Torys

Krista Hill

Krista Hill is widely recognized as an industry leader in infrastructure and energy M&A, privatizations and joint ventures/partnerships, both in Canada and internationally.Krista is the co-head of the Infrastructure and Energy practice, as well as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.Krista has deep experience in complex, innovative, first-of-kind transactions and projects. With robust insight into all types of energy projects and infrastructure asset classes, she regularly leads large teams working to advance significant projects and transactions. Krista is also an accomplished lead negotiator and has extensive experience advising multiple stakeholders with respect to their complex projects and transactions.

Lou Cusano

A skilled litigator with significant experience in the energy industry, Luigi (Lou) Cusano helps clients navigate complex energy regulatory frameworks across high-stakes matters and disputes, bringing decades of knowledge of Canada’s evolving electricity and oil and gas sectors. Lou is the managing partner of the firm’s Calgary office. His practice focuses on administrative, regulatory and environmental law and commercial litigation in the energy sector. Lou has been involved in the restructuring of Alberta’s power industry and has experience in all aspects of both the regulated and the unregulated electricity sectors, including utility rates, cost of capital, market rules, reliability standards, energy price-setting plans, transmission, distribution and generation facilities (both renewable and non-renewable), cogeneration facilities, industrial systems, merchant transmission and generation, market surveillance investigations, and disputes regarding Alberta’s legislated Power Purchase Arrangements. In the oil and gas sector, Lou provides comprehensive regulatory advice across the spectrum of clients’ operations, including related to pipelines (greenfield, conversion and tolls and tariffs-related issues), heavy oil/oilsands development, well licensing, off-target penalties, pooling, common processors and carriers, processing facilities, public consultation, facility proliferation, environmental matters, land reclamation, emergency response and surface rights. Lou’s significant litigation experience includes many types of contractual disputes and power and oil and gas facility-related issues. He has appeared before numerous regulatory tribunals, including the Alberta Utilities Commission, Alberta Energy Regulator, the Natural Resources Conservation Board, Alberta Environmental Appeal Board, British Columbia Utilities Commission, Canadian Energy Regulator and the Alberta Securities Commission, as well as before all levels of Alberta courts and in mediations and arbitrations.

Valerie Helbronner

By applying creative solutions and managing strong relationships among numerous project participants, Valerie supports clients to progress some of the country’s most complex multi-party infrastructure and energy projects.Valerie has been at the forefront of the development and financing of renewable energy projects across Canada. She worked on some of the earliest and most innovative renewable projects, including Erie Shores Wind Farm, Grand Renewables Solar and Henvey Inlet Wind Farm, as well as PPAs in connection with Emera’s proposed Atlantic Link Project. Valerie acts for the spectrum of clients involved in project development and financing, including Indigenous groups, project proponents, lenders, investors, contractors and governmental authorities.Trusted counsel to Indigenous and non-Indigenous project participants, Valerie often advises on complex infrastructure projects impacting Indigenous interests and parties, where she brings a robust perspective on different parties’ interests and priorities. She is the co-head of Torys’ Indigenous practice and her recent project work related to Indigenous involvement notably includes the Wataynikaneyap Transmission Project in northwestern Ontario and working with The Honorable Frank Iacobucci in advising the Government of Canada in its re-initiated consultation process with Indigenous groups on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project.Valerie has held various industry appointments in the power sector including serving as a board member of the Canadian Wind Energy Association, past Chair of the Ontario Waterpower Association, and past member of the Independent Electricity System Operator Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

Charles Keizer

A leading energy lawyer, Charles Keizer advises clients on some of the most sophisticated work in the sector, combining skilled advocacy and deep regulatory knowledge to help advance projects and unique and complex matters.Charles is co-head of Torys’ Infrastructure and Energy Practice and leads the Energy Regulatory Practice. He maintains an active practice with an emphasis on administrative law and project development in the energy sector. He frequently advises generators (renewable and conventional), transmitters, and electricity and natural gas distributors in relation to regulatory, project development and contractual matters.Charles regularly appears before the Ontario Energy Board on rates, licensing and leave to construct matters applications, some of which are the most complex and unique matters considered by that tribunal.As lead counsel on a number of generation and transmission projects, Charles has provided strategic advice related to federal and provincial regulatory regimes, and he has a strong understanding of project development—from the initial stages to connection and commercial operation.

Huw Evans

Huw Evans brings skilled deal acumen, strategic thinking, and a rigorous approach to advising institutional and other leading investors on their projects and complex transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Huw practises corporate law, with an emphasis on transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He regularly acts for infrastructure funds, pension funds and other infrastructure investors in connection with M&A transactions, joint ventures, project financings and developments. Huw has led numerous significant acquisitions and divestures of energy and infrastructure assets, including renewable power projects and PPP assets. In addition, he regularly advises clients in these industries on a broad range of corporate, securities and governance matters.