Steven L. Major KC

Partner

T: 403.298.3643 / E: majors@bennettjones.com

Calgary

Steve Major is a litigation partner at Bennett Jones, representing individuals and corporations on a broad array of matters including commercial and contractual disputes, real and personal property, energy law, constitutional law, civil fraud recovery, serious personal injury (head of the firm's practice group) and certain "white-collar" criminal and quasi-criminal defence work. Steve is a proud member of the Bennett Jones Energy Services group. He was awarded with a Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) designation in the Spring of 2022 and was also an honoured recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta) in December 2022 in recognition of his extensive community service.

Steve is a Past President of the Calgary Bar Association and an active member of the Canadian Bar Association. Steve has appeared before several administrative tribunals and all levels of courts in Alberta including the Alberta Court of Appeal. Prior to joining the firm, he clerked at both the Court of Appeal and Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta for the former Chief Justice, the Honourable W.K. Moore.

Steve is a strong advocate for the Canadian Energy Industry. He has been moderator of the 2020 Canadian Energy Executive Association’s EBF panel “The World Needs More Canadian Energy and Less Emissions,” a speaker at his alma mater’s 2020 Queen's University Oil and Gas Speakers’ Series and a speaker at the 2020 Indian Resource Council's Indigenous Participation in Major Projects Conference on the topic of UNDRIP. In the Spring of 2020, Steve led a (successful) effort to advocate against a proposal Queen's University's Board of Trustees were considering to divest Queen's endowment away from Canadian Energy equities. In May 2020, Steve also authored the Opposition Article in the "National" Canadian Bar Association's monthly magazine to the "Climate Justice Resolution" (which had been proposed to the CBA by one of its members) and successfully opposed that motion at the 2021 Annual General Meeting as the leading speaker against it.

Steve is deeply connected in the Western Canadian business community. Along with his wife, they are the Immediate Past Chairs of the 72nd Canadian Energy Executives Association and the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the annual Calgary Flames Ambassadors' Charity Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament (which has raised close to $6 Million in 15 years). He has also been a 20-year volunteer with the Calgary Stampede, having chaired its Western Legacy Awards Committee and more recently chairing its Innovation Committee.

Steve is an avid golfer, enjoys the odd acting gig and occasionally writes opinion pieces for the local newspapers.

