David Bursey
For almost 40 years, David Bursey has advised energy, natural resource and infrastructure clients on regulatory, environmental, ESG, water resource management and Indigenous community relations to assist with successful project development and operation.
He is a member of the firm’s Energy, Regulatory, Environmental, ESG, Mining, Power and Renewable Energy practice groups, as well as the co-head of the firm’s Aboriginal Law practice group. He assists clients with project design and approval, community relations, and the subsequent regulation of operations. He advises on corporate reputation management, social communication of risk, risk management and governance policies related to environmental practices, Indigenous community relations, and other ESG matters.
He represents clients before regulatory tribunals and government review panels during environmental reviews of major projects, including many high-profile project reviews since the late 1980’s, involving various sectors: energy (oil, gas, electricity and renewable), industrial complexes, aquaculture, port infrastructure, municipal infrastructure and transportation infrastructure. He also represents clients during judicial challenges to regulatory approvals, at all levels of court and arbitral proceedings.
He has worked with clients from many sectors, including: natural resource companies, transportation companies, government agencies, industry associations, environmental organizations and First Nations. He also has insight from the regulator perspective, having acted for many government review agencies and commissions.
He advises on regulated industries, including the licensing, economics, and operation of energy pipelines, public utilities, renewable energy, marine transportation, telecommunications, cannabis, liquor, mining and forestry.
Before joining private practice, David worked with the federal government in Ottawa—first with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and then with the National Energy Board (now the Canadian Energy Regulator).
David is a former Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association.