Leveraging 20 years of practice and academic experience in natural resources, energy, and environmental law to efficiently deliver effective advocacy and advice.
Our Services
Martin has broad knowledge and experience in natural resources, energy, and environmental law and policy, which he leverages to provide comprehensive or targeted advice — effectively and efficiently.
He has a deep understanding of the current federal regulatory regime, including the habitat protection and pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act and its associated regulations (e.g. the Metal and Diamond Mine Effluent Regulations), the major project review regime under the federal Impact Assessment Act, and various climate change-related regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. He appeared as a witness before the Senate in its hearings into Bill C-5 (now the Building Canada Act), which provides the legal basis for Canada’s new Major Project Office and the designation of projects of national interest.
At the provincial and territorial level, Martin’s practice areas include environmental law, water law, regional land-use planning, and closure liability issues in the energy sector.
Martin has appeared before the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. As a sole practitioner in part-time practice, Martin’s focus has been on appellate advocacy but he has also assisted clients by working as part of a team with their existing counsel/law firm.
Martin has also appeared before various regulators and Parliamentary committees, and is available to assist clients with their appearances and briefs or to appear on their behalf.
About
Martin is an Associate Professor and the current Chair in Energy, Resources, and Sustainability at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. His research interests are in natural resources, energy, and environmental law and policy. He is also interested in related core areas of law, including constitutional, administrative, tort and regulatory law.
Martin has appeared as an expert witness in regulatory hearings (e.g. project reviews) and numerous committee hearings of both the House of Commons and the Senate. From 2020 to 2025, he was a member of the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada's advisory council on impact assessment.
Martin consults and practices law on a part-time basis. He is a member of both the Ontario and Alberta bars. Current and past clients include the Canadian and Alberta governments, Indigenous Nations, and various non-governmental organizations.
Recent Work
Successful application for leave to intervene on behalf of Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development: Reference Re Clean Electricity Regulations (Canada), 2026 ABCA 1 (CanLII)
Preparation of an expert report in a matter before the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) (2025)
Counsel for the intervenor World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF Canada) at the Supreme Court of Canada in Reference re Impact Assessment Act, 2023 SCC 23
Counsel for the intervenor Progress Alberta at the Supreme Court of Canada in References re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, 2021 SCC 11
Preparation of an expert report re: adaptive management in the Grassy Mountain Coal Mine Joint Review Panel (JRP) hearings
JRP Panel Report (2021) (see paras 156 — 174)
I acknowledge that I live and work in the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, and accordingly pay tribute to the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).
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