Thomas J. Timmins
Partner
Leader - Energy Practice Group (Canada)
- Year of Call, Ontario (2000)
Areas of focus
Bio
Tom leads Gowling WLG’s Energy Practice in Canada. He specializes in helping clients navigate opportunities in the global energy transition, including power and storage project development and investment.
Tom and the Gowling WLG Energy Practice team are recognized for their ability to bring large, complex and challenging energy projects to successful completion. They are frequently sought after for their understanding of the relevant contracts, the broader industry context and ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Recent examples of Tom’s work include:
- Advising an integrated real estate redevelopment firm on the acquisition of historic hydro generating assets in Canada.
- Assisting major Spanish infrastructure investors on the acquisition of large-scale solar assets in Canada.
- Providing strategic advice to a major Canadian real estate investment trust on office tower decarbonization.
- Assisting data centre operators on grid connection and power purchase contracting.
- Providing procurement process and contracting support for advanced metering (AMI 2.0) initiatives on behalf of leading public utilities.
- Advising Ontario municipalities regarding the viability of continued ownership of local power distribution sector assets.
- Arranging for and assisting a First Nations community in the successful acquisition of an international toll bridge crossing between Canada and the United States.
- Advising a private transmission line developer with respect to the development of a major power line feeding large-scale industrial assets in Canada.
- Acting on behalf of Ontario Feed-in-Tariff contract holders at the Ontario Court of Appeal to successfully assert their contractual rights.
Recognized as a "Leading Individual" by The Legal 500 Canada and Who's Who Legal, Tom serves as a director of Aazhogan Bridge, a member of the Legal Committee of Transparency International, a board member of the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, and an advisor at the Centre for Urban Energy at Toronto Metropolitan University. From 2016 to 2024, Tom led Gowling WLG Canada’s highly successful China Practice and, since 2022, he has served on the roster of adjudicators under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. He teaches Infrastructure and Project Finance Law at Windsor Law and previously served as Chair of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (now CanREA).
A frequent commentator on the energy transition and on geopolitical matters, Tom has been quoted in leading news outlets, including the Economist Intelligence Unit, CBC, CTV, The Globe and Mail, the Financial Post, World Journal, BNN and Canadian Business.
Bio
Tom leads Gowling WLG’s Energy Practice in Canada. He specializes in helping clients navigate opportunities in the global energy transition, including power and storage project development and investment.
Tom and the Gowling WLG Energy Practice team are recognized for their ability to bring large, complex and challenging energy projects to successful completion. They are frequently sought after for their understanding of the relevant contracts, the broader industry context and ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Recent examples of Tom’s work include:
- Advising an integrated real estate redevelopment firm on the acquisition of historic hydro generating assets in Canada.
- Assisting major Spanish infrastructure investors on the acquisition of large-scale solar assets in Canada.
- Providing strategic advice to a major Canadian real estate investment trust on office tower decarbonization.
- Assisting data centre operators on grid connection and power purchase contracting.
- Providing procurement process and contracting support for advanced metering (AMI 2.0) initiatives on behalf of leading public utilities.
- Advising Ontario municipalities regarding the viability of continued ownership of local power distribution sector assets.
- Arranging for and assisting a First Nations community in the successful acquisition of an international toll bridge crossing between Canada and the United States.
- Advising a private transmission line developer with respect to the development of a major power line feeding large-scale industrial assets in Canada.
- Acting on behalf of Ontario Feed-in-Tariff contract holders at the Ontario Court of Appeal to successfully assert their contractual rights.
Recognized as a "Leading Individual" by The Legal 500 Canada and Who's Who Legal, Tom serves as a director of Aazhogan Bridge, a member of the Legal Committee of Transparency International, a board member of the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, and an advisor at the Centre for Urban Energy at Toronto Metropolitan University. From 2016 to 2024, Tom led Gowling WLG Canada’s highly successful China Practice and, since 2022, he has served on the roster of adjudicators under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. He teaches Infrastructure and Project Finance Law at Windsor Law and previously served as Chair of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (now CanREA).
