DAVID AUSTIN
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
About David
David Austin is a leading lawyer in British Columbia in the field of energy, and electricity in particular, and structuring private public partnership infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, water and wastewater plants.
David has appeared before regulatory bodies on energy matters and was the legal advisor to the developer of British Columbia’s first private public partnership. He has extensive experience with energy project development, such as private transmission lines, corporate structures, project finance, intertie access and formation of government policy. David has also provided advice on the development of B.C.’s first independent power project and wind farm, and was an expert legal witness in a dispute under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
In addition, David practiced law in London, England, advising on international capital market and banking transactions, including project finance, direct debt and debt/equity issues, commercial paper programs, swaps and equipment leasing. He very actively participated in the development of the first securitizations in the London market.
David is a speaker at numerous conferences in the U.S. and Canada and a regular contributor to various forms of media. He has also been awarded the Clean Energy Association of B.C. Life Time Achievement Award.
Representative Work
- Advising on energy projects involving First Nation developers, such as wind farms and run-of-river generating plants.
Regularly appearing as counsel before the British Columbia Utilities Commission.
- Negotiation and settlement of First Nation impact benefits agreements and acting as an independent monitor of First Nations agreements concluded by others.
- Structuring private public infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater plants. Legal Advisor to the developer of B.C.’s first private public partnership.
- Active participation in the development of the first securitizations in the London, England market.
Industry Involvement
Membership & Associations
David is a current member of:
- British Columbia Task Force on Electricity Market Reform
- Clean Energy Association of British Columbia
- Law Society of British Columbia (1979)
David is a former:
- Director of the Independent Power Association of British Columbia
- Chairman, Computer Law Subsection of the British Columbia branch of the Canadian Bar Association
Appointments
- Guest lecturer at the Faculty of Commerce, University of British Columbia
- Former Director of the Independent Power Association of British Columbia
- Former Chairman, Computer Law Subsection of the British Columbia branch of the Canadian Bar Association
In the News
Vancouver Sun “Vaughn Palmer: Expect Horgan to approve reframed Site C in a few days” (December 2017)
Business in Vancouver “Calculating the Costs of Pulling the Plug on Site C” (July 2017)
Business in Vancouver “A Conversation on B.C. Energy Industry Controversy” (June 2017)
The Atlin Hydro Project, Impact Paper (David is the lawyer mentioned on page 7)
Global News “B.C. LNG industry faces more uncertainty as another investor pulls out” (May 19, 2021)
Business in Vancouver “Why isn’t BC electrifying natural gas pipelines?” (June 2021)