Practice Expertise

  • Aboriginal Law
  • Energy
  • Environmental
  • Litigation

Areas of Practice

  • Aboriginal Law
  • Energy
  • Environmental
  • Litigation
  • Public Utility and Regulatory
  • View More

Profile

Shailaz practices regulatory law with a focus on energy, environmental, public utility and aboriginal law matters. She has knowledge and expertise navigating regulatory processes for various industries and obtaining approvals for projects including electric transmission facilities, pipelines, oil sands projects, wells, mines, and wind-power projects.

Shailaz provides general and project specific legal advice on issues pertaining to environmental assessments and licensing requirements, climate change and emissions, surface rights acquisition and compensation, public consultation and aboriginal matters. She also has experience in privacy matters and the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the government and the private sector. Shailaz has assisted on applications before various regulators including the National Energy Board, the Alberta Utilities Commission, and the Energy Resources Conservation Board. She has also appeared before the Alberta Provincial Court and the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench.

Prior to joining Lawson Lundell, Shailaz practiced with a leading national law firm and most recently as legal counsel with the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Bar Admissions
Alberta (2007)

Education
University of Calgary (LL.B., 2006)
University of Alberta (B.A. Sociology, 2003)

Areas of Practice

  • Aboriginal Law
  • Energy
  • Environmental
  • Litigation
  • Public Utility and Regulatory

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
Shailaz's experience includes:

Conducting significant need and transmission facility hearings in her role as Counsel with the Alberta Utilities Commission, including the Southern Alberta Transmission Reinforcement Needs Application and the Heartland Transmission Project Application, Alberta's first critical transmission infrastructure application.

Acting as counsel on the Minister of Energy's Order in Council Inquiry on Hydro Electric Power Generation Development in Alberta, published in February, 2011. The terms of reference included a thorough review and analysis of provincial and federal regulatory approval processes including cumulative effects management, the duty to consult First Nations, public consultation and environmental assessments.

Drafting regulations and regulatory directives.


Professional Associations
*Canadian Bar Association, National Member
*Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch, Member
*Canadian Bar Association, Law Student Section, Past-Chair
*Canadian Bar Association, Articling Student Section, Past-Chair
*Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family/Commercial Mediation, Certified Mediator
*Law Society of Alberta, Member

Recognition and Ranking
*Named as one of Calgary's Top 40 Under 40, Avenue Magazine (2009)
*Alberta Law Foundation Award
*Judith R. Norman Memorial Award

Community Activities
*Pro Bono Mediation Services, Conciliation and Arbitration Board for the Prairies



Blogs

Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog

Lawson Lundell's Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog focuses on environmental, indigenous and natural resources law, as well as related litigation. Included are summaries of significant cases from Canadian appellate courts, changes in the legal framework governing resource development including energy and climate change policy, and key decisions from the more influential regulatory bodies in Canada.

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