The Lexpert Special Editions profiles selected Lexpert-ranked lawyers whose focus is in Corporate, Infrastructure, Energy and Litigation law and relevant practices. It also includes feature articles on legal aspects of Canadian business issues.
Issue link: https://digital.carswellmedia.com/i/192582
34 | Big Energy Deals Katherine Schuck (M&A/corporate); Robert Russell, Denes Rothschild and Zirjan Derwa (competition); Steve Suarez and Janet Kasun (tax); Laurie Robson (employment); Rick Coburn (environmental); Brennan Carroll (real estate); and Eric Boehm (intellectual property). Felesky Flynn LLP acted as special tax counsel to North American with a team led by Donald Cherniawsky, and which included Timothy Kirby and Michael Dolson. Speechly Bircham LLP acted as UK counsel to North American with a team led by Paul Arathoon. ALDERVILLE SOLAR PROJECT REACHES FINANCIAL CLOSE Closing date: May 13, 2013 The Alderville First Nation (AFN) reached financial close for construction of the first 100 per cent First Nationowned solar farm in Ontario. The project involves the design, build, financing, operation and maintenance of a five-megawatt solar farm over 50 acres under a 20-year contract. Financing for the project was provided by Stonebridge Financial Corporation. The AFN was represented by McMillan LLP with a team that included Tim Murphy, Rob Scavone, Valerie Garcia, Andrea St. Bernard, Maggie VanderMeulen and Rosalyn Wallace; and by independent counsel Derek Ground and Bill Henderson. Stonebridge Financial Corporation was represented by Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP with a team that included Nick Williams and Will Buchner (banking and project finance); Gabriella Lombardi (real estate); and Alexandria Pike (energy and environmental). Silfab Ontario Inc., the solar panel manufacturer, was represented by Ian Binnie of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Northwind Solutions Limited Partnership, the operations and maintenance service provider, was represented by Phil Lefko of Cognition LLP. OKIKENDAWT HYDRO L.P. CLOSES CREDIT FACILITIES DEAL Closing date: June 28, 2013 Okikendawt Hydro L.P., an entity owned indirectly by Hydromega Services Inc. and the Dokis First Nation, closed approximately $60-million of credit facilities intended to finance the construction of a 10 MW hydroelectric project to be located on the French River in the district of Parry Sound, Ontario. The project financing is being provided by Stonebridge Infrastructure Debt Fund I Limited Partnership and Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. The project is situated on federal Crown lands subject to the Dominion Water Power Act; reserve lands subject to the Indian Act, and provincial Crown lands subject to the Public Lands Act and the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. Electricity from the project will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to a 40-year FIT Contract. Okikendawt Hydro L.P. and Hydromega were represented by Danièle Chouinard, Hydromega's vice president, legal affairs, and by Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP with a team that included Nick Williams, Will Buchner and Dan Wolfensohn (banking and project finance); Gabriella Lombardi (real estate); and Sarah Powell and Alexandria Pike (energy and environmental). The Dokis First Nation was also represented by Steve Moutsatsos of Weaver Simmons LLP. The lenders were represented by Dentons LLP with a team that included Phil Rimer (financial services and real Lexpert®Ranked Lawyers Thackray, QC, Michael A. McMillan LLP (403) 531-4710 michael.thackray@ mcmillan.ca Mr. Thackray focuses on all aspects of oil and gas, domestically and internationally. His clients include junior, intermediate and senior private and public E&P companies principally in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Themens, Pierre-André Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (514) 841-6448 pathemens@dwpv. com Mr. Themens, a managing partner of the firm, has a practice focused on all aspects of complex domestic and foreign project financing and real estate transactions including hydro-electric and other energyrelated projects. Thériault, Sébastien Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (514) 841-6526 stheriault@dwpv.com Thomassin, Kim McCarthy Tétrault LLP (514) 397-5685 kthomassin@ mccarthy.ca Mr. Thériault's transactional practice includes structuring and advising investment funds in the cleantech sector as well as financings, acquisitions and dispositions of cleantech projects and businesses. Ms. Thomassin acts for project developers and public institutions on infrastructure project development and financing. Her experience embraces project development and implementation of debt and equity investments in infrastructure and energy projects. Thompson, QC, Peter C.P. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (613) 787-3528 pthompson@blg.com Thrasher, QC, R.J. (Jack) Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (403) 260-7019 jthrasher@osler.com Mr. Thompson's particular litigation and administrative law expertise is in the regulation of natural gas and electricity utilities. Moreover, he appears at all court levels and for 25 years managed BLG's Ottawa office. Mr. Thrasher focuses on corporate, commercial and energy law matters for Canadian and international clients. He has extensive experience as project counsel on complex resource and infrastructure projects, as well as in M&A and joint ventures.