale conventional and unconventional upstream resource joint venture projects (petroleum and natural gas, oil sands and shale gas)
Midstream infrastructure projects (LNG export facilities, processing, pipeline and crude by rail transportation)
Renewable energy projects (wind, hydro and solar)
Acquisitions, mergers and divestitures
and midstream arrangements as alternative forms of financing

Competition law and foreign investment

Securing regulatory approvals for mergers from the Competition Bureau, Investment Canada and other regulatory agencies
Advising on Competition Act compliance matters in a number of industries, including the upstream and midstream energy sectors, the energy service sector, power, petrochemicals, the airline industry and the grain industry, among others

Alicia also advises on Competition Act compliance matters for many industries.

Community involvement

Alicia is Director at Hope Breast Cancer Foundation and SOS Children's Villages Canada.

Professional involvement

Alicia is a member of BD&P's Executive Committee, Compensation Committee and Partnership Admission Committee.

She is also the former director of the Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation (now the Canadian Energy Law Foundation) (2000-2006).

Professional associations

Member, Law Society of Alberta
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Calgary Bar Association

Presentations

Alicia has also presented and moderated at various conferences, panels, seminars, and other events, including:

Net Zero, Carbon Neutral, Low Carbon Economy, Energy Transition, Circular Economy: Understanding the Terminology, Defining Pathways, and Discussing Outcomes, Global Energy Show, MELA Pavillion, June 2022
Supply, Demand and Differentials, The Price of Crude oil in Canada, Southern Land Agents Lunch, March 2019
The Commercialization Challenge, The Future of Oil and Gas 2017, Conference sponsored by the Future
Economy (Milestone GRP), January 2017
A View From Alberta, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), 2016 Model Contracts Workshop, June 2016
Current Issues in Oil & Gas Transactions: a Panel Discussion on Commercial Oil & Gas Agreements, University of Calgary: Assentio Mentium Program, February 2015
Finding a Way Forward with Foreign Investors: A Conversation about the Internationalization of Canadian Resource Development Agreements, Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, January 2015

Representative work

ARC Energy's gas supply for Cedar LNG project

Counsel to ARC Energy in connection with a gas supply agreement and liquefaction tolling services arrangements for the Cedar LNG Project.

LNG Canada's expansion to the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline

Counsel to LNG Canada in connection with the negotiation of agreements pertaining to the development and construction of the Cedar Expansion to the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline and the transportation services agreements with Cedar LNG shippers

LNG Canada execution of $11.2B pipeline project

Lead counsel to LNG Canada on its negotiation of revised agreement with Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership to allow for the continued execution of the approximately C$11.2 billion pipeline project.

Graham Group’s acquisition of AECOM’s energy operations and maintenance business

Counsel to the Graham Group of Companies in the acquisition of the North American assets of AECOM’s Energy Operations and Maintenance Division. The acquisition positions the Graham Group as the third largest construction company in Canada and Western Canada’s largest industrial services company.

Greenfire Acquisition Corporation acquisition of Japan Canada Oil Sands Limited

Counsel to Greenfire Acquisition Corporation in its acquisition of all of the shares of Japan Canada Oil Sands Limited, which has a working interest in the Hangingstone facility in Alberta, for an undisclosed amount.

Kicking Horse Oil & Gas Ltd.'s $300 million acquisition by Whitecap Resources Inc

Counsel to Kicking Horse Oil & Gas Ltd., a portfolio company of Quantum Energy Partners, in its $300 million acquisition by Whitecap Resources Inc.

Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission in connection with the Keystone Expansion Project

Counsel to APMC regarding the Government of Alberta’s $1.5 billion equity investment in––and $6 billion loan guarantee in support of––the Keystone Expansion Project.

Ovintiv Canada ULC's termination of joint venture with PetroChina Canada Ltd.

Counsel to Ovintiv Canada for the termination of their 2012 Duvernay shale joint venture and partition of assets.

Athabasca Oil Corporation's $70 million bitumen royalty upsizing

Counsel to Athabasca in the upsizing of the completed bitumen royalty with Burgess Energy Holdings LLC for an extra cash consideration of $70 million.

Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission crude by rail project

Counsel to the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission in connection with the Alberta Government's publicly announced 120,000 bbls/d, $3.7 billion crude by rail (CBR) initiative for the transportation of Alberta crude oil by rail car to markets in the U.S. and Canada.

MEG Energy Corp.'s hostile tender offer from Husky Energy

Counsel to MEG, a Canadian oil sands producer, and its board of directors in response to the unsolicited tender offer by Husky Energy. Husky sought to acquire the entire share capital of MEG for approximately $6 billion.