A frequent commentator on the energy transition and on geopolitical matters, Tom has been quoted in leading news outlets, including the Economist Intelligence Unit, CBC, CTV, The Globe and Mail, the Financial Post, World Journal, BNN and Canadian Business.
Experience
Experience
Representative Work
Tom's recent experience includes:
- Counsel to Alectra and Hydro One in respect of the procurement and rollout of advanced metering (AMI 2.0) technologies in the Province of Ontario, Canada;
- Counsel to Aazhogan LP in respect of the acquisition and ongoing operation of the international bridge at International Falls;
- Counsel to numerous Ontario Feed-in Tariff contract holders in respect of various matters pertaining to ongoing project operation disputes with the IESO;
- Transaction counsel to Acciona Energy Canada in respect of the acquisition of solar project facilities in the Province of Alberta;
- Counsel to Panasonic Canada in connection with solar and renewable energy project matters;
- Representing Rainy River First Nations in regard to various strategic matters;
- Representing to Alectra on microgrid and energy storage project development matters;
- Litigation counsel to China Exim Bank;
- Representing Shanghai Electric Power T&D Engineering Co. and Shanghai Electric Investment (China) Ltd. regarding general legal and project finance matters pertaining to the investment in and construction of a 50 mw solar power project;
- Representing the Town of Ajax in respect of the merger of Veridian Corporation and Whitby Hydro Energy Corporation to form Elexicon Corporation;
- Counsel to CITIC Capital Silk Road Fund regarding prospective asset acquisition;
- Counsel to Bermuda Land Development Corporation in respect of procurement matters relating to the proposed redevelopment of lands and port facilities at Ships Wharf, Bermuda;
- Advising IFC with respect to solar project development and project finance matters in Mongolia;
- Counsel to NRG regarding various corporate, commercial and regulatory matters in Canada;
- Counsel to Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in connection with their acquisition and financing of a 100% equity interest in three ground-mounted solar photovoltaic projects from Recurrent Energy;
- Counsel to Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II L.P. in connection with its acquisition and financing of a 100% equity interest in two ground-mounted solar voltaic projects with a peak capacity of 22 MW from Recurrent Energy;
- Representing TransAlta in respect of proposed renewable energy project acquisition matters in Canada;
- Lead counsel on the successful closing of an Ontario Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program equity finance loan made in respect of FIT-contracted assets;
- Acting as special advisory counsel to the Government of Bermuda in respect of renewable energy procurement, planning, energy storage, demand response and general energy regulatory matters;
- Advising Rainy River First Nations in regard to its acquisition of three Ontario Feed-in Tariff contracted solar projects in northern Ontario and the procurement of both project finance and equity finance;
- Representing Genesis Solar in relation to numerous project development and finance matters;
- Representing Saturn Power in regard to solar and energy storage project development matters in Turkey and in Canada;
- Counsel to Next Era in relation to the proposed acquisition of large-scale wind project assets in the Province of Quebec;
- Representing Axio Power Canada Inc. in respect of the sale of nine Ontario Feed-in Tariff contracted solar projects to SunEdison;
- Advising the Carbon War Room on renewable energy procurement and island energy systems matters;
- Acting on behalf of Mainstream Renewable Power in the development of wind energy projects in Latin America;
- Advising Hydrostor Inc. in respect of corporate and commercial matters pertaining to pneumatic storage technology;
- Advising a major cold-storage solution provider in respect of contractual matters pertaining to Ontario's Demand Response Pilot Program (DR3);
- Advising the Government of Barbados in relation to the proposed development of the Mangrove Pond Energy Facility, consisting of solar, wind and waste-to-energy generation;
- Representing the Bank of Montreal in respect of the financing of wind-energy projects located in Ontario;
- Advising Northwind Solutions in respect of legal matters pertaining to operation service contracting in North American wind energy and solar energy markets;
- Representing tier-1 solar panel manufacturers in relation to operational matters in the Ontario solar market;
- Advising AIM PowerGen on various corporate, commercial and regulatory matters pertaining to the development and finance of Canada's first utility scale, commercial wind farm.
