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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2010

OTTAWA – Sander Duncanson of the University of Calgary Law School is the winner of the 2010 Canadian Bar Association (CBA) National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Section (NEERLS) Law School Essay Contest David Estrin Prize.

Mr. Duncanson’s essay, “Managing Produced Water from Coalbed Methane Operations: A Critical Examination of Alberta’s Regulatory Framework,” impressed the judges with the high calibre of its writing and research.

“This year’s winning essay raises a significant policy issue, and proposes solutions in a manner that we hope regulators might consider,” said Alexandria Pike, NEERLS Essay Committee Chair, in announcing the award.

Mr. Duncanson is a third year LL.B. student at the University of Calgary. In 2006, he completed a B.A. (Honours) in Canadian Studies from Queen’s University. To date, Mr. Duncanson has focussed his legal studies on natural resources and environmental law, and he hopes to practice in these areas once called to the bar in 2011. He will be articling with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Calgary beginning this June.

The Law School Essay Contest promotes and rewards interest in environmental, energy and resources law topics in Canadian law schools. The award honours David Estrin, a pioneer of environmental law in Canada, who is a partner at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. A founding member of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Mr. Estrin has advised government agencies, corporations and institutions, assisted in policy development and drafting of legislation in Ontario, Alberta and Canada, and appeared before provincial and federal courts. He has written six books and taught in management programs and universities. Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP is a Foundation Sponsor of the award.

The prize consists of $500 cash plus registration, airfare and accommodation at the CBA 2010 NEERLS Law Summit, to be held April 16-17, 2010 at the Marriott Château Champlain in Montreal. The contest certificate will be presented to Mr. Duncanson on April 16. Mr. Duncanson’s essay will be published in the NEERLS newsletter, the EcoBulletin.

The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.