Aaron Atcheson

Partner

London

Office

[email protected]

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Industries & Expertise

Biography

BAR ADMISSION

Ontario, 2000

Education

LL.B., McGill University, 1998
B.A. Honours Economics & Political Science, Huron College at the University of Western Ontario, 1995
Water and Energy Security in a Changing climate Course, University of Waterloo, 2023

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Aaron Atcheson practices in the area of commercial real estate and business transactions, and energy and infrastructure projects. He works with leading developers and lenders on a wide variety of projects, with a particular focus on the energy sector, in Canada, the US, and globally. Aaron’s deep experience is recognized consistently, making him a go-to lawyer for energy, infrastructure, environmental law, and property development matters.

Aaron has been intimately involved with the development of the renewable energy sector in Canada over the last two decades, and has worked with industry groups and leading developers. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, fostering strong client relationships and delivering top-tier legal advice.

Aaron assists clients on the property, environmental, commercial and financing aspects of a wide array of matters. He has been recognized for his ability to navigate the intricacies of cutting edge and innovative projects. Aaron’s diverse experience spans across sectors such as renewable energy, waste, water and wastewater, and energy transmission and storage, positioning him as a versatile advisor to a wide range of clients.

Industry involvement

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in Canada – Energy Law, 2018-2025; Environmental Law, 2017-2025
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – Environmental Law, 2013-2024; Property Development, 2013-2024; Property Leasing, 2020-2024; Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), 2024
Acritas Stars global survey of stand-out lawyers, 2018
Member of Executive, Environmental Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), 2004-2016, 2017-2023
Member of Executive, National Resources Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), 2004-2016, 2017-2023
Leading Professional Services Firms, Harvard Business School, June 2015

Thought leadership

Presentations

Hearings on freshwater issues before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, January 30, 2024, Ottawa
“More than Hot Air: Regulatory Hurdles to Completing a Renewable Energy to Hydrogen Project”, as part of the Growth Prospects for Green Hydrogen Panel at Energy Transformation Canada (Annual Conference of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association), October 27, 2022, Toronto, with Tyson Wagner
“Pandemic Pitfalls: How COVID-19 affected renewable supply chains and how to protect your project”, Energy Transformation Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association Annual Conference, November 19, 2021, Toronto
“Hot Potato: Construction and Procurement Contracting for Hybrid Generation and Storage Projects”, Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 2019, Calgary
“It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over: Legal Considerations in Repowering or Decommissioning Wind Farms”, Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 2018, Calgary
“Environmental Contamination for the Transactional
Lawyer: A Way Through the Maze”, Ontario Bar Association, May 2018
“Contracting for CleanTech: What’s Market?”, Law Society of Ontario: 8th Annual Business Law Summit, May 2018
“Banking on Success: Fundamentals for Financing Storage Projects in Canada”, ESA Energy Storage Annual Conference & Expo, April 2018, Boston
Climate Change Lawyers’ Network panelist, “Regulatory and Operational Forecast: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure in Ontario”, March 2018
“Windfall of Opportunity? The Potential of Cap and Trade to Boost and Enhance Wind Development in Ontario,” Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 2015, Toronto
“M&A in Dangerous Times,” Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 2014, Montreal
“I Fought the Law, But the Law Won: Legal Restrictions on Employing New Technologies in Energy From Waste Facilities,” Canadian Waste to Resource Conference, November 2014, Toronto
“The WTO, the Wind Sector and Green Job Creation Incentives Across Jurisdictions,” World Wind Energy Conference, June 2013, Havana, Cuba
“Appeal of Renewable Energy Approvals,” Lecture to Western Law Environmental Law Class, October 31, 2012
“Heavenly Hosts: Creating Support Through Host Community Benefit Agreements,” Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 16, 2012, Toronto
“Issues in Solar Rooftop Leasing,” ILCO Conference, May 2012, London, ON
“Common Considerations for Drafting and Reviewing Groundmount Solar Leases,” April 2012, Cambridge, ON
“Renewable Energy in Ontario,” Lecture to Western Law Environmental Law Class, November 2, 2011
“Electrons Without Borders: Legal Issues in Exporting Power,” Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 2011, Vancouver
“FIT to be Tied: Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal,” Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, November 2010, Montreal
“Government Programs and How to Get the Most From Them, Wind, Water, Sun,” Renewable Technologies Conference, March 2010, London, ON
“New Opportunities in CleanTech,” November, 2009 at client seminars in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Cambridge
“An Update on the Wide Range of Environmental Issues Impacting Commercial Leasing and Building Owners,” Real Leasing Conference, September 2009, Toronto
“Renewable Energy and the Carbon Markets,” University of Toronto Carbon Finance Conference, October 2009, Toronto
“Getting that Dirty Deal Done: Environmental issues in the purchase and Sale of Real Estate,” Ontario Bar Association, Environmental Section Breakfast, April 2009, London, ON
“Clean Tech: The Legal Perspective—Tips, Traps and Opportunities,” OnSETT CleanTech Conference, February 2009, Toronto
“A Developing Opportunity for Wind: International and Domestic Carbon Credit Markets,” Canadian Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October 2008, Vancouver
“Legal Issues with Wind Farm Stakeholders: Making Your Wind Farm Marketable,” World Wind Energy Conference, June 2008, Kingston, ON

