Corporate/M&A
Global Guide 2024 : Canada
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+1 416 863 2400About
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blakes has a team of more than 100 M&A lawyers across Canada as well as representation in major international markets. We have the ability to execute major Canadian M&A transactions around the world.
Major domestic and international companies, financial institutions, private equity funds and leading international law firms regularly retain us to provide strategic counsel in M&A transactions. Advising on deals ranging from privately negotiated share or asset transactions to the largest public company mergers and acquisitions, we offer guidance regarding structuring considerations, regulatory issues, stock exchange requirements, related-party rules, fiduciary obligations and take-over defences.
Working closely with our Competition & Antitrust group, Canada’s top-ranked competition law practice, we possess unparalleled insights and experience in representing clients before the Canadian Competition Bureau in domestic and cross-border mergers and advising on Canada’s foreign investment regime.
Our expertise in securities regulatory matters, tax structuring, benefits, litigation, real estate, environmental, intellectual property and information technology law, together with industry knowledge gained in serving a diverse client base, ensures that we are able to provide highly effective and specialized advice to clients.
Chambers Review
Blake, Cassels & Graydon is a premier national law firm with an excellent M&A platform and a strong track record of advising on major public and private transactions. The firm is a regular feature on international inbound and domestic merger deals, and is equally well placed to advise on public and private equity and debt offerings. The firm offers significant high-end as well as mid-market capabilities with expertise that cuts across sectors, including technology and financial services. The firm's recent deal sheet features a number of important transactions in the oil and gas, telecoms and media, agriculture and hospitality sectors. The team services clients from its offices across Canada's key financial centres, as well as providing additional support from New York and London, UK.
Work Highlights
- A Blakes team advised Royal Bank of Canada in connection with its CAD13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team was consistently one step ahead, which greatly facilitated our negotiations and expedited the process. The Blake, Cassels & Graydon team's commercial awareness was a key success factor in our case."
"Blake, Cassels & Graydon's technical bench strength is excellent. We always feel we are in very capable hands in terms of technical excellence."
"The advice we receive from Blakes is very practical, taking into consideration the reality of our business needs rather than solely focusing on legal requirements and rules."
"Blake, Cassels & Graydon is one of my go-to firms in Canada. The lawyers always assemble a strong team and you have every confidence that you are getting top-notch legal and strategic advice."
"The team was consistently one step ahead, which greatly facilitated our negotiations and expedited the process. The Blake, Cassels & Graydon team's commercial awareness was a key success factor in our case."
"Blake, Cassels & Graydon's technical bench strength is excellent. We always feel we are in very capable hands in terms of technical excellence."
"The advice we receive from Blakes is very practical, taking into consideration the reality of our business needs rather than solely focusing on legal requirements and rules."
"Blake, Cassels & Graydon is one of my go-to firms in Canada. The lawyers always assemble a strong team and you have every confidence that you are getting top-notch legal and strategic advice."
Notable Practitioners
Toronto-based Jeffrey Lloyd has extensive experience advising on complex corporate transactions across a range of industries including mining and financial services.
"Jeffrey Lloyd is one of the best lawyers I have worked with. He provides superb and timely advice and has great judgement."
Michael Gans is based in Toronto and has experience handling domestic M&A transactions, as well as transactions with international components.
"Michael Gans is a talented lawyer."
John-Paul Bogden routinely assists clients in the technology space with domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. He displays additional strength in private equity and venture capital matters and co-heads the firm's private equity group from Vancouver.
"John-Paul Bogden is one of the most commercially astute advisers I have worked with. He is an excellent adviser when it comes to what really matters and how to avoid legal wrangling getting in the way of a transaction, and remarkable at developing relationships with the various players on a deal."
Montréal-based Patrick Menda is experienced in the representation of private equity firms in M&A mandates.
"Patrick Menda is a seasoned commercial lawyer. He has lots of experience in the private equity M&A space and a good understanding of market norms."
Ross Bentley is a well-regarded securities and M&A lawyer with impressive experience across the full spectrum of transactional matters in a range of industries.
"Ross Bentley couples sophisticated legal knowledge with a practical and supportive style that is very much appreciated."
"We have a high level of confidence in Ross, his overall awareness of our industry, our needs, and the commercial realities within which we operate."
"Ross knows his area extremely well and is able to translate complex legal issues into something understandable for the corporate client."
Chad Schneider co-heads the firm's Calgary practice. He has a wealth of experience advising clients on corporate reorganisations and M&A transactions.
"Chad is excellent, a brilliant lawyer."
Christopher Hewat operates a broad corporate practice in Toronto with strength across both M&A and securities transactions.
"Christopher Hewat is a very good lawyer and I've enjoyed working with him."
Kevin Rusli heads the New York office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. His practice features a wealth of expertise in Canadian securities law, with particular emphasis on advising clients on fund formation and regulatory work for major Canadian and international sponsors.
"He is an excellent resource for our firm."
"Kevin is the best investment fund lawyer in Canada. This is not an exaggeration."
Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Canada
Members
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP