With decades of legal experience in the power sector, Ken provides strategic advice on renewable energy and major capital projects.
With his unique background, Ken provides clients a wealth of strategic legal advice on all aspects of the electricity industry and renewable energy in Western Canada, including commercial transactions and major construction projects.
His broad range of experience includes contract structuring and drafting, tendering law and other key aspects of construction projects. In addition, Ken has extensive experience drafting contracts for procurement of goods and services, non-disclosure and intellectual property, as well as legislative drafting.
- Drafted a Project Services Agreement for the construction of a 2 MW solar farm on behalf of an Indigenous community (2022)
- Provided advice on structuring an energy investment in Western Canada (2022)
- Reviewed and updated a Procurement Policy on behalf of a municipal government (2021)
- Provided a seminar on the duties of directors for the board of an institution (2020)
- Led Manitoba Hydro teams involved in:
- Successfully obtaining licensing for major capital projects, including Wuskwatim and Keeyask hydroelectric generating stations in Northern Manitoba, and the Bipole III HVDC Transmission project
- Negotiating partnership agreements and adverse effects agreements with Indigenous communities for power generation projects
- Preparing environmental impact statements and attended major regulatory hearings at the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission, National Energy Board and Public Utilities Board of Manitoba
- Advised utility and government stakeholders on energy aspects of international and national trade agreements including NAFTA and CUSMA, the New West Partnership Trade Agreement and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement
- Advised risk management committees overseeing natural gas distribution and the sale and trade of electricity in export markets
- Co-ordinated a Manitoba Hydro legal team which successfully obtained licensing for the Manitoba-Minnesota 500 KV electricity transmission line (2017-2019)
- Led an initiative to update procedures associated with Manitoba Hydro’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (2018-2019)
- Served as lead adviser to team that developed legislative framework for adopting and enforcing NERC electricity reliability standards in Manitoba (2009)
- Co-led legal team responsible for Manitoba Hydro’s acquisition of Winnipeg Hydro (2002-2003)
- Prepared contracts and licences for and advised on the construction of the Limestone generating station in northern Manitoba; assisted in dispute resolution with major contractor
- Member, Law Society of Manitoba
- Volunteer Secretary, Board of Directors, Canadian Goodwill Industries Corporation
- Member, Board of Directors, Canadian Goodwill Industries Corporation
- Previous affiliations and participation with:
- Institute of Corporate Directors
- Corporate Subsection, Manitoba Bar Association
- Council of Senior Legal Executives, Canadian Electrical Association
- Compliance and Ethics Leadership Council
- Council of Senior Legal Executives, Conference Board of Canada
- Presenter, “Government Directives” (2023)
- Interview with Lexpert magazine on the market for renewable energy in Western Canada (2023)
- Presenter, “Renewable Energy,” Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (Vancouver; Calgary; Regina/Saskatoon; Winnipeg, 2023)
- Contributor and Editor, “The Energy Playbook: 2022 Year in Review,” MLT Aikins (2023)
- Contributor and Editor, “The Energy Playbook: 2021 Year in Review,” MLT Aikins (2022)
- Instructor, “Business Law and ESG,” Red River Polytech (2020-2021)
- Presenter, “Introduction to Corporate Governance” (November 2020)
- Presenter, “Practical Tools and Tips to Optimize Board Meetings,” Crown Corporate Governance Conference, Canadian Institute (Ottawa, 2019)
- Presenter, “Enterprise Control Environment, Governance, Leadership and Risk Management,” Mozambique HCB Power Utility (2018)
- Presenter, “Ensuring Legal and Ethical Behaviour by the Corporation and the Board,” Federated Press, Reinventing the Corporate Secretary Program (Vancouver, 2010; 2013)
- Presenter, “Governance,” Advanced Program in Management, Asper School of Business/Crown Corporations Council (2013)
- Presenter, “Sustainability and Corporate Governance,” Sustainable Electricity Steering Committee, Canadian Electrical Association (2011)
- Interview with Canadian Lawyer In-House magazine on in-house counsel billing systems (2009)
- Presenter and Panellist, “Getting the Most from Your External Counsel,” Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (Toronto, 2008)
- Presenter, “Plain English Drafting,” Member Representatives Committee, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (Phoenix, 2008)
- Presenter, “NERC Electricity Reliability Standards,” National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (Minneapolis, 2006)
- Panel Moderator, “Managing Projects Overseas,” Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (2004)
- Presenter, “Managing the Legal Department,” Continuing Education Division, Law Society of Manitoba (1999)
- Presenter, “Tendering Law,” EPIC Construction Law Conference (1997)
- Presenter, “The Tendering Process,” Continuing Education Division, Law Society of Manitoba (1995)
- Named One of Canada’s Top 50 List of General Counsels, General Counsel Magazine (2016)