Josef (Joe) Hocher is a partner in the Business Law Group at Cassels, the Chair of the firm’s national Energy Group, and is a member of the firm’s national Executive Committee. Indigenous organizations and project proponents both draw from Joe’s thirty plus years of deep government, project, and commercial expertise, in relation to their Indigenous partnerships, Indigenous equity participation, and their respective advisory, transactional, and financing needs. Joe also represents and advises Indigenous and other Canadian, US, and international clients with respect to governance and complex, strategic, and business critical transactions, including those related to green and traditional energy, infrastructure, and technology industries in North America and around the world. In so doing, Joe provides keen insights and exceptional counsel to clients, supporting successful outcomes.
Joe was a founder of Buried Hill Energy, an international oil and gas company. At Buried Hill, Joe was one of the principals charged with creating, developing and implementing the strategic direction of the organization and financing its activities. In addition to directly driving investment and interest across the global market, he also served as Chair of the Corporate Governance and Ethics Committee, Compensation Committee, and various Special Committees, and was a member of the Audit Committee, Reserves Committee and HSE Committee. Currently, Joe is the Senior Independent Director of the company and either Chair or a member of its various Committees.
Joe serves as Chairman of Orthoshop Geomatics Ltd., a professional engineering services company that provides innovative and comprehensive geomatic solutions. He also held the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Enlighten Innovations Inc., a sodium (NaSICON) and energy storage technology company.
Joe was integral to the establishment of Hitic Energy Ltd.. As one of its founders, Joe had a senior leadership role in the successful expansion of its upstream oil and gas business, including business development and formulating and implementing overall company strategy.
Joe’s representative work includes:
- Niyanin Nations LP (a partnership of five First Nations) in relation to its borrowing for, contribution to and investment and participation in an Alberta cogeneration project
- McLeod Lake Indian Band in relation to its agreement with the Province of British Columbia regarding their collaboration on regulatory and environmental assessment processes
- McLeod Lake Indian Band in relation to its Tse’khene Energy Transition Hub, including a $7 billion hydrogen production facility and straddle plant
- Chiniki First Nation, Goodstoney First Nation, ʔaq̓am First Nation, and ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation in relation to their contribution to and participation in assets of TC Energy Corporation
- Clearwater River Dene Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in numerous Saskatchewan uranium mining projects
- Osoyoos Indian Band in relation to its contribution to and participation in an approximately 60 MW solar energy project in BC
- Saulteau First Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in the Hourglass Wind Energy Center 200 MW solar energy project in BC
- Dlezeh NGL Limited Partnership (a partnership of two First Nations) in relation to its contribution to and participation in a natural gas reprocessing plant and related infrastructure in BC
- Mixt Energy Exports Limited Partnership (an indirect First Nation owned partnership) in relation to its contribution to and participation in green energy facilities and related infrastructure in BC
- Duz Cho Group of Companies Limited Partnership (a First Nation owned partnership) in relation to its numerous infrastructure and constructions projects in BC
- Granville Lake / Pickerel Narrows First Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in a mining project in Manitoba and its pursuit of recognition as a band under the Indian Act
- Natanik Energy Ltd. (a First Nation owned corporation) in relation to its lead participation in and contribution to a 15MW solar energy project in BC
- Cree Ative Data Center Corp. in relation to its data center project in Alberta
- Clearwater River Dene Nation in relation to its contribution to and participation in forest land carbon offset projects in Saskatchewan
- FN CGL Pipeline Limited Partnership (a partnership of five First Nations) in relation to its contribution to and investment and participation in the Coastal GasLink pipeline in BC
- First Nations in BC, Alberta, and Manitoba in relation to their treaty land entitlement and treaty annuity processes and negotiations
