Allison Sears is a regulatory litigator and the regional Co-Leader of Fasken’s Global Energy and Climate Group in Calgary. Her practice focuses primarily on energy and environmental matters. With experience before all levels of court in Alberta, Allison also represents clients in arbitrations, mediations, and regulatory proceedings before various federal and provincial regulators including the Canada Energy Regulator, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Environmental Appeals Board, and the Land and Property Rights Tribunal.
Allison represents clients in relation to all regulatory and environmental aspects of oil and gas and electricity developments, and waste management facilities. She also represents electric and gas utilities in rate regulation proceedings, and advises shippers on toll and tariff matters. Having acted for both market participants and the Independent System Operator in numerous regulatory proceedings, Allison has considerable experience in Alberta’s power market. She also frequently appears before the courts in statutory appeals and judicial reviews of administrative decisions.
With respect to environmental matters, in addition to advising clients on licensing requirements and enforcement issues, Allison has extensive knowledge in the remediation and reclamation of contaminated sites, and assists clients with all matters arising from spills, releases, and other emergencies. Seeing a growing trend of increased focus by regulators on compliance and enforcement matters, in 2017 Allison returned to school to pursue a Master of Laws focusing on criminal and regulatory prosecutions and other enforcement mechanisms. She enjoys assisting clients facing challenging investigation and enforcement issues.
Allison teaches Administrative Law at the University of Calgary in the Foreign-Trained Lawyers Program.
