Competition/Antitrust
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+1 416 863 2400About
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
The Blakes Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment group is widely acknowledged as the leading practice in Canada. In 2019, we were named Regional Firm of the Year – Americas in the GCR Awards. We house a formidable team of practitioners with recognized expertise in every aspect of competition law and foreign investment review, including many of the strongest women lawyers in Canada. The Competition group is frequently retained by major domestic and international companies and law firms to provide strategic counsel and representation. Our lawyers have been involved in the largest and most complex mergers in Canadian history, and have led the Canadian aspects of some of the largest global transactions, including internationally recognized innovative matters. We are also a leading firm with respect to securing merger approvals for non-Canadian purchasers under Canada’s foreign investment laws.
Blakes is at the forefront of high-profile competition litigation matters, including contentious mergers, advertising, abuse of dominance, reviewable trade practices, criminal matters, class actions and other civil matters before the Canadian Competition Tribunal, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Blakes has a proven track record of success, acting for clients on multinational transactions and investigations, coordinating among counsel and agencies in the U.S., Europe and other jurisdictions.
Chambers Review
Blake, Cassels & Graydon remains one of the leading competition law practices in Canada with a strong offering across both contentious and non-contentious competition law matters. Respected for its presence on leading M&A transactions, the competition, antitrust and foreign investment team has a strong track record in high-value, multi-jurisdictional merger clearance filings and also advises on FDI filings. Its lawyers also offer expertise in antitrust inquiries in relation to price-fixing cartels and have notable experience defending clients in high-profile class actions. The firm has established broad industry expertise, with impressive credentials in a range of sectors including energy, TMT and banking.
Work Highlights
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon advised Royal Bank of Canada on the merger clearance aspects of its CAD13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC Canada.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team is very responsive, technically excellent and a pleasure to work with."
"At both the partner and associate levels, the team was well versed in all aspects of the relevant laws and the transaction facts."
"The team is very well prepared, experienced and very responsive. The analysis is always thought through."
"The team is able to quickly assess the commercial implications in a deal and provide practical advice to clients."
"The lawyers routinely provided clear and understandable guidance."
"The team is very responsive, technically excellent and a pleasure to work with."
"At both the partner and associate levels, the team was well versed in all aspects of the relevant laws and the transaction facts."
"The team is very well prepared, experienced and very responsive. The analysis is always thought through."
"The team is able to quickly assess the commercial implications in a deal and provide practical advice to clients."
"The lawyers routinely provided clear and understandable guidance."
Notable Practitioners
Brian Facey remains a leading figure in the Canadian competition law market, often advising clients from the TMT and energy sectors on merger clearance filings for high-value transactions.
"He is strategic, highly commercial and has great execution."
"Brian Facey is world class."
Based in Toronto, Julie Soloway has a strong reputation for assisting clients from the TMT sector with obtaining competition law approval for high-value and often multi-jurisdictional mergers.
"Julie Soloway is very bright, experienced and makes the trickiest regulatory filings easy to understand with her practical and commercially-minded advice."
"She is incredibly responsive and provides clear, commercial, practical advice. She is a pleasure to work with."
Navin Joneja has considerable experience assisting clients with merger control mandates. He is a popular choice with clients from the pharmaceutical sector.
"Navin Joneja is a highly sophisticated practitioner with a clear mastery of competition law. He regularly offers practical solutions to real-world problems."
"Navin is a trusted adviser and well informed of our industry and current challenges."
Robert Kwinter is highly esteemed for his experience in contentious competition law matters, often defending clients in class actions alleging anti-competitive behaviour.
"Robert is incredibly pragmatic and deeply knowledgeable. I rely on him heavily."
Randall Hofley represents clients in a number of competition law litigation matters, with a particular focus on class actions concerning allegations of price fixing. He frequently acts for defendants.
"Randall has been efficient in managing a complex class action and excellent at coordinating with foreign counsel and keeping us updated along the way."
"I've seen Randall Hofley interact and he's efficient and to the point - I've been impressed with how he's managing this complex class action."
Cassandra Brown acts for sellers on the merger control aspects of divestments and assists with competition clearance filings for joint ventures, notably in the energy sector.
"Cassandra is very smart and knowledgeable. She gave clear guidance and was always right about the outcome."
Micah Wood regularly assists clients with obtaining clearance for corporate transactions under the Canadian Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act. He is based in Toronto.
"Micah has good knowledge of general competition law."
"He gives great advice and is a pleasure to work with."
Kevin MacDonald enjoys a robust reputation for his activity in the field of merger clearance, often acting on behalf of clients in the energy and construction sectors.
"Kevin MacDonald is practical, knowledgeable and responsive."
Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Nationwide - Canada
Members
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP