Competition/Antitrust
Global Guide 2024 : 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 abuse of dominance cases at the Competition Bureau, with 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 and technology.
Work Highlights
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon acted as Canadian counsel to VMWare on the competition law aspects of its USD61 billion acquisition by Broadcom.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It is a very knowledgeable and experienced team."
"It is our go-to competition firm."
"We feel we are represented by a very strong team."
"The advice was clear and spot-on and has been consistent since the team came on board."
"It is a very knowledgeable and experienced team."
"It is our go-to competition firm."
"We feel we are represented by a very strong team."
"The advice was clear and spot-on and has been consistent since the team came on board."
Notable Practitioners
Brian Facey remains a leading figure in the Canadian competition law market, often advising clients from the telecommunications and energy and natural resources sectors on merger clearance filings for high-value mergers and acquisitions.
"He is absolutely first-class."
"He is always responsive and helpful no matter what our needs."
"He has an astute ability to understand how businesspeople think and what their objectives are, so is as good as anybody I have ever met in that business."
Robert Kwinter is highly esteemed for his experience in contentious competition law matters, often defending clients in class actions alleging anti-competitive behaviour including possible abuses of dominance and misleading advertising. He is also active in non-contentious matters, assisting clients with obtaining competition law clearance for large corporate transactions.
"He is very intelligent, quick to adapt and presented very solid arguments."
"He is our go-to for any competition law questions."
"He is very smart and effective."
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.
"I really trust her advice and opinion."
"Julie is clearly very technical and knowledgeable."
Navin Joneja has considerable experience assisting clients with merger control mandates. He is a popular choice with clients from the technology sector.
"Navin is a trusted adviser with a pragmatic approach."
"He is knowledgeable, practical and responsive. He is always very calm and gives useful advice."
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 is very knowledgeable and diligent in working with us through some complex and sometimes highly charged competition and class action matters."
Cassandra Brown acts for sellers on the merger control aspects of divestments, as well as assisting with competition clearance filings for joint ventures.
"She is a great adviser who is very clear about what can be done and what cannot, and she stays firm throughout the matter."
"I think she is really great. She is incredibly hard-working, knowledgeable, strategic and thoughtful."
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.
Kevin MacDonald enjoys a robust reputation for his strong activity in the field of merger clearance, often acting on behalf of clients in the energy and technology sectors.
"I would say he is very thoughtful, thorough and practical."
Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Canada
Members
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP