Alan Ross

KC

Regional Managing Partner, Calgary

Calgary
[email protected]
403.232.9656

Alan practises administrative and regulatory law, representing energy clients in national and provincial regulatory proceedings. He has significant experience in the areas of pipeline transmission, oil and natural gas, renewables and electricity.

He also helps clients from all industries navigate the laws around international trade. He has experience resolving disputes involving USMCA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.

In the energy sector, Alan’s practice focuses on hydrogen, carbon capture, energy transition technologies and sustainable infrastructure. In addition, Alan has significant experience with regulators in the U.K., E.U., and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He has represented clients before the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly known as the National Energy Board), as well as provincial regulators, including:

  • the Alberta Energy Regulator;
  • the Alberta Utilities Commission;
  • the British Columbia Utilities Commission; and
  • the Ontario Energy Board.

In addition to his practice, Alan is the Regional Managing Partner of BLG’s Calgary office.

From 2013 to 2014, Alan served as the Province of Alberta’s Representative to Ottawa and the Toronto-Montréal corridor, a Deputy Minister-level position, reporting directly to the Premier of Alberta. In this role, Alan represented the Government of Alberta at a federal level, and advised the Premier and other senior government officials on pipelines, oil and gas markets, foreign investment, climate change, carbon pricing and other energy policy issues.

Prior to joining BLG, Alan worked for an international energy infrastructure company and practiced corporate/commercial law at an international law firm based in London, England.

Alan was appointed to the King's Counsel in 2020.

