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Kai Alderson, Partner | Co-Leader, ESG and Sustainability

Kai Alderson *

Partner | Co-Leader, ESG and Sustainability Fasken
Jurisdiction British Columbia, 2008
Language(s) English
Office(s) Vancouver
Contact
*Law Corporation
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Overview

Kai Alderson is an energy and natural resources lawyer in Vancouver. Utilities, energy companies and other natural resource clients seek out his practical advice on complex asset acquisitions and dispositions, project development and other challenging commercial matters. Kai is a trusted advisor, providing strategic advice to project proponents on environmental, regulatory and Indigenous legal matters.

Energy and natural resource companies rely on Kai’s practical approach, whether he is assisting them on a challenging regulatory matter or a complex transaction. Kai is a problem-solver who helps clients achieve successful commercial outcomes while building constructive, long-term relationships.

Corporate/Commercial Law

Clients benefit from the breadth of Kai’s business law experience. He regularly advises companies on share and asset purchases, business structuring, limited partnerships and joint ventures. He also provides practical and creative advice on long-term project agreements, project financings and other project-related commercial and operating matters, including procurement.

Indigenous Legal Matters

With broad experience in engaging Indigenous groups on project-related consultation activities, Kai is able to negotiate and draft Impact Benefit Agreements and other commercial agreements and develop Indigenous procurement initiatives. This includes building win-win joint business ventures between industry and Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Environmental Law

Kai assists on all manner of complex environmental matters, from assessing and allocating environmental liabilities in commercial transactions, to the environmental assessment and permitting of major infrastructure, energy and other natural resource projects. Kai also regularly helps clients resolve contaminated sites disputes and engage regulators in respect of environmental compliance matters, from spill reporting to cost-effectively meeting permit conditions.

Carbon Markets and emissions trading

Kai advises on greenhouse gas reporting requirements and the purchase and sale of carbon offsets, renewable energy certificates and other environmental commodities. He also regularly consults on the impact of provincial, federal and regional greenhouse gas reduction initiatives.

Achievements

  • Recognized in Environmental Law in Vancouver, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2026
  • Recognized in Natural Resources in Vancouver, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 to 2026
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Environmental Law and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), Lexpert 2024 to 2026
  • Recognized nationwide in Canada in Aboriginal Law, Chambers Global 2024 to 2026
  • Recognized nationwide in Aboriginal Law, Chambers Canada 2023 to 2026
  • Recognized nationwide as a Leading Individual in Indigenous Law , The Legal 500 Canada 2023 to 2026
  • Recognized in Energy Law in Vancouver, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2022 to 2026
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Aboriginal Law, Lexpert 2020 to 2026
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Environmental Law, Lexpert 2022
  • Recognized in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition – Energy, Lexpert 2021

Experience

  • Sprott Private Resource and Streaming (B) Corp. completes acquisition of Premier Gold and Red Mountain Project Streams, [Deal - Sprott Private Resource Lending], Sprott Private Resources and Streaming (B) Corp. completes acquisition of US$110 million stream on the Premier Gold and Red Mountain Projects, located on Nisga’a Nation Treaty Lands in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia.
  • Pacific BioEnergy Corporation (subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation) sale of pellet sales contract book to Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc., [Deal - Sumitomo Corporation], Pacific BioEnergy Corporation sells pellet sales contract book to Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. Fasken advised Sumitomo Corporation with a team led by Dierk Ullrich, and included Adrian Wan (M&A), Anthony F. Baldanza (Competition), Clayton Jones (LEHR), Justine Reisler (Competition), Kai Alderso...
  • Advent International acquires leading specialty chemicals solutions provider Caldic from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, [Deal - Advent International], Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors.
  • The Estée Lauder Companies acquires DECIEM Beauty Group Inc. (enterprise value C$2.8 billion), [Deal - Selling Shareholders], Majority interest in DECIEM Beauty Group sold
  • Defence of unprecedented federal environmental prosecution for Teck Coal, [Case - Teck Coal Limited], The Federal Crown approved charges under the Fisheries Act, alleging that Teck Coal had deposited or permitted the deposit of a deleterious substance, coal mine waste rock leachate, from two of its mines over a ten year period.
  • Teck Resources Limited completes sale of Waneta Dam to BC Hydro for C$1.2 billion, [Deal - Teck Resources Limited], On July 26, 2018, Teck Resources Limited (Teck) completed the sale of its remaining two-thirds interest in the Waneta Hydroelectric Generating Facility to BC Hydro (BC Hydro) for CDN$1.2 billion.  Waneta is a 496MW hydroelectric dam located near Trail, British Columbia.  As part of the sale, Teck...
  • Stella-Jones acquires Prairie Forest Products, [Deal - Stella-Jones Inc.], On February 9, 2018, Stella-Jones Inc. completed the acquisition of substantially all the operating assets employed in the business of Prairie Forest Products, a division of Prendiville Industries Ltd., located at its wood treating facility in Neepawa, Manitoba, as well as at its peeling facility...
  • Sumitomo acquires stake in Canadian wood pellet manufacturer, [Deal - Sumitomo Corporation], Sumitomo Corporation has acquired effective control of the wood pellet manufacturer Pacific BioEnergy Corporation (PBEC) and made its entry into the wood pellet manufacturing business in Canada. Effective control is exercised via a shareholder agreement and other key rights. The transaction invol...
  • InstarAGF completes debt financing for 30MW wind portfolio, [Deal - Manufacturers Life Insurance Company], On April 18, 2016, InstarAGF, an independent asset management firm with a focus on infrastructure, closed a C$78 million debt financing for two wind projects in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada, with each project having an installed capacity of 15MW. Both sell output to BC Hydro un...