SemCAMS long-term arrangement for sour gas production

Counsel to SemCAMS in respect to its long-term agreement with the Canadian subsidiary of a large international oil and gas company to process sour gas production at its Wapiti Gas Plant. Key to this mandate was the execution of 10 year long-term take-or pay commitments for the NW Wapiti Pipeline, the Wapiti Gas Plant, the Wapiti Pipeline and the Simonette Pipeline.

NuVista Energy Ltd.'s acquisition of pipestone business of Cenovus Energy Inc.

Counsel to NuVista in the $625 million acquisition of the Cenovus Pipestone Partnership, which holds assets in the Pipestone area of Northwest Alberta.

NewAlta Corporation's $1 billion merger with Tervita Corporation

Counsel to NewAlta in the $1 billion merger with Tervita Corporation, a Canadian environmental solutions provider, in a stock swap transaction.

MEG Energy Corp.'s $1.5 billion asset disposition

Counsel to MEG in the $1.5 billion disposition of a 50% interest in Access Pipeline and 100% interest in Stonefell Terminal to Wolf Midstream Inc.

Canyon Services Group Inc.'s acquisition by Trican Well Service Ltd.

Counsel to Canyon Services Group in the $637 million acquisition by Trican.

Sale of Marathon Oil Canada Corporation to CNRL

Counsel to Marathon Oil Corporation in the US$2.5 billion sale of Marathon Oil Canada Corporation to Canadian Natural Resources Limited and Shell Canada Energy.

Savanna Energy Services Corp.'s hostile takeover defence

Counsel to Savanna Energy Services in the defence of a $450 million hostile takeover bid by Total Energy Services Inc.

PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.'s acquisition of royalty rights

Counsel to PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. in the $250 million acquisition of a 4% gross overriding royalty on current and future phases of Lindbergh SAGD thermal oil project from Pengrowth Energy Corporation.

ARC Resources Ltd. disposition of light oil assets

Counsel to ARC Resources Ltd. in the $700 million strategic disposition of light oil assets in southeast Saskatchewan to Spartan Energy Corp.

Tourmaline Oil Corp.'s $1.3 billion acquisition of energy assets

Counsel to Tourmaline Oil Corp. in the $1.37 billion acquisition of strategic assets located in the Alberta Deep Basin and the north east British Columbia Gundy area from Shell Canada Energy.

SemCAMS ULC's producer arrangements for condensate gathering and processing

Counsel to SemCAMS ULC in connection with the long-term producer arrangements for a $62 million product to construct condensate gathering and processing facilities at Kaybob.

Murphy Oil Canada Ltd.'s $937 million sale of joint venture interest

Counsel to Murphy Oil Canada Ltd., Canadian subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation, in the $937 million sale of its 5% non-operated working interest in the Syncrude oil sands joint venture to Suncor Energy Inc.

Athabasca Oil Corporation royalty grant to Burgess Energy Holdings LLC

Counsel to Athabasca Oil Corporation in granting a $129 million contingent bitumen royalty to Burgess Energy Holdings LLC.

$595 million energy asset acquisition by Whitecap Resources Inc.

Counsel to Whitecap Resources Inc. in the $595 million acquisition of premium oil assets in southwest Saskatchewan from Husky Energy Inc.

SemCAMS ULC's sour gas transportation arrangements

Counsel to SemCAMS ULC in connection with a 10 year extension of existing long-term sour gas transportation arrangements with an investment grade producer on SemCAMS' Northwest Wapiti, Wapiti and Simonette pipeline systems for gas processing at Kaybob South 3 (K3) Plant.

Murphy Oil Canada Ltd.'s disposition of natural gas assets in British Columbia

Counsel to Murphy Oil Canada Ltd., Canadian subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation, in the $538 million disposition of the Tupper Main and Tupper West gas plants and associated pipelines in northeastern British Columbia to Enbridge G and P Canada Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $221 million acquisition

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. in the $221 million acquisition of the Westeel division of Vicwest Inc.

Mullen Group Ltd. acquisition of Gardewine Group Limited Partnership

Counsel to Mullen Group Ltd. in the $172 million acquisition of Manitoba-based Gardewine Group.

Tourmaline Oil Corp.'s Peace River High joint venture

Counsel to Tourmaline Oil Corp. in the $500 million Peace River High sale to and joint venture with Canadian Non-Operated Resources LP.

Encana Corporation's $2 billion disposition of assets

Counsel to Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.) in the $2 billion disposition of its Bighorn assets in Alberta to Jupiter Resources Inc.

Suncor Energy's sale of assets to Tamarack Acquisition Corp.

Competition counsel to Suncor Energy in the $168.5 million disposition of its Wilson Creek assets located near Rimbey, Alberta to Tamarack Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd.

Athabasca Oil Corporation's sale of Dover Oil Sands Project

Counsel to Athabasca in the $1.18 billion sale of its 40% interest in the Dover oil sands project to Phoenix Energy Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroChina International Investment Limited.

