Simon C. Baines

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.


Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)
  • 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.”
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Energy (Oil & Gas), Corporate Commercial Law, Energy (Electricity)
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Natural Resources Law; Energy Law; Oil & Gas Law; “Lawyer of the Year”, Natural Resources Law (2022)
  • Legal 500: Recognized as a Recommended Lawyer, Energy (Oil & Gas)
  • Who’s Who Legal International: Recognized in Energy
  • Who’s Who Legal: Canada: Recognized in Energy
  • Lexpert Special Edition: Recognized in Energy

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