In the second half of my career the Administrative Law work became my focus.  I was an advocate for landowners and rights holders.  I acted for more owners on expropriation matters than anyone in the province’s history and my advocacy helped shape the law to its current state.  I also challenged governments and large oil and power companies to do better in many oil sands and power transmission regulatory hearings.  I did so on behalf of intervenor First Nations, impacted individuals, and large and small landowner groups.  The successes achieved for those clients were based on strategic thinking, detailed analyses, knowledge of the law, acquisition of specific business, scientific, and agricultural knowledge, and where applicable, insights of First Nation traditions and practices.  I’ve reviewed, analyzed and at times cross-examined authors and others on innumerable appraisals, scientific reports, financial documents, business and technical reports.  

While oral and written advocacy is obviously important for a practicing lawyer, I quickly understood that the ability to listen, to hear what was and equally what was not said, was critical.  Understanding the people on both sides of the table was key to the successful resolution of hundreds and hundreds of files.