Alan provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Testimonials

Experience

  • ConocoPhillips Canada in federal regulatory proceedings regarding Enbridge Pipelines Inc.'s Application for Canadian Mainline Contracting, CER Decision RH-001-2020.
  • ConocoPhillips Canada in the Canada Energy Regulator's (CER) review and approval of NOVA Gas Transmissions Ltd. (NGTL) application to construct and operate the North Corridor Expansion Project.
  • Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (BHE) in their acquisition of the Montana Alberta Tie-Line from Enbridge Inc. for approximately $200 million.
  • Counsel to the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association before the Supreme Court of Canada in the B.C. Environmental Management Act Reference.
  • The Government of Canada in its $4.5 billion acquisition of the Trans Mountain and Puget Sound Pipelines, and related terminals.
  • Lead counsel on all aspects of blue and green hydrogen project development.
  • Strategic advisor and lead counsel on carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) project development.  
  • LNG project development throughout Canada with a combined project value of over $100 billion.
  • Canadian Energy Pipeline Association on the British Columbia Court of Appeal pipeline constitutional reference.
  • Government of Alberta on its first solar power procurement.
  • An international oil and gas producer in the National Energy Board's review of supply verification and nomination procedures.
  • A new U.S. pipeline market entrant in 2017 in the National Energy Board's Dawn Long Term Fixed Price Service Application hearing.
  • An international gas producer in the National Energy Board's examination of natural gas tolling methodologies, tariff provisions and competition in North Eastern British Columbia.
  • Repsol Energy Canada Ltd. in 2016-17 in federal regulatory proceedings for the approval of Energy East, a C$15.7 billion, 4,500-kilometre pipeline proposed to carry 1.1-million barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Eastern Canada.
  • All aspects of federal regulatory proceedings in 2016 for natural gas service curtailment and unprecedented changes to pipeline tolling structure in British Columbia, with impacts to over one million end use customers.
  • An oil and gas exploration company in 2016 on all aspects of an Alberta Energy Regulator regulatory appeal of orders made under the Pipeline Act.
  • All aspects of dispute resolution and overall strategy in 2015 and 2016 for the determination of transmission constraints on Alberta’s electricity transmission system and the establishment of a system-wide uncongested power market price.
  • HollyFrontier Corp. - Federal and provincial regulatory advice on the C$1.125 billion acquisition of Suncor Energy's Petro-Canada Lubricants business.
  • An international oil and gas company on all aspects of a successful oil facilities development, including regulatory approvals from the Alberta Energy Regulator. The project related to drilling over a 20 year period with a 40 year reserve life and involved a pilot application under a new and untested regulatory framework.
  • An anchor shipper on regulatory aspects of development, transportation, and operation of pipelines supporting LNG export project.
  • ConocoPhillips Canada on all issues relating to the ownership and production of natural gas from coal, including the successful proceedings before the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (now the Alberta Energy Regulator).
  • TransCanada Pipelines Limited in electricity and gas rates proceedings; competition and energy trading matters; and appeared as counsel for TransCanada Pipelines Limited in pipeline proceedings before the Ontario Energy Board.
  • AltaLink Management Ltd., a transmission facility owner, on all aspects of the approval of a HVDC transmission line designated as Critical Transmission Infrastructure between Edmonton and Calgary, including the environmental impacts of the line.
  • Ontario electricity generators in National Energy Board hearings related to the TransCanada Mainline.
  • The Government of Alberta on regulatory, consultation and classification issues related to carbon dioxide and carbon capture and storage project development.
  • Developers of co-generation and other independent electric power projects, including wind and solar.
  • International telecommunications privatizations and regulatory reform in countries including Poland, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
  • Common processor applications and surface rights disputes.
  • Public inquiry experience, including inquiries involving gas pipeline competition, natural gas liquids, hydroelectricity and public health issues.
  • Ontario Energy Board Decision and Order EB-2017-0306 AND EB-2017-0307 - Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Union Gas Limited Application for Amalgamation and Rate-Setting Mechanism, August 28, 2018.
  • National Energy Board Decision MH-031-2017 – NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. – North Montney Mainline Variance and Sunset Clause Extension GC-125, May 23, 2018.
  • Westcoast Energy Inc., doing business as Spectra Energy Transmission, Canadian Energy Regulator Decision GHW-002-2018, August 19, 2019.
  • Alberta Electric System Operator, 2018 Independent System Operator Tariff, Alberta Utilities Commission Decision 22942-D02-2019, September 22, 2019.
  • NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Application dated 14 March 2019 for NGTL System Rate Design and Services, Canadian Energy Regulator Decision RH-001-2019, March 25, 2020.
  • Alberta Utilities Commission Decision 23958-D01-2020 Alberta Health Services Foothills Medical Centre Power Plant Expansion Project, May 7, 2020.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Advisory Board Member, Western Canada General Counsel Awards
  • Advisory Committee, Canadian Energy Research Institute
  • Board Member, Young Presidents' Organization
  • Member, Canadian Energy Executive Association
  • Lecturer (on Oil & Gas Law), University of Alberta
  • Lecturer (on Energy Business and Strategy), Université de Montréal (Hautes Études Commerciales) MBA Program
  • Lecturer on International Law and Policy, Canada School of Public Service
  • Former Board Member, Canadian-American Business Council

Community Involvement

  • Chair, Prairies Committee for the Canadian Rhodes Scholarship​
  • Board Member, Calgary International Film Festival
  • Former Board Chair, Alberta Emerald Foundation

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2025 (and since 2012) edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Corporate Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Natural Resources Law, and Oil & Gas Law).
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2024) of Chambers Canada – Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)) and in the 2021 (and since 2018) edition (Energy: Provincial Regulatory - Alberta).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy and Mining
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2022) of Chambers Global (Energy: Power (Regulatory)) and in the 2024 edition (Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Energy: Electricity, Energy: Oil and Gas, Environmental Law; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law).
  • Recognized in the 2023 (and since 2012) edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Corporate Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Natural Resources Law, and Oil & Gas Law).
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2020) of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy
  • Recognized as an Acritas Star® . 
  • Lexpert® Rising Stars Award for "Leading Lawyers under 40," 2010.
  • Appointed Queen's Counsel, 2020.

Bar Admission & Education

  • New York, 2003
  • Alberta, 2002
  • England and Wales, 1999
  • Ontario, 1995
  • Leadership in Law Firms Certificate, Executive Program, Harvard Law School, 2016
  • MBA, Oxford University Wadham College, 2001
  • JD, Dalhousie University, 1994