Maureen  Killoran K.C.

Maureen Killoran, KC

National Co-Chair

Key Contact: Corporate and Commercial Litigation

Contact Information

mkilloran@osler.com

tel: 403.260.7003
tel: 604.692.2793

Office

Calgary, Vancouver

Maureen is the firm's national Co-Chair and a member of the firm’s Partnership Board. Maureen practices out of both our Vancouver and Calgary offices, and is the former Managing Partner of Osler's Calgary office (2011-17). She is a trusted advisor to major commercial clients and regularly advises both public and private sector interests. Maureen’s litigation practice is devoted to complex commercial disputes with particular emphasis on the resource industry. She is a seasoned trial and appeal lawyer with extensive experience in commercial arbitrations (domestic and international) and other forms of dispute resolution. Maureen represents a diverse group of clients and has broad experience in resource industry disputes acting on major pipeline, hydroelectric, oil sands, midstream, upstream and downstream disputes.  A significant portion of Maureen’s practice involves litigation related to major resource and transportation projects and undertakings. She routinely appears on matters of judicial review, regulatory appeal, and environmental, administrative, constitutional, Charter and indigenous claims in Federal and Provincial Courts across the country.

Numerous industry publications describe Maureen as being widely regarded by clients and peers as one of Canada’s top litigators in the areas of energy & resource, indigenous, and commercial litigation, appellate advocacy, and constitutional and administrative law:

Benchmark Litigation notes that Maureen is described as: “a real force in the litigation community, taking charge and really appearing front and centre on big actions …” "She is very collaborative and really knows her stuff. She is very good at getting things under control."

Chambers and Partners notes: “…a very capable litigator … does a good job of moving matters forward.

  • Business Council of Alberta

    Significant decision at the Supreme Court of Canada: five judge majority finds the Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional

  • Trans Mountain Canada Inc.

    Trans Mountain Canada Inc. in its successful defence of four judicial review applications at the Federal Court of Appeal, challenging the June 2019 federal approval (Order in Council) of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project

  • Trans Mountain Canada Inc.

    Supreme Court of Canada rules in favour of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

  • Equinor Canada Limited

    Equinor Canada Limited and Husky Oil Operations Limited regarding commercial matters related to the potential Bay du Nord offshore oil project

  • Terra Nova Consortium

    Terra Nova Consortium in a challenge over its calculation of past and ongoing provincial royalties

  • Kinder Morgan Canada Limited

    Kinder Morgan Canada Limited in its litigation victories for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion

    • Representing Kinder Morgan in all challenges to the federal and provincial approvals of the Trans Mountain Expansion including motions for leave to appeal, judicial review, stays and injunction motions at the Federal Court of Appeal and the British Columbia Supreme Court
    • Acted for a major international E&P company in a $30 million dispute with a pipeline company, 2016/17 under the Arbitration Act of Alberta
    • Defending TC Energy in an Ontario Superior Court action by the Aroland and Ginoogaming First Nations against the National Energy Board and Canada, alleging failure to consult in relation to the TCPL mainline
    • Representing TC Energy in obtaining multiple injunction Orders enjoining blockades to resource projects, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, January 2017, February 2017, March 2017
    • Ernst v. EnCana et al: Defending EnCana in a $11 million claim for damages by a landowner for alleged damages sustained due to “fracking” in oil and gas operations, Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench
    • Represent the Terra Nova Project (offshore Newfoundland) in a royalty dispute with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Representing Nova Gas Transmission Inc. in the defence of a number of Federal Court challenges (leave and judicial review motions) to pipeline projects (2015-17)
    • Represent Murphy Oil in a royalty dispute with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador;
    • Defending ConocoPhillips, Statoil, Anadarko, et al in a multi-million dollar dispute with GSI at the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta over seismic data use and fees
    • Defending CNRL in Devon, Bard et al., v. CNRL, a commercial dispute in relation to interests and obligations associated with the multi-billion dollar Horizon Oil Sands operation
    • Acted for Shell Canada Limited, in the defence of challenges to Shell’s proposed Jackpine Mine expansion at the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Federal Court of Canada. Reported Decisions: Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 v. Joint Review Panel, 2012 ABCA 352 (leave to appeal to SCC, denied); and Adam v. Canada (Environment), 2014 FC 1185
    • Represented a major international resource company in a confidential contractual dispute arbitrated through the London Court of International Arbitration, 2015 (“LCIA”)
    • Acted for Kinder Morgan Canada Inc., in the successful defence of multiple challenges to the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (the “Project”) at the National Energy Board (“NEB”), the Federal Court of Canada (“FCC”), the Federal Court of Appeal (“FCA”), and the British Columbia Supreme Court (“BCSC”), including:
    • Coldwater Indian Band and Chief Harold Aljam et al v. Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. et al: the successful defence of a judicial review application and appeal at the FCC and FCA regarding a pipeline expropriation dispute. Kinder Morgan was also entirely successful in its cross-appeal at the FCA. Reported DecisionsColdwater First Nation v. Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), 2013 FC 1138; Coldwater Indian Band v. Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), 2014 FCA 277
    • Coldwater Indian Band and Chief Lee Spahan et al v. Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. et al: defending against a judicial review of a decision of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development relating to the pipeline right of way through reserve land
    • The City of Burnaby v. Trans Mountain: part of successful defence team in injunction motion brought by the City of Burnaby to stop Trans Mountain from accessing City lands for the purposes of conducting NEB mandated tests and surveys integral to the assessment of the Project. Reported Decision: Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC v. Gold, 2014 BCSC 2133
    • National Energy Board Ruling No. 40 and Order Mo-122-2014 (October 23, 2014) – successfully brought a Notice of Constitutional Question dated September 26, 2014, and argued that the doctrines of interjurisdictional immunity and federal paramountcy rendered certain Burnaby City Bylaws inoperable where they are inconsistent with the Rulings of the NEB.  The resulting Order granted Trans Mountain access to Burnaby Mountain to complete technical studies related to the Project and prevented Burnaby from blocking Trans Mountain from completing the work. Leave to appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed
    • Leave to Appeal Motions Successfully Defended and Dismissed by Federal Court of Appeal:

    City of Vancouver v. NEB and Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC;

    L.D. Harvey v. NEB and Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC;

    City of Burnaby v. NEB and Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC; and

    Lynne M. Quarmby, Eric Doherty, Ruth Walmsley et al v. NEB, Attorney General of Canada, Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC et al

    • Tsleil-Waututh Nation v. NEB, Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC and Attorney General, defending an appeal of a National Energy Board decision before the FCA, based on alleged breaches of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Crown’s constitutional duty to consult.

    • Dr. Gary Smith, Andrée Stow et al v. Attorney General of Canada and Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC, motion for judicial reviewing a decision of the NEB 

    Represented Nalcor Energy in the successful defence of multiple challenges to the proposed Muskrat Falls and Churchill Falls hydro-electric Project in Newfoundland and Labrador (the “Project”), at the at the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland & Labrador, the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Supreme Court of Canada, including:

