Kemm Yates has practised energy regulatory law for over 40 years, spending his entire career in the private sector. He retired from the partnership of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP effective January 1, 2018 and joined Calgary Energy & Commercial Arbitrators (CECA), now Western Arbitration Chambers, later that year.
During his career as an advocate, Kemm appeared as counsel before various Canadian federal and provincial regulatory tribunals, and at all levels of Superior and Appellate Courts.
In the federal regulatory forum, Kemm represented energy producer and pipeline interests in more than sixty major proceedings before the National Energy Board (now the Canada Energy Regulator), involving a myriad of legal, contractual, financial, environmental, technical, jurisdictional and procedural issues. The cases involved interpretation of contracts, tariffs and legislation, the determination of pipeline and electricity tolls and tariffs, applications for approvals of energy infrastructure and other aspects of utility financial regulation.
At the provincial level, Kemm has extensive experience as counsel before the Alberta Utilities Commission and its predecessors. He also represented clients before regulators in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. Representing various producer, pipeline and consumer interests, Kemm appeared in proceedings relating to the permitting of facilities (oil and gas pipelines, gas processing facilities and petrochemical plants) and the determination of natural gas and electric power utility rates and tariff provisions.
Throughout his career, Kemm has participated in various alternative dispute resolution processes either as counsel or arbitrator.
Kemm has written extensively on legal and regulatory issues and has participated in various conferences and seminars.
Kemm holds degrees from McGill University (Bachelor of Arts) and the University of Toronto (Juris Doctor).
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Kemm Yates 