Progress Energy Canada Ltd.'s acquisition of energy assets

Counsel to Progress Energy Canada Ltd. in the $1.5 billion acquisition of part of Talisman Energy Ltd.'s Montney acreage in northeast British Columbia.

Competition advice for the sale of a conventional natural gas business to CG Energy Canada

Counsel to Suncor Energy in relation to competition and Investment Canada matters in the $1 billion sale by Suncor Energy Inc. of a majority of its conventional natural gas business to CQ Energy, a newly established partnership between Centrica plc and Qatar Petroleum International.

Encana Corporation's joint venture to develop Duvernay lands

Counsel to Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.) in the $2.18 billion acquisition by Phoenix Duvernay Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroChina International Investment Company Limited, of a 49.9% interest in Encana's Duvernay natural gas play in West Central Alberta; at the same time, a joint venture was formed between Encana and Phoenix to develop the properties.

Encana Corporation's partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation

Counsel to Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.) in the $2.9 billion partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation whereby Mitsubishi acquired a 40% interest in Encana's natural gas assets in the Cutbank Ridge area in BC.

Encana Corporation's joint venture with ConocoPhillips

Counsel to Encana Corporation (now Ovintiv Inc.) in the $15 billion formation of two 50/50 joint ventures, a Canadian upstream partnership including the Foster Creek and Christina Lake oil sands projects formerly held by Encana, and a US downstream limited liability company including the Wood River and Borger refineries formerly held by ConocoPhillips; counsel to Cenovus Energy Inc. in the renegotiation of the joint venture whereby Cenovus took over the interest of Encana.

Shell Canada's proposed LNG project at Kitimat

Counsel to Shell Canada in the negotiation of joint venture arrangements between Shell Canada, Korea Oil and Gas Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and PetroChina Company Limited for the development of an LNG export terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia.

Suncor Energy's sale of conventional natural gas businesses

Athabasca Oil Sands Corp.'s energy asset sale and joint venture

Counsel to Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. in the $1.9 billion sale of 60% interest in McKay & Dover Oil Sands assets to PetroChina International Investment Company Limited and negotiated related joint venture.

SemCAMS ULC's producer arrangements for sour gas processing plant

Counsel to SemCAMS ULC in connection with long-term producer arrangements for a new 200 mmcf/day sour gas processing plant at 25-67-07W6M.

Awards

Recent honours and recognition

Named as Best Lawyers in Canada's Calgary Lawyer of the Year in Natural Resources Law (2019 - 2025)

Recommended lawyer in Energy Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law and Competition / Antitrust Law by Best Lawyers in Canada (2018-2025)

Named in Who's Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Energy - Oil and Gas (2020, 2023, 2024).

2024 Calgary Influential Women in Business (CIWB) award for outstanding leadership in Professional Services.

2023 Female Trailblazer of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards presented by Lexpert.

Recognized in the Lexpert/American lawyer guide to the leading 500 lawyers in Canada (ALM 500) in the area of Corporate Commercial: Oil & Gas (2023)

Leading lawyer in Competition, Corporate Commerical and Oil & Gas (2023, 2024) by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Awarded the 2022 Women in Law Leadership award for Leadership in the Profession (Private Practice).

Named in The Legal 500 under the Hall of Fame in energy and natural resources: Oil and Gas (2023)

Leading lawyer in Energy: Oil & Gas (2016-2024) and Corporate Commercial Alberta (2018-2024) by Chambers Canada.

Leading lawyer in Canada in Energy and Natural Resources: Oil & Gas (2016-2022) by the Legal 500 Canada.

Named as Best Lawyers in Canada's Calgary Lawyer of the Year in Natural Resource Law (2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023).

Leading lawyer in Energy: Oil & Gas (annually since 2014), Corporate Commercial (annually since 2015) and Competition Law (2018-2021) by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

Named in the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada in Energy (2017-2020).

Named in Who's Who Legal, the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers in Energy Law (annually since 2010).

Named in Lexpert's Special Edition on Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers (annually since 2014) and Leading Energy Lawyers (annually since 2013).

Named in Who's Who Legal, Canada in Energy Law (annually since 2010).

Named in Chamber's Global in Energy: Oil & Gas (annually since 2006).

Recommended lawyer in Energy, Oil and Gas, and Natural Resources (annually since 2013) by Best Lawyers in Canada.

Publications

December 10, 2024

Updated Guide to the Far Reaching and Substantive Changes to the Competition Act Pursuant to Bill C-19, Bill C-56 and Bill C-59

June 20, 2024

Protecting Canada's National and Economic Security Interests: Bill C-34 - The National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act

November 1, 2022

New Order under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) brings temporary timeline extensions and uncertainty for foreign investors

April 1, 2020

News

November 6, 2024