Publications

“Emerging energy issues and impacts on water”, Municipal World, November 2024, with Karen Hakim
“Penalty Creep: What is Going On With Environmental Fines Across Canada?”, OBA EnviroNews and MT EnviroNotes!, October, 2019, with Bryan Smits, Danielle Parry and Julia Zanetti
“Fueling the Future of Electric Vehicles in Ontario: Ensuring the Reliability of Ontario’s Grid and Energy Infrastructure”, EnviroNews, April 2018
Quoted in article “Managing Contamination In A Sale”, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, January 2018
“Fixing Our Water Infrastructure Gap: A Simplified Project Finance Model for Municipal Water and Wastewater Facilities”, Municipal World, August 2017
“Solicitor’s Negligence Case Incorporates Scary Diligence Assumptions for Real Estate Lawyers”, EnviroNotes!, July 2016
“Water Power: A new spin on an old concept expanding hydro-electricity in Ontario,” Water Canada, 2016
“Ontario’s GHG Emissions Cap and Trade System: Program Announced with Details to Follow,” EnviroNotes!, May 2015
“Seeing Red Tape,” Water Canada, May/June 2014
“Turtles One, Turbines Zero,” EnviroNotes!, September 2013
“Make Hay While the Sun Shines,” HazMat Management Magazine, Summer, 2013
“The Ins and Outs of IP,” Water Canada, March/April 2012
“Lasting a Lifetime—The ABCs of water infrastructure warranties,” Water Canada, 2011
“Uncertainty in Renewables,” HazMat Magazine, 2011
“Action-Packed Week for Renewable Energy,” EnviroNotes! Environmental Alert, August 2011
“More from the Rooftop,” Leasing Times, March 1, 2011
“Aaron Atcheson comments on the growth of clean-tech in law practices in the Law Times article ‘Green Energy a Growing Area of Practice’”, 2010
“Offshore Wind and the Canadian Market: Push and Pull in the New Economy,” North American Clean Energy, 2010
“Ontario Tilting at Windmills as Province Alters Course Midway,” Law Times, 2010
“Winds of Change—Part 1,” Leasing Times, August 2008
“Ontario Snapshot,” Miller Thomson Climate Change Newsletter, 2010
“To Test or Not to Test…,” Leasing Times, April 1, 2010
“Recent Developments of Importance in Environmental Law,” The 2010 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2010
“Ontario’s New Feed-In Tariff–Provincial Content Requirements,” GTMA Vantage, 2009
“Ontario’s New Green Energy Act,” CleanTech Canada, 2009
“Ontario’s New Green Energy Act,” American Lawyer/Lexpert Leading 500 Lawyers Directory, 2009
“Winds of Change—Part 2,” Leasing Times, September 2008

Community roles

Vice-Chair, London Economic Development Corporation
Board Member, King’s University College, 2021-2024
Member of Huron University College Executive Board, 2015-2021, Member of Corporation, 2010-2015
Board Member, YMCA of Western Ontario, 2011-2017
Terry Fox Run, London Organizing Committee, 2008-2015
United Way London & Middlesex, Campaign Cabinet, 2014
Volunteer basketball coach, London, Ontario, 2010 to current

Memberships & affiliations

Member, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
Member, Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce
Member, Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations
Member, Law Society of Ontario
Member, Middlesex Law Association
Member, London Chamber of Commerce

Aaron Atcheson

Industries & Expertise

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Biography

BAR ADMISSION

Education

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Insights

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Industry involvement

Recognition

Thought leadership

Community roles

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