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.‎‎

 
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
  • English
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)

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