Alastair MacKinnon,

Alastair’s litigation practice focuses on regulatory, indigenous, and environmental law. He has broad experience representing private and public sector clients in litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings. Alastair represents clients before all levels of court in Alberta, the Canada Energy Regulator, the Alberta Energy Regulator, and the Alberta Utilities Commission.

He regularly advises clients on the regulatory, indigenous, and environmental aspects of project development and operation, including:

• consultation with Indigenous groups and other stakeholders
• obtaining project and facility approvals
• environmental impact assessments
• toll and tariff applications
• environmental monitoring and compliance matters
• contaminated site remediation
• facility decommissioning and site reclamation

As a member of the firm’s research and opinions group, Alastair applies his advanced legal research and analysis skills to assist in the drafting of legal opinions, pleadings, and briefs in a variety of complex legal matters.

After graduating from law school at the top of his class, Alastair clerked at the Alberta Court of Appeal. In 2019, Alastair earned his Master of Laws degree.

• Best Lawyers in Canada: 'Ones to Watch' - Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice (2023-2025), Administrative and Public Law (2025), Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2025), Energy Law (2025)

• Counsel to the Government of Alberta in an action challenging the constitutionality of Alberta’s Policy on Consultation with First Nations on Land and Natural Resources, 2013.
• Counsel to the Government of Alberta in an action challenging the constitutionality of amendments to the Alberta Metis Settlements Act.
• Counsel to two major oil producers in a toll dispute on the Keystone Pipeline System.
• Counsel to a major oil sands producer regarding tariff matters for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
• Counsel to various municipalities in connection with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
• Counsel to a leading electricity and natural gas retailer in respect of their regulated business in Alberta.
• Counsel to a major renewable energy producer in an arbitration related to environmental credits.
• Counsel to a major hydro-electric utility in respect of transboundary water matters.
• Counsel to a major public utility in connection with an international electricity transmission line project.
• Counsel to a national sports association in successfully defeating an injunction application.
• Counsel to the operator of residential apartment complex in connection with appealing an arbitration award under a long-term land lease.
• Counsel to a leading natural gas transmission pipeline company in connection with a toll application to the CER and other matters.
• Counsel to a major electricity generation utility in respect of decommissioning certain coal-fired generating units.
• Counsel to a major oil sands developer in connection with various Indigenous law matters.
• Counsel to oil sands waste management company in connection with facility applications and a regulatory appeal before the AER.
• Counsel to a software developer in connection with a multi-million dollar negotiated resolution of a royalty dispute.
• Counsel to a reinsurance company in connection with a multi-jurisdictional product liability coverage litigation.
• Counsel to a major international environmental technology company in connection in with multi-million dollar construction litigation.
• Counsel to an industrial equipment finance company in connection with certain fraud recovery matters.