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB University of British Columbia
  • Ph. D., International Relations, Rhodes Scholarship Oxford University

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Law Society of British Columbia
  • Canadian Bar Association

Knowledge

  • 2026 ESG Disclosure Study, 3/3/2026
  • Cutting a Gordian Knot – The Canada-Alberta Energy MOU and the Path Forward, 1/19/2026
  • Canada's Competition Bureau Releases Final Guidelines on Environmental Claims, 6/6/2025
  • Canada's ESG Landscape: Key Insights and Developments, 5/27/2025
  • 2025 ESG Disclosure Study, 2/24/2025
  • Competition Act and Environmental Claims Guidelines, 2/19/2025
  • Canada Announces Creation of a Federal Plastics Registry, 5/9/2024
  • The SEC's Final Rules on Climate Related Disclosure and What They May Mean for Canadian Issuers, 3/13/2024
  • 2024 ESG Disclosure Study, 1/9/2024
  • BC Hydro Power Call Insights Key Details From the Phase 1 Engagement Summary Report, 10/4/2023

Events

  • Greenwashing and Emerging Risks in ESG Disclosures, 3/4/2025
  • Symposium 2024 - Emerging Trends in ESG Disclosures, 11/21/2024
  • The Earth is on fire. What to say (and not to say)?, 3/5/2024
  • Symposium 2023 - Emerging Trends in Canadian Climate Law, 11/16/2023
  • Symposium 2023 - Clean Actors, Dirty Lands: Environmental Liability in Insolvency, 11/16/2023
  • Climate Litigation and Greenwashing Risks in the Mining Sector, 3/3/2023
  • Symposium 2022 - Climate Litigation and Greenwashing Risks, 11/3/2022
  • Integrating ESG Matters into Internal Organisational Frameworks, 6/23/2022
  • Indigenous Law Update, 3/7/2022
  • Proxy Season Preview: Regulatory & Disclosure Updates and The Evolution of ESG: The Agenda for Change, 1/13/2022

News

  • Fasken will be at the MaRS Climate Impact Conference in Toronto, 11/23/2023
  • Lexpert Magazine quotes Kai Alderson in an article on the renewable energy sector, 9/25/2023
  • Fasken Benchmark ESG Survey Sheds Light on Key Trends For Corporate Decision-Makers, 1/9/2023
  • Fasken Team Helps Clients Align ESG With Their Business Objectives, 9/21/2022
  • Fasken Takes Five in Lexpert®’s Top 10 Deals and Top 10 Business Decisions of 2018, 2/22/2019

Publications

  • Canadian Mining Law, 7/31/2014
  • British Columbia's New Requirement For Mandatory Reporting Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 12/21/2009
  • The US And Canadian GHG Reporting Rules, 10/21/2009
  • EPA Issues Final Rule to Mandate Reporting of Greenhouse Gases, 9/29/2009
  • Western Climate Initiative Invites Comments On Proposed Offset Criteria, 8/12/2009
  • The Road to Copenhagen: An Update on U.S. and Canadian Participation in Climate Change Negotiations, 8/5/2009
  • Trade Issues Linked to Climate Change Regulation, 7/22/2009
  • B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range Releases Forest Offset Protocol for Carbon Offset Developers, 7/7/2009
  • Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Legislative Developments in the U.S. and the Western Climate Initiative, 5/20/2009
  • Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting, 3/23/2009

Speaking Engagements

  • Regulatory: Changes Needed to Succeed in Decarbonization, 9/23/2021
  • Benefits of Corporate Grievance Mechanisms & Practical Tips on Implementation, 5/11/2014
  • Aboriginal Impact Benefit Agreements, 10/9/2013