Ron W.
Clark
Partner
Ron loves the challenge of operating a practice at the intersection of corporate/commercial, energy and municipal law. Having advised numerous clients through the historical and institutional development of the energy market in Ontario, Ron brings extensive experience and perspective to guiding his energy clients through both the immediate and anticipated steps of a transaction. In addition, with a deep interest in the intersection of law and public policy, Ron enjoys meeting the unique challenges of his clients with respect to the constant evolution of the energy market.
Ron is Co-Leader of the firm's Energy Group and a member of the Corporate, Environmental Law, Projects & Infrastructure and Public Policy & Government Relations Groups. The energy side of his practice involves counselling stakeholder groups, retailers, distributors and generators on legislative and policy matters relating to electricity markets. His corporate/commercial practice includes advising corporations, financial institutions, municipalities and individuals on commercial agreements, asset and share purchase transactions, mergers and acquisitions, private placements and secured lending transactions.
Ron has been retained in connection with power procurement arrangements, development of generation and cogeneration facilities and the Ontario government's clean energy supply and renewable energy supply RFPs and contracts. He has also been involved in electricity restructuring in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Albania, Macedonia and the Regional Southeast European market. Additionally, Ron chaired the Ontario Energy Association's Task Force on Ontario's proposed electricity legislation. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the board of directors of QUEST Canada, a national non-government organization that works to promote smart and integrated community energy programs.
Ron has a background in public international law and previously served as a diplomat with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, with postings in Ottawa and Brussels.
Professional Involvement
Professional Activities
- Instructor, "Power Purchase Agreements" - Osgoode Hall Law School Professional LLM in Energy and Infrastructure Law
- Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, QUEST Canada
- Former Chair, Ontario Energy Association Conservation and Technology Committee
- Past President, Canadian Institute of International Affairs (Toronto Branch)
Memberships
- New York State Bar
- Ontario Energy Network
- Canadian International Council
Speaker, "Consideration of Roles, Responsibilities and Accountability of Holding Companies," EDA's Directors Summit – May 5, 2026.
Panellist, EDA's Directors Summit: "DSOs: Understanding Risks and Opportunities" – May 8, 2025.
Speaker, ENERCOM Annual Conference: "Shaping the Future of Energy" – March 16-17, 2025.
Moderator, OEA Speaker Series: "LDC Evolution: Insights From Grid Innovation Pilots in Ontario" – October 23, 2024.
Speaker, EDA's Directors Summit: "Best Practices in Structures, Functions and Responsibilities" – May 2, 2024.
Panellist, Electricity Distributors Association's Directors' Summit: "Municipal Governance vs Corporate Governance: Why's it Important to Know the Difference" – May 3, 2023.
Moderator, Electricity Distributors Association's Event - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Moving From Awareness to Action, "Taking the Lead: Advancing DEI" – November 25, 2022.
Speaker, Electricity Distributors Association's Directors' Summit: "Key Lessons From the Marrocco Report" – June 17, 2021.
Speaker, Electricity Distributors Association's Virtual M&A Forum: "Governance Considerations" – October 22, 2020.
Speaker, Aird & Berlis LLP Energy Webinar: "What the Newly-Empowered Electricity Consumer Expects from Their LDC" – January 19, 2017.
Moderator, OEA Energy Conference: "Regulatory Policy Across North America" – September 27, 2016.
Speaker, Canada Energy Storage Summit: "Regulatory Perspectives on Energy Storage" – November 12 - 13, 2014.
Speaker, Powering Africa: Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): "Developing a Green Economy – Ethiopia" – November 28, 2013.
Speaker, Powering Africa: Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): "Policies and Regulatory Frameworks – Ethiopia" – November 28, 2013.
Participant, Canada Trade Mission to Nigeria and Ghana with Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade – January 27–February 1, 2013.
Moderator, Ontario Energy Association, Annual Conference: "The Balancing Act of Policies" – September 16, 2011.
Speaker, Ontario Solar Power Systems Forum – Government Incentives For Solar Power: "Ontario’s Feed-In Tariff Program for Renewable Energy" – September 12, 2011.
Speaker, Infrastructure Investment Group – Ontario’s Feed-In Tariff Program for Renewable Energy: "Issues for Investors" – September 9, 2011.
Speaker, Ernst & Young Orenda, Corporate Finance Inc. – The International Project Finance Association (IPFA): "Renewable Energy in Ontario, Canada" – June 2, 2010.
Speaker, Developing Infrastructure Projects: Identifying the Need and Understanding the Details – "Ontario’s New Green Energy Act: Costs and Opportunities for Renewable Generation" – November 26, 2009.
Speaker, Knowledge is Power – Essential Information for Municipalities –"Ontario’s Green Energy & Green Economy Act: Implications for Municipalities" – September 18, 2009.
Speaker, Distributed Generation: Combined Heat and Power Conference – "The Changing Role of Ontario's Electricity Distributors – Where Have We Landed?" – September 22-23, 2008.
Facilitator, New Developments in the Energy Contracts in Ontario – "Practical Challenges in the Life Cycle of a Generation Contract" – May 30, 2008.
Speaker, Ontario Power Summit – "Practical Challenges in the Life Cycle of a Generation Contract" – May 29, 2008.
Speaker, EDA Executive Symposium – "The Changing Role of Ontario’s Electricity Distributors – Where we have landed" – June 5, 2007.
Speaker, 3rd Annual Forum on Infrastructure Development, Renewal and Financing – "Infrastructure Development, Renewal and Financing" – February 13, 2007.
Panellist - The Canadian Institute 3rd Annual Infrastructure Conference – Rebuilding the Energy Infrastructure: "Energy Renewal Challenges in An Age of Increasing Product Demand" – February 13, 2007.
Speaker, 18th Annual Canadian Power Conference and Trade Show – "Critical issues to be resolved in distribution" – November 14, 2006.
Chairman, Ontario Energy Association 2004 Annual Conference Committee – September 2004.
Co-chair, Canadian Institute Conference: Generation Adequacy in Ontario – April 19-20, 2004.
Moderator, Ontario Energy Association Annual Conference, Leadership in Change, Panel Discussion "Energy Retailing in Ontario: Restoring Customer Choice" – September 23, 2003.
Moderator, Natural Gas Purchasing Strategies Conference, "Choosing the Best Energy Purchasing Option for Your Organization: Benefiting from the Experiences of Other Natural Gas Consumers" – September 19, 2003.
Moderator, Natural Gas Purchasing Strategies Conference, Energy Markets Report: “Managing Exposure to Price Volatility and Contract Risk in the Post-Enron Environment” – September 19, 2003.
Guest Panellist, "On the Line," television program, "The Blackout of 2003" – September 5, 2003.
Speaker, 3rd Annual Alberta Power Summit 2003, "Recent Development in the UK and European Union Electricity Markets" – February 28, 2003.
Speaker, Ontario Power Summit 2003, Comparing Restructuring Experience Lessons from Afar, "Power Restructuring in the UK and EU" – June 10, 2003.
Moderator, Ontario Energy Association Annual Conference, Niagara Falls, Ontario "Retailing Electricity: New Challenges" – September 2002.
Moderator, 3rd Annual International Law Conference, Ottawa, Ontario "Towards a North American Energy Market" – May 2002.
Speaker, Enercom Electricity Conference & Expo, Toronto, Ontario, "Leveraging Your Business Through Partnering: Regulatory and Corporate Governance Issues" – February 2001.
Quoted in "Council Approves Sale of Westario," Hamilton Spectator, December 26, 2025.
Article: "Regulatory Amendments Promoting Corporate Power Purchase Agreements Take Effect," Energy Insider, August 7, 2025.
Article: "The Use of Holding Companies for Ontario’s Municipally Owned Electricity Utilities: Part 3 – Corporate Governance," Energy Insider, January 28, 2025.
Article: "The Use of Holding Companies for Ontario’s Municipally Owned Electricity Utilities: Part 2 – ‘Corporatization’ and Development of the HoldCo Structure," Energy Insider, November 1, 2024.
Article: "The Use of Holding Companies for Ontario’s Municipally Owned Electricity Utilities: Part 1 – What Are Holding Companies Used For?" Energy Insider, September 17, 2024.
Article: "Creation of a Distribution System Operator Model for Ontario LDCs: Opportunities, Challenges and Next Steps," Energy Insider, June 4, 2024.
Article: "Lessons from Coffee Pods: The Importance of Accurate Reporting Under Canada’s New Anti-Slavery Law," Energy Insider, May 23, 2024.
Article: "Report of the Electrification and Energy Transition Panel: Summary and Comments," Energy Insider, February 5, 2024.
Book: "Ontario Energy Law: Electricity, 2nd Edition" Co-Authored with Fred D. Cass and Scott A. Stoll, Ontario Energy Law: Electricity, LexisNexis Canada, October 2022.
Article: "The Ontario Generation Contract Review Report," Energy Regulation Quarterly, December 2020.
Book: "Regulation and Governance of Municipally-Owned Corporations in Ontario," LexisNexis Canada, January 2019.
Article: "Norfolk and Altalink: Ontario and Alberta Regulators Refine Mergers and Acquisitions Standards," Energy Regulation Quarterly, March 2015.
Article: Hydro One and the Ed Clark Report: Open Season on Municipally-Owned Electricity Distributors? Aird & Berlis LLP Energy Bulletin, October 2014.
Article: "Electricity Restructuring in Canada and the Role of its Bulk Trader: Potential Lessons for Nigeria?" The Rising Africa, August 2013.
Article: "The Electricity Distribution Sector in Ontario: The Slow Road to Consolidation," Financier Worldwide, November 2013.
Book: "Ontario Energy Law: Electricity," Co-Authored with Fred D. Cass and Scott A. Stoll, Ontario Energy Law: Electricity, LexisNexis Canada, December 2012.
Article: "Consolidation of LDCs," Aird & Berlis LLP Energy Bulletin, December 2012.
Article: “Tighten Your Belt”: The Drummond Report and LDCs, Aird & Berlis LLP Energy Bulletin, February 2012.
Article: "The OPA Releases Draft Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff ("FIT") Program Rules," Aird & Berlis LLP Energy Bulletin, March 2009.
Article: "Ontario's New Green Energy Act (Bill 150): Reading Between the Lines," Aird & Berlis LLP Energy Bulletin, February 2009.
Report: “The Ontario Power Authority's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program: An Introductory Guide to Legal Issues” (with M. Napier), April 2008.
Article: “Trouble Ahead for Cost of Capital, Incentive Ideas?” Energy Analects – Vol. 35, No. 20, September 25, 2006.
Article: “Financial Derivatives in Ontario’s New Electricity Marketplace,” Electricity Today, September 2002.
Article: “Sorry You Kept Your Municipal Electric Utility? How Leasing Can Help You Avoid Transfer Tax,” Municipal World, May 2002.
Paper: “Purchasing Power: Liberalization of Electricity Market Across the Americas and its Impact on Power Purchase Mechanisms” (with S. Virani), Organization of American States Publication, January 2002.
Article: “FOI and Municipal Electric Utilities: Limits on Disclosure Obligations in Ontario’s New World of Electricity,” Municipal World, April 2001.