Alex G. MacWilliam LL.B., B.A., Partner

Alex is Chair of the firm’s National Environmental Law Group and focuses on advising clients on all legal issues relating to the environment. These include regulatory approvals, compliance, contaminated land, climate change, dealing with regulatory agencies, responses to government policies and the development of internal environmental practices and systems. In 2005, Alex was appointed by the Government of Alberta to the Environmental Appeals Board.

Alex is widely regarded as one of the leading environmental law practitioners in Alberta.

He is profiled in The LEXPERT American Lawyer Media Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, Who's Who Legal, and in Best Lawyers and is rated by Practical Law Company as a recommended environmental lawyer. He has appeared before the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board, Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board, Natural Resources Conservation Board, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Federal Court of Canada and all levels of Court in Alberta.

Alex advises the firm’s clients in respect of all matters of an environmental nature, including the management and minimization of liability arising from environmental risks, environmental management systems and other risk management tools. When environmental incidents do occur, Alex is experienced in the legal aspects of emergency response and crisis management and has extensive experience in resolving disputes arising from such incidents through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Alex is frequently involved in major national and cross-border transactions in respect of the environmental due diligence arising in asset and share transactions, public offerings and financings. He works closely with the M&A, banking and securities lawyers at FMC to ensure that any environmental issues are identified and properly assessed.

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Representative Work
Teaching Roles
Sessional Lecturer on Transportation Law at University of Calgary Faculty of Law, 2000 to 2009
Lecturer on Environmental Law at University of Calgary Schulich School of Engineering, 2003 to present
Prior Speaking Engagements
Presenter, "Improving Governance and Management of the Petroleum Sector" conference sponsored by World Bank and Governments of Canada and Alberta. Topic of corporate social responsibility and environmental issues facing Canadian companies operating in developing countries, Calgary, March 2012
Presenter, "Avoiding Frostbite: Top Considerations for Doing Business in Canada", Atlanta, February 2012
Presenter, "Realizing Opportunities for Brownfield Redevelopment", BLOOM Market Insight Conference, Calgary, November, 2011
Presenter, "More Than Just Cold Air - Hot Topics for U.S. Companies Doing Business in Canada", Philadelphia, May 3, 2011
Presenter, "Regulation of Canadian Shale Gas Operations" Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation Conference, October 2010
Contact Information
Calgary
+1 403 268 7090
alex.macwilliam@fmc-law.com
Year of Call
1986 (Alberta)
Education
University of British Columbia, LL.B., 1985
University of Calgary, B.A. (Economics), 1978
Languages Spoken
English