Jeff Christian,

Jeff attracts praise for his "evident understanding of industrial operations," according to sources, who add: "He is very familiar with applicable legislation and regulatory agencies." His in-depth experience across the energy, utilities and natural resource sectors provides clients with expertise in a raft of legislative and regulatory matters, including treaty renegotiation and dispute resolution.

- Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide

Jeff is a litigation partner practicing exclusively in the energy, utility and natural resource sectors. He represents clients before regulatory tribunals such as the BC Oil and Gas Commission, Canada Energy Regulator, and Alberta Utilities Commission. He also advises clients on cross-border energy and natural resource development; regulatory and legislative reform issues; and related litigation and dispute resolution. He has a background in engineering and earth sciences, and is head of the Regulatory Litigation Department at Lawson Lundell. 

Currently, Jeff is a member of the Canadian delegation negotiating a modernized Columbia River Treaty with the United States, representing BC Hydro. 

• Geoscience BC, Director
• Green Energy Advisory Task Force (Procurement and Regulatory), reporting to the BC Cabinet Committee on Climate Action and Clean Energy, Past Member
• University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law, Past Instructor of Public Utility Regulation:  At the Nexus of Law, Economics and Public Policy
• Canadian Institute of Energy, Past Director
• Lawson Lundell Energy Law Newsletter, Past Editor

• ActSafe, Past Director and Chair
• 2015 Federal Election, Policy and Research Committee Chair for J. Wilkinson Campaign
• North Shore Academy of Dancing, Advisory Committee Member
• Boca Del Lupo Theatre Society, Past Director
• Public Dreams Society, Past Director
• Access Justice, Past Legal Aid Clinic Volunteer

• Chambers Canada:
  • Energy: Power (Regulatory) - Nationwide (Band 1), 2024-2025
  • Energy: Power (Regulatory) - Nationwide (Band 2), 2021
  • Energy: Provincial Regulatory - British Columbia (Band 1), 2021
• Best Lawyers in Canada: Energy Regulatory Law, 2008-2025
• Benchmark Canada: The Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys - Litigation Star, 2019-2024
• The Legal 500 Canada: Energy & Natural Resources - Power (Leading Individual), 2023-2025
• Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Energy - Electricity (Leading Practitioner), 2023-2024
• Chambers Global: Energy: Power (Regulatory) (Band 1), 2023-2024
• Lexpert Special Edition: Leading Canadian Lawyers in Energy, 2016-2020
• Lexpert /ROB Special Edition: Canada's Leading Corporate Lawyers, 2016-2019
• Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada: Energy (Electricity), 2016-2017
• Best Lawyers: Energy Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver, 2013
• Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated

Recent experience includes:

• Representing BC Hydro on the Canadian delegation negotiating a modernized Columbia River Treaty
• A client in disputes before the BC Oil and Gas Commission and the Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal regarding risks associated with certain oil and gas-related activities 
• An electric utility in an application before the BC Utilities Commission for the approval of the acquisition of an interest in a 490 MW hydroelectric dam 
• Parties before the Alberta Utilities Commission regarding challenges to rules of the independent system operator
• Clients before the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly National Energy Board) and Federal Court on electricity export matters
• A power marketing company in rate and market structure proceedings before the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (now the Alberta Utilities Commission)
• An electric utility before the BC Utilities Commission on facility approval, revenue requirements, wholesale transmission services, cost of service, and rate design applications, including conservation, distribution and transmission extension policies, tariff terms and conditions and time-of-use rates
• A party in regard to the regulatory framework and strategy implied by British Columbia's 2016 Climate Leadership Plan (August 2016) which contemplates the electrification of certain loads in British Columbia to displace fossil fuels and reduce GHG emissions 
• An electric utility in responding to the BC Utilities Commission's review of certain aspects of the Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) in British Columbia 
• Developers and property owners on regulatory implications of district energy systems.
• US financiers on regulatory proceedings related to acquisitions of BC utilities
• Consumer groups in Northwest Territory utility rate proceedings 
• A potential purchaser of a water utility on the exclusivity of the utility’s franchise
• Utility appellants at the Federal Court on a metering approval decision made by Measurement Canada
• A party negotiating its participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO)
• A utility services company considering entering the Canadian sub-metering market
• A Canadian railway company in a rate dispute before the Canadian Transportation Agency