Shawn Denstedt, KC

Shawn is Chair Emeritus at Osler. His practice is comprised of energy, mining, environmental, regulatory and indigenous law matters. Shawn advises companies in a variety of industries, primarily the Natural Resource industry.

He has been engaged in a number of international assignments, including advising the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the development of its oil sands regulatory system and the Government of Vietnam and PetroVietnam on the development of their offshore regulatory regime.

He has advised Canada’s largest energy industry associations (CAPP, CEPA and EPIC) in respect of regulatory reform for energy project development. Shawn has appeared in major regulatory proceedings before the: Alberta Energy Regulator (Energy Resources Conservation Board); Alberta Utilities Commission; Canada Energy Regulator (formerly National Energy Board); Federal Environmental Assessment Joint Review Panels; Ontario Energy Board; Alberta Environmental Appeal Board and various other appeal boards. He has successfully represented clients in the development of multi-billion dollar projects including pipeline projects, oil sands projects, shale gas projects, LNG projects, hydro-electric projects, offshore developments, and mining projects. He has also advised clients on their obligations to indigenous groups and negotiated resource development and impact benefit agreements with Indigenous groups on behalf of resource developers.


Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory) (Senior Statespeople); Environment (Senior Statespeople)
  • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Business Lawyers: Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory) (Senior Statespeople); Environment (Senior Statespeople)
    • “…[Shawn] combines his expertise in Aboriginal, environmental and regulatory law to offer an all-encompassing service to clients. He advises both domestic and international project proponents on significant resources development projects, and currently serves as co-chair of the firm.”
    • “…[Shawn] is recognised by commentators as “one of the key front-end environmental lawyers” in this market. He advises on all manner of environmental, regulatory and Aboriginal issues, with an emphasis on energy and mining.”
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Aboriginal Law; Recognized in Energy (Oil & Gas); Energy (Electricity); Environmental Law; Canada’s top environmental lawyers in 2021Calgary’s leading oil and gas lawyers in 2021
  • The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Environment; Energy (Oil & Gas)
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Aboriginal Law; Administrative and Public Law; Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law; Environmental Law; Natural Resources Law; Oil & Gas Law; “Lawyer of the Year”, Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice; “Lawyer of the Year”, Environmental Law
  • Legal 500: 
    • Recognized as a Leading Lawyer, Environment; Energy and Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
    • Recommended Lawyer, Aboriginal Law
  • Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in International – Energy and Environment; Canada – Energy; Environment
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada: Recognized in Dispute Resolution; Environmental; Aboriginal; Regulatory Investigations (Litigation Star); Local Star
  • Recognized as a Client Choice Award Recipient: Environment – Alberta and Canada (Exclusive Winner)
  • Named King’s Counsel

Credentials

Education

  • University of Western Ontario, LL.B.
  • Wilfrid Laurier University, B.A.

Languages

  • English

Professional Affiliations

  • Law Society of Alberta
  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Canadian Bar Association