Qualifications
Qualifications
Career
2021
Appointed, Member, Advisory Board of the Centre for Urban Energy at Ryerson University
2019
Appointed Chair, Planning Group, Energy Transformation Canada
2019
Appointed leader of Gowling WLG's Energy Group in Canada
2019
Elected Director, Canadian Ditchley Foundation
2019
Re-Appointed Chair, Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA)
2018
Appointed Campaign Cabinet Member, Transforming Windsor Law
2018
Appointed Director, British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce
2017
Appointed Chair, Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA)
2017
Appointed Leader, China Initiative, Gowling WLG Canada
2016
Appointed Secretary, Canadian Solar Industries Association
2016
Elected Director, British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce
2015
Elected to the Board of Directors, Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA)
2015
Keynote Speaker, Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, Miami
2012
Adjunct Professor, Windsor Law, Infrastructure and Project Finance Course
2012
Appointed Chair, Toronto China and East Asia Initiative Committee
2011
Chair, EUCI Canadian Electricity Regulation Program (Calgary)
2011
Instructor, PURC/World Bank International Training Program on Utility Regulation & Strategy
2011
Instructor, EUCI Electricity Procurement Course
2010
Leader, Gowlings Global Renewable Energy Practice
2010
Partner, Gowlings
2009
Sessional Instructor, Advanced Business Law, Windsor Law
2008
Course Leader, EUCI, Electricity Law in Canada
Education
2022
Appointed, Roster of Dispute Panelists under Annex 309 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement
2019
Appointed Canadian Representative on the HKTDC Belt and Road Global Forum
1994
Queen's University, JD
1991
University of Toronto, BA (Hons.)
Languages Spoken
English
Memberships
- American Bar Association - Member, Corporate Governance Committee
- Cambridge Club - Member
- Canada's Venture Capital Association
- Canadian Corporate Counsel Association - Director, Toronto Chapter (2002-2008)
- Candian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), Chair
- Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)
- Canada Africa Power Alliance (CAPA)
Community
Appointed Member, City of Toronto, McCormick Playground Arena Board
2019
Appointed, Chair, Board of Trustees, Toronto Children's Own Museum
2017
Award Panel Member, 'Start Up Energy Transition', Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH
2017
Appointed Director, Parkdale Community Information Centre
2005
Elected Board Member, Board of Trustees, Toronto Children's Own Museum
2003
Co-Founder, West Toronto RailPath
2001
Founding Committee Member, Toronto BikeShare
1999
Publications & speaking engagements
Publications & speaking engagements
Articles
- Energy innovators roundtable series : Driving Diversity & Inclusion in the Power Sector (26 November 2020)
- Ontario moves the CDM goal posts…Slightly (22 October 2020)
- Energy Innovators Roundtable 2: What's going on with SMRs in Canada (21 October 2020)
- Energy Innovators Roundtable 1: Energy Storage (30 September 2020)
- A Clean Power Superhighway Down East: Canada's Atlantic Growth Strategy's Clean Energy Program (17 July 2020)
- The Energy Roundtable: The impact of COVID-19 on Power & Utilities (13 July 2020)
- Contract performance in difficult times: An international perspective (11 June 2020)
- Redrafting Your Force Majeure Clause in the Era of COVID-19 (14 May 2020)
- The perfect storm and the silver lining: The potential role of renewables in restarting the Canadian economy (24 April 2020)
