Karen A. Salmon

K.C.

Partner

Calgary
[email protected]
403.232.9476

Karen’s practice focuses on commercial disputes with an emphasis on the energy industry, including oil, gas and electricity in both litigation and regulatory matters.

Karen advises energy companies in litigation related to:

  • oil and gas operations
  • environmental contamination matters
  • contracts, acquisitions and divestitures
  • and mineral ownership and title disputes.

She also acts for electricity clients in regulatory proceedings as well as on unregulated matters, and for oil and gas clients in environmental matters.

Karen does both trial and appellate work and has appeared before the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the Alberta Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Karen is involved with BLG's Team North®.

Before being called to the Bar, Karen clerked with the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, then joined Howard Mackie LLP, one of BLG's five founding firms.

Karen provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Experience

  • Nova Chemicals Corporation, in an application before the Alberta Court of King's Bench concerning the Province of Alberta's unlawful collection of C$20 million in royalties relating to gas processed at the Harmattan Gas Processing Plant.
  • ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp. on issues related to ownership of natural gas from coal, including successful proceedings before the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench and Alberta Court of Appeal.
  • Northwest Territories Power Corporation on numerous regulated and unregulated matters in the Northwest Territories before the NWT Public Utilities Board and others.
  • One of Canada’s largest integrated energy companies in various litigation matters including those related to joint operating and reserves dedication agreements, and in a dispute related to CAPL, involving processing arrangements and right to take in kind.

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association, Natural Resources Subsection
  • Member, Calgary Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Past Vice President, Ringette Alberta
  • Past Board of Directors, Ringette Alberta
  • Bow View Ringette Association, coordinator/coach
  • Board of Directors, Calgary Rowing Club

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2024) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law) and since 2017 (Corporate Commercial Litigation).
  • Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2019) edition of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as “Litigation Star” (Class Actions, Energy, Commercial; Oil and Gas).
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Energy (Electricity))
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Energy
  • Recognized as a 2019 Acritas Star.
  • Recognized in the 2016 edition of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Future Star: Alberta."
  • Recognized in the 2015 edition of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys.

Bar Admission & Education

  • Alberta, 1995
  • Northwest Territories, 2010
  • Nunavut, 2023
  • LLB, University of Calgary, 1994
  • BA, University of Calgary, 1992