Recent Insights, News & Events

Alberta Next—What's Next for Energy and Environment in Alberta
Blog / May 28, 2024
Members of the Bennett Jones' Energy Services and Regulatory Groups attended the Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s recent “Alberta Next Series on Energy and the Environment” event, eager to hear from industry leaders and policy makers on the latest developments in Alberta’s rapidly changing energy sector. Also in attendance were hundreds of representatives from major renewables, technology, and oil and gas companies.
Steve Major at Queen’s Global Energy Conference in Kingston
Speaking Engagements / January 21, 2024
Steve Major spoke on a panel at the Queen's Global Energy Conference, providing insights to a critical discussion revolving around the role of oil and gas in the energy transition. Serving on the panel, Steve contributed to the exploration of pivotal questions surrounding the industry's future trajectory and its impact on the broader energy landscape.
Steve Major on Navigating the Role of Oil and Gas to a Sustainable Future
Speaking Engagements / January 19, 2024
Steven Major spoke at Queen's University's Global Energy Conference on the panel Navigating the Role of Oil and Gas to a Sustainable Future. He and his fellow panelists shared their insights on the innovation happening within the sector, and the industry's role in the future of energy, sustainability and security in the transition to a net-zero world.
Mission Possible for Steve and Jenn Major as CEEA '71 Chairs
In The News / October 17, 2022
Daily Oil Bulletin (DOB) reflects on the leadership of Steve and Jenn Major as Chairs of the 71st Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) over the past year, with their term having concluded on October 1, 2022.
Five Bennett Jones Lawyers Honoured with Queen’s Counsel Designation
Announcements / April 07, 2022
Bennett Jones congratulates five of its lawyers on being appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in Alberta.
Bennett Jones Nominated in 2021 Chambers Law Awards
Announcements / July 12, 2021
Bennett Jones is nominated in the following four categories in the 2021 Chambers Law Awards: Healthcare Law Firm of the Year, Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, Corporate Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.
Steve Major Steps Up for Canadian Energy Success
In The News / March 16, 2021
Steve Major's thoughtful and successful advocacy for the Canadian energy industry is described in EnergyNow.
Why We Must Reject the Climate Justice Resolution
Articles / February 08, 2021
Steve Major writes in the Canadian Bar Association National Magazine on "Why we must reject the climate justice resolution: Climate justice can mean many different things. Defining it should be part of the CBA’s mission, vision, and values."
Canadian Energy Executive Association's Executive Business Forum - Fall Series
Speaking Engagements / November 18, 2020
Steve Major moderates a panel (The World Needs More Energy and Less Emissions) and a question period during the CEEA's Fall Update, which follows the theme: A responsible recovery is good the economy and the environment too.
The Case Against the Proposed CBA Resolution for “Climate Justice”
Articles / May 26, 2020
Steve Major writes in the Canadian Bar Association National Magazine on "The case against the proposed CBA resolution for 'climate justice': The climate change resolution is divisive and not in the fundamental interest of the CBA."
Steve Major’s Wish List for Calgary: Winter Olympics, Better Energy Policy and More
In The News / November 09, 2018
Steve Major writes a Christmas wish list for the city in an opinion column in the Calgary Herald. A native Calgarian, Steve asks for a pro-Winter Olympics vote on November 13 to give the city a positive jolt. He also wishes for Canadian energy policy that stops having to shut-in our energy which results in 30 per cent discounts (or more) on world prices. His full five-point wish list can be read here.
Steve Major in Calgary Herald: Flames and New Arena Are Great for the City
In The News / October 04, 2018
Steve Major writes an opinion piece in the Calgary Herald on why the Calgary Flames and a new arena are a benefit to the community.
Steve Major in Calgary Herald: Prostate Cancer Centre Fundraiser
In The News / December 16, 2017
Steve Major appears in the Calgary Herald’s coverage of the December fundraising event for the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre’s (PCC) new Women for Men’s Health clinic. Calgary’s PCC is a non-profit, world class medical Centre with a mandate to prevent Alberta’s men from dying of prostate cancer, and to improve the quality of their lives and their family’s lives in the process.
Cybersecurity: 2017 Report & 2016 Reflections
Updates / February 08, 2017
In 2016, cybersecurity continued to grow as a primary business risk for companies worldwide. Data breaches continued to escalate both in number and magnitude and the landscape of legal and regulatory liability evolved and expanded. In this report, the Bennett Jones Cybersecurity team analyses the key events in 2016 with a view to those issues that should be front and centre for companies and their directors in 2017.
Those Who Hire Private Investigators Must Be Aware of Privilege and Privacy Legislation
Articles / June 11, 2014
When a fraud is suspected, the litigator often turns to a private investigator to gather evidence about, and to use against, the fraudster. Retaining and instructing an investigator must be undertaken with extreme caution to avoid ultimately prejudicing the case against the wrongdoer. Those retaining and instructing investigators should pay particular attention to issues surrounding privilege and privacy legislation. Published in Volume 11, Number 7 of Canadian Privacy Law Review by LexisNexis Canada Inc.
Those Hiring Private Investigators Must Be Aware of Privilege and Privacy Legislation
Blog / April 25, 2014
When a fraud is suspected, the litigator often turns to a private investigator to gather evidence about, and to use against, the fraudster. Retaining and instructing an investigator must be undertaken [...]
Entrepreneurs Organization (Calgary Chapter) - Fraud Recovery April 2014
Speaking Engagements / April 02, 2014
Steve Major is a panellist during the Fraud Recovery presentation of the Entrepreneurs Organization (Calgary Chapter).
Entrepreneurs Organization (Calgary Chapter) - Fraud Recovery May 2012
Speaking Engagements / May 02, 2012
Steve Major is a panellist during the Fraud Recovery presentation of the Entrepreneurs Organization (Calgary Chapter).
Business in Calgary Leaders of Tomorrow 2012
Speaking Engagements / October 25, 2011
Steve Major is a panellist during the fraud presentation at the Business in Calgary Leaders of Tomorrow 2012 conference.
French Food, Fraud, Firings and Franchising
Speaking Engagements / June 09, 2010
To members of the Calgary chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, Bennett Jones presents French Food, Fraud, Firings and Franchising at our Calgary office. Steven Major presents "Fraud Recovery Can Be Sexy, Provided You Are Not Caught With Your Pants Down", Murray Coleman presents "Franchising Your Business. Is it Right for You?" and John Batzel presents "Hired, Fired and Wired: A Primer on the Law of Wrongful Dismissal and Alcohol and Drug Testing in Alberta".
Fraud Law Recovery Seminar
Speaking Engagements / November 26, 2009
Steve Major and Steve Robertson present a Fraud Law Recovery Seminar to the Financial Executives International (Canada), an all-industry professional association for senior financial executives, at the Westin Hotel, Calgary, AB.
Fraud Happens - Now What?
Speaking Engagements / June 06, 2007
Steven L. Major, Partner, and Christine Plante, Associate Red Deer Lodge Red Deer, AB June 6, 2007 Steve Major and Christine Plante from the Bennett Jones LLP fraud law group present this luncheon seminar, beginning at 11:45am, on how to respond to a civil fraud scenario, including methods available to protect and recover assets and preserve the victim's rights going forward. This event is sponsored by the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce.