Simon is a partner in the Energy Group in the firm’s Calgary office. His commercial and transactional practice focuses on the energy industry in its various shapes and sizes — conventional energy projects, renewable energy projects and energy transition matters, offshore project development and resource transportation, LNG project development, and energy infrastructure development.
Simon specializes in complex commercial matters relating to the energy industry as well as the development and the acquisition and divestiture of energy projects including renewable energy, offshore, LNG, oil sands and conventional and unconventional oil and gas.
Simon has in-depth knowledge and experience in respect of alternative and renewable energy projects. He assists clients and leads multi-disciplinary teams on the structuring, development, acquisition and divestiture of renewable energy projects, as well as the negotiation and drafting of private sector power purchase agreements.
He also has market-leading expertise and experience relating to offshore development projects including the drafting and negotiation of joint bidding arrangements and joint operating agreements; acting as project counsel to offshore development projects in negotiations with host governments on fiscal and royalty regimes, local benefits requirements and equity participation; and assisting offshore producers as consortium counsel with the development and formation of offshore transportation and transshipment systems.
Simon also has significant experience assisting clients with all commercial aspects of LNG project development including the development of upstream assets, pipeline infrastructure, LNG facilities and lifting and transportation arrangements.
Representative Work
- Chevron Canada Limited
Chevron Canada Limited on the sale of its interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and the Kaybob Duvernay Shale Gas Project to Canadian Natural Resources Limited for US$6.5 billion
- First Nations Finance Authority
Cedar LNG announces positive final investment decision (FID) on Cedar LNG Project, a landmark US$3.4B initiative
- M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp.
M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp. in its US$950 million business combination with Greenfire Resources Inc.
- VAALCO Energy
VAALCO in its US$307 million business combination with TransGlobe
- Potentia Renewables Inc.
Potentia Renewables in five unique, long term, non-recourse project financings
- Wheatland Wind Project LP
Wheatland Wind Project in its approval for construction
- BluEarth Renewables
BluEarth in its power purchase agreements with Bullfrog Power, RBC and Shell Energy North America (Canada)
- innogy SE
innogy SE in its decision to construct two solar projects in Canada
- KANATA Energy Group Ltd.
KANATA in its joint venture with TAQA North to expand the Valhalla Facility
- 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
- Shell Canada Limited
Shell Canada Limited, in its sale of strategic assets to Tourmaline Oil Corp. for $1.369 billion
- M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp. in its US$950 million business combination with Greenfire Resources Inc.
- VAALCO in its US$307 million business combination with TransGlobe
- Potentia Renewables in five unique, long term, non-recourse project financings
- Wheatland Wind Project in its approval for construction
- BluEarth Renewables in connection with power purchase agreements with Bullfrog Power, Royal Bank of Canada and Shell Energy North America (Canada)
- International renewable energy company in connection with the drafting and negotiation of power purchase agreements relating to solar power generation projects developed in Alberta
- Equinor Canada Limited and Husky Oil Operations Limited regarding commercial matters related to the potential Bay du Nord offshore oil project
- RWE Renewables in connection with the development of two merchant solar projects in Canada
- Potentia Renewables in connection with the purchase and development of almost 900 MW of wind power generation projects in Alberta
- Shell Canada Limited in its sale of strategic assets to Tourmaline Oil Corp. for $1.369 billion
- Terra Nova Development Project Consortium (Suncor Energy, ExxonMobil Canada, Statoil Canada, Husky Energy, Murphy Oil, Mosbacher and Chevron Canada) in a challenge over its calculation of past and ongoing provincial royalties
- Confidential client in connection with the acquisition and on-going development of a 120 MW wind power generation project in Alberta
- Consortium (ExxonMobil Canada, Suncor Energy, Chevron Canada, Husky Energy, Equinor Canada, Nalcor Energy, Murphy Oil Company, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation and Mosbacher Operating Ltd.) of all producers offshore Newfoundland and Labrador on the formation of, and on-going commercial arrangements relating to, the Basin Wide Transportation and Transshipment System
- Imperial Oil in respect of its agreement with Husky Energy to create a single truck transport fuel network of approximately 160 sites
- PetroChina Canada on all aspects of its participation in the LNG Canada Project and related infrastructure, including the disposition of a working interest in the LNG Canada Project to Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas)
- Shell Canada on aspects of the farm down of non-operated equity interests in Shelburne Exploration Licences and the formation of the Deepwater Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Program
- Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) on the organization, structure and development of an alliance of oil sands producers focused on accelerating the pace of improvement in Canada’s oil sands through collaborative action and innovation
- PetroChina Company Limited a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), on its acquisition of a 20% interest in Shell Canada’s Groundbirch shale gas project in north-eastern British Columbia
- Talisman Energy Inc. on the formation of a strategic partnership with Sasol Limited of South Africa to develop shale gas properties in British Columbia and assess the feasibility of establishing a facility to convert natural gas to petroleum liquids (GTL) in Canada, including the sale of a 50% working interest in its Farrell Creek shale gas project to Sasol
- Hibernia Southern Extension Project Consortium (ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada, Suncor Energy, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation, Murphy Oil Company and Equinor Canada) on the Hibernia Southern Extension Project offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, including unitization and other commercial arrangements among the members of the consortium and arrangements with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the fiscal regime (including transportation costs), benefits and equity participation and with the government of Canada on fiscal matters
- Hebron-Ben Nevis Consortium (Chevron Canada, ExxonMobil Canada, Petro-Canada and Equinor Canada) on the Hebron-Ben Nevis Development Project offshore Newfoundland and Labrador including proposed arrangements with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the fiscal regime (including transportation costs), benefits and equity participation
- Suncor Energy, Husky Energy, Equinor Canada, Murphy Oil and Mosbacher Operating Ltd. with respect to the formation of the East Coast Transportation System for the transportation and transshipment of production from the Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose projects offshore Newfoundland and Labrador
- Terra Nova Development Project Consortium (Suncor Energy, ExxonMobil Canada, Statoil Canada, Husky Energy, Murphy Oil, Mosbacher and Chevron Canada) with respect to amendments to the royalty regulations applicable to transportation costs
- ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada, Suncor Energy, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation, Murphy Oil and Equinor Canada with respect to lifting, transportation and transshipment of production from the Hibernia and Hibernia Southern Extension projects offshore Newfoundland and Labrador
- Talisman Energy Inc. on aspects of its acquisition, with Ecopetrol S.A., of BP Exploration Company (Colombia) Ltd. and with respect to the restructuring and sale of downstream pipeline assets
- China Investment Corporation in connection with its $435 million purchase of a 5% interest in the equity of Penn West Energy Trust and its agreement with Penn West to form a partnership and invest $817 million to develop certain heavy oil assets in the Peace River area of Alberta
- PetroChina Company Limited, in a proposed joint venture with Encana Corporation concerning the development of unconventional gas assets in Western Canada
- Golden Crescent Investments Ltd., an affiliate of Citadel Capital, in its proposed sale of National Petroleum Company Egypt Limited, to Sea Dragon Energy Inc.
- ConocoPhillips on the formation, with Encana Corporation, 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 U.S. downstream limited liability company including the Wood River, Illinois and Borger, Texas refineries formerly held by ConocoPhillips
- Shell Canada on certain aspects of its acquisition of Duvernay Oil Corp. for approximately $5.9 billion
- Buried Hill Energy in negotiations with the government of Turkmenistan regarding a production sharing contract for oil and gas on lands underlying the Caspian Sea
- Shell Canada’s $2.4 billion acquisition of BlackRock Ventures Inc., a company with a substantial heavy oil/oil sand presence in Alberta Shell Canada and Flying J Canada Inc. on the combination of their commercial road transport businesses in Canada
Chevron Canada Limited on the sale of its interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and the Kaybob Duvernay Shale Gas Project to Canadian Natural Resources Limited for US$6.5 billion
Cedar LNG announces positive final investment decision (FID) on Cedar LNG Project, a landmark US$3.4B initiative
M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp. in its US$950 million business combination with Greenfire Resources Inc.
VAALCO in its US$307 million business combination with TransGlobe
Potentia Renewables in five unique, long term, non-recourse project financings
- Wheatland Wind Project LP
Wheatland Wind Project in its approval for construction
- BluEarth Renewables
BluEarth in its power purchase agreements with Bullfrog Power, RBC and Shell Energy North America (Canada)
- innogy SE
innogy SE in its decision to construct two solar projects in Canada
- KANATA Energy Group Ltd.
KANATA in its joint venture with TAQA North to expand the Valhalla Facility
- 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
- Shell Canada Limited
Shell Canada Limited, in its sale of strategic assets to Tourmaline Oil Corp. for $1.369 billion
- M3-Brigade Acquisition III Corp. in its US$950 million business combination with Greenfire Resources Inc.
- VAALCO in its US$307 million business combination with TransGlobe
- Potentia Renewables in five unique, long term, non-recourse project financings
- Wheatland Wind Project in its approval for construction
- BluEarth Renewables in connection with power purchase agreements with Bullfrog Power, Royal Bank of Canada and Shell Energy North America (Canada)
- International renewable energy company in connection with the drafting and negotiation of power purchase agreements relating to solar power generation projects developed in Alberta
- Equinor Canada Limited and Husky Oil Operations Limited regarding commercial matters related to the potential Bay du Nord offshore oil project
- RWE Renewables in connection with the development of two merchant solar projects in Canada
- Potentia Renewables in connection with the purchase and development of almost 900 MW of wind power generation projects in Alberta
- Shell Canada Limited in its sale of strategic assets to Tourmaline Oil Corp. for $1.369 billion
- Terra Nova Development Project Consortium (Suncor Energy, ExxonMobil Canada, Statoil Canada, Husky Energy, Murphy Oil, Mosbacher and Chevron Canada) in a challenge over its calculation of past and ongoing provincial royalties
- Confidential client in connection with the acquisition and on-going development of a 120 MW wind power generation project in Alberta
- Consortium (ExxonMobil Canada, Suncor Energy, Chevron Canada, Husky Energy, Equinor Canada, Nalcor Energy, Murphy Oil Company, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation and Mosbacher Operating Ltd.) of all producers offshore Newfoundland and Labrador on the formation of, and on-going commercial arrangements relating to, the Basin Wide Transportation and Transshipment System
- Imperial Oil in respect of its agreement with Husky Energy to create a single truck transport fuel network of approximately 160 sites
- PetroChina Canada on all aspects of its participation in the LNG Canada Project and related infrastructure, including the disposition of a working interest in the LNG Canada Project to Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas)
- Shell Canada on aspects of the farm down of non-operated equity interests in Shelburne Exploration Licences and the formation of the Deepwater Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Program
- Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) on the organization, structure and development of an alliance of oil sands producers focused on accelerating the pace of improvement in Canada’s oil sands through collaborative action and innovation
- PetroChina Company Limited a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), on its acquisition of a 20% interest in Shell Canada’s Groundbirch shale gas project in north-eastern British Columbia
- Talisman Energy Inc. on the formation of a strategic partnership with Sasol Limited of South Africa to develop shale gas properties in British Columbia and assess the feasibility of establishing a facility to convert natural gas to petroleum liquids (GTL) in Canada, including the sale of a 50% working interest in its Farrell Creek shale gas project to Sasol
- Hibernia Southern Extension Project Consortium (ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada, Suncor Energy, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation, Murphy Oil Company and Equinor Canada) on the Hibernia Southern Extension Project offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, including unitization and other commercial arrangements among the members of the consortium and arrangements with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the fiscal regime (including transportation costs), benefits and equity participation and with the government of Canada on fiscal matters
- Hebron-Ben Nevis Consortium (Chevron Canada, ExxonMobil Canada, Petro-Canada and Equinor Canada) on the Hebron-Ben Nevis Development Project offshore Newfoundland and Labrador including proposed arrangements with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the fiscal regime (including transportation costs), benefits and equity participation
- Suncor Energy, Husky Energy, Equinor Canada, Murphy Oil and Mosbacher Operating Ltd. with respect to the formation of the East Coast Transportation System for the transportation and transshipment of production from the Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose projects offshore Newfoundland and Labrador
- Terra Nova Development Project Consortium (Suncor Energy, ExxonMobil Canada, Statoil Canada, Husky Energy, Murphy Oil, Mosbacher and Chevron Canada) with respect to amendments to the royalty regulations applicable to transportation costs
- ExxonMobil Canada, Chevron Canada, Suncor Energy, Canada Hibernia Holding Corporation, Murphy Oil and Equinor Canada with respect to lifting, transportation and transshipment of production from the Hibernia and Hibernia Southern Extension projects offshore Newfoundland and Labrador
- Talisman Energy Inc. on aspects of its acquisition, with Ecopetrol S.A., of BP Exploration Company (Colombia) Ltd. and with respect to the restructuring and sale of downstream pipeline assets
- China Investment Corporation in connection with its $435 million purchase of a 5% interest in the equity of Penn West Energy Trust and its agreement with Penn West to form a partnership and invest $817 million to develop certain heavy oil assets in the Peace River area of Alberta
- PetroChina Company Limited, in a proposed joint venture with Encana Corporation concerning the development of unconventional gas assets in Western Canada
- Golden Crescent Investments Ltd., an affiliate of Citadel Capital, in its proposed sale of National Petroleum Company Egypt Limited, to Sea Dragon Energy Inc.
