CALGARY, April 25, 2017 /CNW/ - In a landmark appeal decision released on April 24, 2017, the majority of the Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Orphan Well Association (OWA) of the decision of the Honourable Neil C. Wittmann, Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in the Redwater Energy Corporation (Redwater) receivership and bankruptcy proceedings.
The majority of the Alberta Court of Appeal held that Grant Thornton Limited, the Receiver and Trustee in the Redwater Energy Corporation receivership and bankruptcy proceedings, was entitled to disclaim Redwater's non-producing oil wells and sell its producing ones. Cassels Brock and Gowling WLG served as joint counsel to Grant Thornton throughout the proceedings and successfully defended it on the appeal.
The decision dismissed the appeals of the AER and the OWA, who argued that Chief Justice Wittmann erred in finding that Grant Thornton should not have to carry out the abandonment, reclamation and remediation obligations of Redwater's non-producing wells, or perform abandonment orders as issued by the AER, which included paying a security deposit.
Specifically, the majority of the Court of Appeal (comprising the Honourable Mr. Justice Frans Slatter and the Honourable Madam Justice Frederica Schutz) held that:
Arguing the applications on behalf of Grant Thornton were Jeffrey Oliver of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and Tom Cumming of Gowling WLG. Other members of the litigation team included Danielle Maréchal of Cassels Brock.
About Cassels Brock
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is a leading Canadian law firm focused on serving the advocacy, transaction and advisory needs of the country's most dynamic business sectors. Visit us at casselsbrock.com.
About Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG is an international law firm created by the combination of Gowlings, a leading Canadian law firm, and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co (WLG), a leading U.K.-based international law firm. With more than 1,400 legal professionals in 19 cities worldwide, Gowling WLG offers clients in-depth expertise in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. Learn more at gowlingwlg.com
SOURCE Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Media contacts: Cassels Brock, Joy O'Hara, Manager of Marketing Communications, [email protected] or 416 642 7454; Gowling WLG, James Hatch, Media Relations & Communications Specialist, [email protected] or 416 862 4695
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