- Contract Challenges and Force Majeure in the Era of COVID-19 (26 March 2020)
- Update on the Canadian renewables sector and prognosis for the 2020s (16 March 2020)
- What to do when you receive a force majeure claim based on the novel coronavirus in Canada (19 February 2020)
- Examining Risk & Opportunities In Canada's Procurement Models (Videos) (23 Jul 2019)
- Africa Energy Forum 2019 - Top 10 Takeaways (2 Jul 2019)
- Cuba Update: Helms Burton Title III Activated (27 May 2019)
- Yours To Discover? New Paths Forward For Renewables In Ontario (30 Apr 2019)
- From Cap-And-Trade To White Pines: What Lies Ahead In Ontario's Energy Sector (18 Jul 2018)
- More Power To You: Ontario To Offer Rebate For Home And Business Solar Systems (8 May 2018)
- Market Disruptors And New Investment Opportunities In The Canadian Power Sector (19 Dec 2017)
- Energy Storage In Ontario - Where Do We Stand? (27 Nov 2017)
- Preferred Share Investment Strategies Critical For Ontario's Municipally Owned LDCs (24 Aug 2017)
- Ontario's Fair Hydro Plan: How Will It Impact Canada's First Nations Communities? (3 May 2017)
- This One's Got Legs: The Ontario Climate Change Solutions Deployment Corporation (3 May 2017)
- Inching Toward Greener Pastures: Alberta's New Solar Energy Program (27 Mar 2017)
- Ontario Renewables In The Age Of Donald Trump: Can The Great Lakes States' Policy Light The Way? (20 Jan 2017)
- IESO LTEP Planning Process Gets Underway (27 Sep 2016)
- Ontario Pursues Another 980 MW Of Large Scale Renewables - Including Interesting New Initiatives For Existing Generation Facilities (18 Jul 2016)
- The LTEP Tango With The CCAP Motif (30 Jun 2016)
- Supporting Off-Grid Solar Development In Africa (26 May 2016)
- Argentina Shows Strong Potential For Renewable Energy Investment Opportunities (13 May 2016)
- 2016 A Pivotal Year In Canadian Renewables: Evolving Carbon Policies And The Renewable Energy Sector (13 Jan 2016)
- Ontario's Net Metering Model On The Drawing Board (9 Oct 2015)
- New FIT Pricing Offered In Ontario, Canada (28 Sep 2015)
- Unlocking The Value Of Aboriginal Participation In Ontario FIT Program Projects (14 Jul 2015)
- CITT Rules On Dumping And Subsidizing PV Modules From China (14 Jul 2015)
- Key Contractual Elements: Ontario's Distribution Sector Transaction Documents (21 Apr 2015)
- Canada's Go At Solar Anti-Dumping Complaints (Update) (18 Feb 2015)
- Aboriginal Renewable Energy Fund Update - January 2015 (3 Feb 2015)
- Canada's Go At Solar Anti-Dumping Complaints (30 Dec 2014)
- Renewable Energy Project YieldCos Emerge (28 Aug 2014)
- Ontario Publishes Pre-qualification For Large Scale Renewable Procurement Process (28 Aug 2014)
- FITs And Starts: Ontario FIT Contract Termination Rights Reviewed (2 Jun 2014)
- Québec Issues Call For Tenders To Procure 450 MW Of Wind Energy Capacity (31 Jan 2014)
- Will Electric Vehicles Consolidate Ontario's Fragmented LDC Sector? (20 Jan 2014)
- The Never-Ending Solar Lease (20 Jan 2014)
- Ontario's New Long-Term Energy Plan (9 Dec 2013)
- Quebec Wind Tender Moving Forward: Québec Confirms Call For Tenders By December 31, 2013 To Procure 450 MW Of Wind Energy Capacity (25 Nov 2013)
- What Is Going On With Ontario's FIT? (5 Sep 2013)
- Québec Advances In Procurement Of Additional Wind Energy (5 Sep 2013)
- Wainfleet Wind Energy Inc. v. Township Of Wainfleet: Case Comment (16 Jul 2013)
- Ontario Minister Of Energy Issues New Directive On The Feed-In Tariff Program (16 Jul 2013)
- Ontario's Minister Of Energy Announces Changes To Feed-In Tariff Program (18 Jun 2013)
- The WTO Decision - What It Means For Ontario FIT 1.0 And 2.0 Projects (3 Jun 2013)
- Québec Announces Procurement Of 800 MW Of Wind Energy (28 May 2013)
- Assessing Curtailment Risk In Ontario (23 Apr 2013)
- Japan's Newly Launched FIT Program (6 Aug 2012)
- Québec Announces Procurement Of 700 MW Of Wind Energy (2 Aug 2012)
- Ontario Re-Boots FIT 2.0 With Ministerial Directive (31 Jul 2012)
- Ontario's FIT Program: Domestic Content Requirements (10 Jul 2012)
- A Step Forward on Solar: Ontario Government Publishes FIT 2.0 Recommendations (2 Apr 2012)
- Ontario Clarifies Property Tax Rules For Renewables (14 Feb 2012)
- China Gets FIT - China Implements Solar Feed-In Tariff Program (6 Oct 2011)
- "Wind Energy Siting Guide", published by arrangement with the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), October 2011
- "Wind Energy Law in Ontario", International Energy Law Review, Issue 3, 2011
- "Income Tax Incentives for Solar Energy Development in Canada" March 2011
Client Events
2016
- Energy Innovator's Breakfast Series -four very well-received roundtable breakfasts aimed at positioning Gowling WLG's technology, innovation and IP law capabilities in Canada's fast evolving energy innovation sector held in Q3-Q4
- EUCI Energy Law Seminar -a two day seminar lead with EUCI, creating speaking opportunities for other partners and associates
- Planned and hosted "One Belt One Road -Demystified" -Canada's first conference event on China's massive One Belt One Road infrastructure initiative
- Hosted Gowling WLG's first outward facing Chinese New Year Event -building off of work done in 2016 to recognize the festival at the firm
- Hosted Women in Renewable Energy Wine Tasting Event in conjunction with CanSIA (with the unhesitating and able support of Michael Watson)
- Levered relationship with Canadian consular officials in China to develop and support a P3 delegation from China to Canada (leading to launch of Canada China Infrastructure Alliance)
- Hosted Chinese P3 delegation at Toronto office
- Commenced P3 training of Chinese officials with Canadian Government in China (now continuing in 2018 together with UK colleagues)
- Planned and hosted UK Election Breakfast at Toronto office with British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce
- Spoke on behalf of the Canadian Government at Caribbean Renewable Energy Finance Forum
- Spoke on behalf of UK Government at P3 Luncheon
2015
- Client luncheon with U.S. Ambassador, Bruce Heyman, (Montreal, February)
- Client breakfast event with Toronto Mayor John Tory (Toronto, October) (see news coverage in the Globe & Mail and on CP24)
- Client luncheon, entitled "Business Integrity and Director's Liability Round Table" (Toronto, May)
- Client breakfast with UK Counsel General, Kevin McGurgan, Globe & Mail publisher, Philip Crawley, event, "UK Election 2015, What Does It Mean for the UK, Europe & Canada?" (Toronto, May)
- Client luncheon with Canadian Ambassador to Cuba entitled, "The New Cuba Equation: The Cuban Economy, Canada's Opportunity and America's New Place" (Toronto, January) (see news coverage for Gowlings in Financial Post)
- Gowling WLG participation in Ontario Premiere Kathleen Wynn's Clean-Tech trade mission to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong (October)
- Client participation in Queen's Park Day, organized by CanSIA (May, Toronto)
- Client participation in small Energy Storage Dinner Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Glen Murray and Annette Verschuren (July, Toronto)
- EUCI: Construction Contracting for Canadian Power & Energy Projects (October, Toronto) (Betts, Stanek, Carew)
- Windsor Law - once again, I led the Canadian Infrastructure Law Course