Biography: Oil and Gas

Mike is a partner in the firm's Toronto office and obtained his LLB from Osgoode Hall at York University. Mike uses his extensive legal and energy industry expertise, acquired over a period of 30 years, to advise oil and gas clients on a broad variety of legal matters including commercial contracts, project development and finance, business acquisitions and competition issues.

Mike practised with several major integrated energy companies in both the upstream and downstream sectors, providing legal and tax advice in the former. After a secondment to the federal government's Department of Energy Mines and Resources, Mike spent several years working in a business capacity in the downstream sector. The business assignments involved assessing the financial merits of various projects including joint ventures, acquisitions and downstream capital investments. Mike was a member of the leadership team that coordinated the merger of two significant downstream organisations. Following the merger, Mike provided advice with respect to the integration of their secondary distribution networks.

His experience also includes propane business acquisitions, strategic alliances with downstream petroleum product companies, transportation matters and environmental issues.

In addition, Mike has represented a multi-national integrated oil and gas client with respect to the review by the Competition Bureau of its merger with another integrated industry participant.

The development and financing of co-generation, landfill gas and run of the river hydro projects are also aspects of Mike's energy practice.

Mike is member of the law societies in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.