- ConocoPhillips on the formation, with Encana Corporation, 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 U.S. downstream limited liability company including the Wood River, Illinois and Borger, Texas refineries formerly held by ConocoPhillips
- Shell Canada on certain aspects of its acquisition of Duvernay Oil Corp. for approximately $5.9 billion
- Buried Hill Energy in negotiations with the government of Turkmenistan regarding a production sharing contract for oil and gas on lands underlying the Caspian Sea
- Shell Canada’s $2.4 billion acquisition of BlackRock Ventures Inc., a company with a substantial heavy oil/oil sand presence in Alberta Shell Canada and Flying J Canada Inc. on the combination of their commercial road transport businesses in Canada
Latest Insights
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Osler Update Feb 29, 2024
AUC inquiry update: Alberta to declare no-build zones and mandatory reclamation security requirements for renewable energy projects
On February 28, Alberta announced intended changes to its electricity generation regime, including an “agriculture first” approach and buffer...
Read more
-
Osler Update Jan 30, 2024
A surge of initiatives: developments in Alberta power and electricity policy to watch in 2024
Last year saw several policy initiatives with the potential to significantly impact Alberta’s power and electricity framework. We look at some key...
Read more -
Blog Sep 13, 2023
Alberta presses ‘pause’ on renewable energy projects
Early last month, the Government of Alberta announced that the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) would pause approvals on new renewable energy...
Read more -
Osler Update Sep 13, 2023
Alberta Utilities Commission provides update regarding inquiry into development of electricity generation in Alberta
The Alberta Utilities Commission has released further details regarding their inquiry into renewable electricity generation.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)
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Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)
- “in addition to being an excellent and meticulous lawyer, he’s also very good at managing conflict and adverse interests.”
- “…[Simon] is recognized for his experience of oil and gas matters in Eastern Canada, including offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.”
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Energy (Oil & Gas), Corporate Commercial Law, Energy (Electricity)
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Natural Resources Law; Energy Law; Oil & Gas Law; “Lawyer of the Year”, Natural Resources Law (2022)
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Legal 500: Recognized as a Recommended Lawyer, Energy (Oil & Gas)
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Who’s Who Legal International: Recognized in Energy
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Who’s Who Legal: Canada: Recognized in Energy
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Lexpert Special Edition: Recognized in Energy
Media Mentions
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Osler News Jan 9, 2024
34 Osler lawyers recognized in 2024 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Osler is pleased to announce that 34 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 edition of the Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500...
Read more -
Osler News Sep 25, 2023
22 Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Energy 2023
Osler is proud to announce that 22 of our lawyers are featured in the Lexpert Special Edition: Energy 2023, recognizing leading lawyers in the oil...
Read more -
Osler News Oct 5, 2022
Current high prices unlike past booms in oil and gas industry, say lawyers – Lexpert
The rise in oil and gas prices has not been like previous bust-and-then-boom cycles. The industry has not been reinvesting these gains in further...
Read more -
Osler News Aug 26, 2021
Osler recognized in 2022 edition of Best Lawyers Canada
Osler is proud to announce that 168 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2022 Best Lawyers Canada rankings
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Canadian Tax Law Insights: Clean energy tax incentives in the 2023 federal budget
Read morePublished Work
- Structuring, Negotiating and Drafting Oil & Gas Joint Ventures, Simon Baines and Kevin Archibald, Chevron Canada Resources, Oil and Gas Transactions Course, October 14, 2014, Calgary.
- Recent Developments in East Coast Offshore Royalties: From Hibernia to Hebron and Back, The Dalhousie Law Journal Vol. 37, No. 1 (Spring 2014) (with R.J. (Jack) Thrasher).
- Recent Judicial Developments of Interest to Energy Lawyers, Alberta Law Review Vol. 49, No. 2 (December 2011) (with Colin Feasby and Daina Kvisle).
Credentials
Education
- University of Victoria, LL.B.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association, Member
- Calgary Bar Association, Member
- Canadian Energy Law Foundation, Board Member