    • Sierra Club, Grand River Keeper et al v. Nalcor Energy, Government of Canada et al.,: the dismissal of the judicial review of the Report of the Joint Review Panel in relation to the environmental assessment of the Project. Reported Decision: Grand Riverkeeper, Labrador Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2012 FC 1520
    • Conseil des Innus de Ekuanitshit v. Nalcor Energy, Government of Canada et al: the successful defence at the FCC, FCA and SCC of the: (i) judicial review of the Federal Government Response to the Report of the Joint Review Panel and ultimate approval of the Project; and (ii) claim that the Crown had failed to consult/accommodate in relation to the Project. Reported Decisions: Conseil des innus de Ekuanitshit c. Canada (Procureur general), 2013 FC 418; Council of the Innu of Ekuanitshit v. Canada (Attorney General), 2014 FCA 189; Conseil des Innus de Ekuanitshit v. Attorney General of Canada, in his capacity of legal member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, et al., 2015 CanLII 10578
    • Nunatsiavut Government v. Her Majesty in Right of Newfoundland and Labrador: Representing Nalcor Energy before the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Federal Court of Canada in the: (i) judicial review of both provincial and federal permits in relation to the Project; and, (ii) claim that the Crowns failed to fulfil their duties to consult and accommodate. Reported Decision Nunatsiavut v. Newfoundland and Labrador (Department of Environment and Conservation), 2015 NLTD(G) 1
    • Nunatsiavut Government v. Attorney General of Canada: the judicial review of a federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans authorization in relation to the Project and the claim that the Crown failed to fulfil its duty to consult. Reported Decision: Nunatsiavut v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 FC 492
    • NunatuKavut Community Council Inc. v. Attorney General of Canada: the judicial review of a federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans authorization in relation to the Project and the claim that the Crown failed to fulfil its duty to consultFCC Decision Pending.
    • Nalcor Energy v. NunatuKavut Community Council et al: represented Nalcor Energy before the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in its injunction motion to enjoin protestors from their illegal blockade of a work site and interference with Nalcor’s lawfully permitted work in relation to its Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project. Reported Decision: Nalcor Energy v. NunatuKavut Community Council Inc., 2012 NLTD(G) 175 and NunatuKavut Community Council Inc. v. Nalcor Energy, 2014 NLCA 46
    • NunatuKavut Community Council Inc. et al v. Nalcor Energy et al: successful defence of an injunction motion brought by the Nuntukavut Community Council to enjoin a regulatory process. Reported Decision: Nunatukavut Community Council Inc. v. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro-Electric Corporation (Nalcor Energy), 2011 NLTD (G) 44
    • Crew Energy v. Cenovus: defending Cenovus in a commercial dispute pertaining to a farm-out agreement and the expiry of oil and gas Leases. Reported Decision: Crew Energy v. Cenovus Energy Inc., 2012 ABQB 462;
    • BG International in a LCIA dispute with Canadian Superior Energy Corp. in relation to an AIPN joint operating agreement pertaining to gas exploration and development in Trinidad and Tobago. The dispute involved multiple applications for Interim Relief including receivership and CCAA protection at the Court of Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal of Alberta: (2009) 448 A.R. 24 (QB); 457 A.R. 38 (C.A.)

     

  • Find More

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Business Lawyers: Recognized in Litigation: General Commercial (Alberta) (Band 1); Aboriginal Law
    • …a very capable litigator … does a good job of moving matters forward.
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Aboriginal Law (BC); Aboriginal Law (AB); Litigation - Corporate Commercial (AB); Energy (Oil & Gas) (BC); Energy (Oil & Gas) (AB); Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law (BC); Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law (AB)
  • The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Corporate Commercial Litigation 
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Aboriginal Law; Administrative and Public Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation; Energy Law; Oil & Gas Law; "Lawyer of the Year", Appellate Practice
  • Legal 500: Recognized in Dispute Resolution; Aboriginal Law
  • Who's Who Legal: Recognized in Energy - Oil & Gas; Commercial Litigation; Canada - Energy; Canada - Commercial Litigation
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada: Recognized as 2023 Energy/Resource Lawyer of the Year
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada: Recognized in Aboriginal, Commercial, Energy (Litigation Star); Recognized in "Top 100 Women in Litigation" in Canada; 2020 Litigator of the Year: Energy/Resource Litigation - Canada
  • Thomson Reuters: "Stand-out Lawyer"
  • Women in Law: Under Maureen’s Leadership, the Osler Calgary Office was the first recipient of the Women in Law Leadership – Law Firm Award as the Alberta Firm that “best demonstrates leadership in fostering an inclusive environment for female lawyers;” Awarded Women in Law Leadership Award 
  • Province of Alberta: Named King’s Counsel, Province of Alberta

  • Law Societies of Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia
  • Canadian Energy Law Foundation
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

Lecturer/Instructor

  • Advocates Society: Bench and Bar Series – Chair, Evidence that Wins, Calgary Spring 2015
  • University of Notre Dame, Faculty of Law, South Bend, Indiana: Visiting Faculty Instructor, Intensive Trial Advocacy Training Program (2009, 2010, 2012);
  • University of Calgary, Faculty of Law, lecturer: civil procedure; advocacy; professional negligence; and, remedies; Instructor at the Intensive Trial Advocacy Course (2006-2011);
  • Legal Education Society of Alberta Intensive Trial Advocacy Course for Practitioners, Instructor 2007-2012; LESA Civil Litigation Course, 2010, Panel Chair, 2010; and Alberta Rules of Court Course, Conference Speaker, 2010.

Recent Conferences and Papers