Michael Styczen P.Eng.

Counsel

About

Michael Styczen is a counsel in the firm’s Calgary office, practising corporate and commercial law in the ‎‎energy and renewables sector.‎

Michael specializes in commercial transactions in the energy and renewables sector, including M&A, ‎project development, ‎technology transfer, lending and commodities transactions related to renewables, ‎conventional electricity, ‎oil and gas, and midstream.‎‎

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural Resources Corporate Oil and Gas Construction and Engineering Renewables

Bar admissionsAlbertaManitoba

EXPERIENCE

Acted for a European fund manager structuring an investment in a Canadian biomethane producer
Acted for a Canadian industrial power consumer in obtaining an Industrial System Designation from the ‎Alberta Utilities Commission
Advised a number of producers and marketers on Clean Fuel Regulations
Led the team acting for Steelhaus Technologies in negotiating and documenting a syndicated loan ‎facility
Led the team acting for High Arctic Energy Services in the sale of assets to Precision Drilling
Led the team acting for a Canadian downhole tool designer and manufacturer in the acquisition of ‎several manufacturers
Led the team acting for a British Columbia oil refinery in connection with an inventory buy-sell ‎arrangement
A member of the team acting for Tidewater Midstream in connection with the $150M initial public offering ‎of Tidewater Renewables and the conversion of refinery assets to produce biodiesel, hydrogen and ‎RNG
Led the team acting for a Canadian battery storage developer in the purchase and sale of several ‎development portfolios and related financings
Led the team acting for a power generation developer commercialzing standalone generation solutions ‎for standalone data centres and server farms
Led the team acting for an EPC contractor installing solar generation in Alberta
Led the team acting for Tidewater Midstream in connection with the sale of the Pioneer Pipeline
Led the team acting for Ensign Energy Services in its purchase of all of the Canadian assets of Nabors ‎Industries
A member of the team acting for the purchaser of an interest in a 900 MW gas-fired generation facility in ‎Alberta
Led the team acting for Tidewater Midstream in connection with the disposition of its interest in a natural ‎gas pipeline in Alberta
Led the team acting for Canadian private investors in connection with the sale of an oil pipeline ‎‎construction and testing business to Canadian private equity
A member of the team acting for ONEX in connection with its purchase of WestJet
Acted for a number of small businesses to implement tax-driven corporate restructurings
Led the team acting for Tidewater Midstream in connection with the development and financing of a ‎‎natural gas pipeline and a gas storage facility in Alberta
Led the team acting for Tidewater Midstream in connection with the sale of a cogeneration facility in ‎Alberta
Led the team acting for a consortium of First Nations purchasing a 49% interest in a Suncor tank farm
Led the Canadian team acting for the target in connection with the public markets purchase of Calpine ‎‎Corporation
Led the Canadian team acting for INPEX Corporation in connection with the sale of its Canadian oil ‎‎sands business
Led the team advising an international engineering firm on the regulatory and commercial requirements ‎‎for developing an upgrader in Alberta
Represented numerous small and mid size producers in the acquisition and sale of oil and gas leases
Led the team acting for Predator Midstream in connection with the sale of its crude oil transloading ‎‎business to Secure Energy Services Inc.‎
Led the team acting for a consortium led by INPEX Corporation in connection with the purchase of a ‎‎‎40% interest in Nexen Corporation’s shale gas assets in northeastern British Columbia‎
Led the team acting for Tokai Carbon in the acquisition of a carbon black facility and related waste ‎heat ‎recovery cogeneration unit in Medicine Hat, Alberta
Led the team acting for a private equity fund in connection with the sale of the Island Cogeneration ‎‎Facility in Campbell River, British Columbia
A member of the team acting for a U.S. private equity fund in connection with the sale of the Calgary ‎‎Energy Centre
A member of the team acting for a US private equity fund in connection with the purchase of the ‎Calpine ‎Power Income Fund

Languages

Education

J.D., University of Manitoba, 1997

B.Sc., (Honours in chemical engineering), Queen's University, 1989

Awards

Best Lawyers in Canada (Corporate Law), 2023
Legal 500 Canada (Energy - Oil and Gas), 2016-2017

Seminars

Guest Speaker, Queen’s University Global Energy Conference, January 2022‎
Facilitator and Course Leader, “Joint Ventures”, Legal Education Society Alberta, Fall 2021‎
Speaker, "Technology Transfer: Tips, Traps and Best Practices," CanGEA Technology Transfer ‎Conference, June 23, 2016.‎

Prior Experience

Prior to his legal career, Michael practised as a professional engineer working as an environmental and operations supervisor in the electricity industry and as an environmental engineer in petroleum refining.

Community Involvement

Director and Secretary, Lake Bonavista Homeowners Association
Director and Secretary, Cochrane and Area Humane Society
Instructed and facilitated a number of continuing education seminars, primarily related to oil and gas transactions and commercial contract drafting.

Memberships And Affiliations

Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Manitoba
Alberta Bar Association
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (non-practicing)