Projects: PPP & Infrastructure
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 1
Email address
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+1 604 631 3300About
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blakes specializes in large-scale, complex and market-leading infrastructure and public-private partnership (P3) transactions across Canada, cross-border and internationally. Blakes lawyers have acted on an extraordinarily broad range of large-scale public and private infrastructure projects, including transit, roads and bridges, ports, health care, courthouses and office buildings, energy, power (renewable and thermal), nuclear, transmission, water and waste, airports, stadia, street lighting, and telecommunications and broadband.
We advise the full range of market participants in infrastructure projects, including governments (federal, provincial and municipal), equity sponsors, financial institutions, contractors, suppliers and secondary market investors.
Blakes' exceptionally broad range of experience and the depth of our practice means that we are able to anticipate and, most importantly, understand issues and problems that may arise during the course of a transaction and find constructive and practical solutions. Our public-sector clients benefit from our up-to-the-minute knowledge of issues impacting investors, lenders, builders and operators. Our private-sector clients benefit from our solid working relationship with government agencies and regulatory bodies and our insight into their positions on important issues.
Chambers Review
Blake, Cassels & Graydon has an outstanding team of lawyers who are heavily involved in significant infrastructure projects across Canada. The practice continues to be active on secondary market transactions involving PPPs, assisting with auctions and private negotiations. The group remains a leader in developing PPP structured agreements and related contracts by mobilising its depth of knowledge in asset classes ranging from energy, building construction and water to transportation and transit.
Work Highlights
- A Blake, Cassels & Graydon team advised the City of Toronto on the rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Blakes, Cassels & Graydon has both the depth and breadth of expertise to help handle complex matters."
"Blakes pride themselves on their strong technical capabilities and are able to develop solutions that address highly complex commercial arrangements."
"They adapt to budget constraints as well as adapting the resources to client needs. Their partners and lawyers understand their clients' needs beyond legal advice."
"Blakes, Cassels & Graydon has both the depth and breadth of expertise to help handle complex matters."
"Blakes pride themselves on their strong technical capabilities and are able to develop solutions that address highly complex commercial arrangements."
"They adapt to budget constraints as well as adapting the resources to client needs. Their partners and lawyers understand their clients' needs beyond legal advice."
Notable Practitioners
Marianne Smith assists a range of provincial and municipal authorities with the procurement aspects of public infrastructure projects. Operating out of the firm's Toronto office, she is experienced across a range of sectors including civil infrastructure, transportation and healthcare.
"Marianne Smith is wonderful - very good at public procurement, and one of our go-tos for complex and unique issues. She is very responsive and provides really helpful advice."
"Marianne is a fantastic lawyer. She has market knowledge; she understands the complexity of projects and what makes us unique."
"Marianne Smith is incredibly bright and I trust her judgement and advice. She always gets it done and is an exceptional drafter."
Montréal partnerSébastien Vilder frequently acts as lenders' counsel in relation to power projects, showing particular expertise covering wind farm developments.
"Sébastien Vilder is an excellent counsel."
Alain Massicotte leads the firm's Montréal infrastructure group, frequently acting for public authorities, sponsors and lenders on a range of project developments.
"Alain Massicotte's continued deep support has been key to the success of our project."
"Alain is phenomenal in terms of projects knowledge and he is able to provide us with practical advice on multiple areas of previous projects he has done."
Toronto-based Mark Johnson is sought out for his handling of major developments in social and commercial infrastructure as well as energy sector projects,where he represents the interests of proponent consortiums, investors and Crown corporations.
"Mark's commercial and strategic advice is excellent."
Alyssa Shivji is establishing a respected infrastructure practice from the firm's office in Toronto. She assists clients with the development of infrastructure projects and procurement contracts.
"Alyssa Shivji is really strong and helpful. She has very strong drafting skills, helps us work through changes to documents and asks the right questions."
"Alyssa is fantastic. Her ability to process extraordinary volume of issues and documents is just phenomenal. She can assimilate information very well. She also provides very practical advice."
Based in Montréal, Paulina Balabuch is an associate who is growing her project finance practice. She is well placed to assist lenders with the financing and refinancing of projects in the energy sector.
"Paulina Balabuch is great. She is personable and quick to respond."
Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Nationwide - Canada
Members
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP