About

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

Provided by Chambers

Competition/Antitrust - Nationwide - Canada

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

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

  • Blakes, Cassels & Graydon advised Novo Holdings and Novo Nordisk on obtaining the competition and foreign investment clearances in Canada for their USD16.5 billion acquisition of Catalent and a subsequent acquisition of three of their facilities.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Brian A Facey
1
Brian A Facey
1
Band 1

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 responsive and is able to provide us with guidance at the right level and execute it in real time.

He is a calming influence in dealing with the regulators.

Brian is in tune with the markets and seeks to understand our business.

Julie Soloway
1
Julie Soloway
1
Band 1

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. She serves as the co-chair of the firm's competition, antitrust and foreign investment group.

She is one of the most thorough practitioners in her space.

Julie has a huge amount of experience and is extremely responsive.

Julie understands the competition sector and is able to translate that understanding into actionable advice.

Navin Joneja
1
Navin Joneja
1
Band 1

Navin Joneja has considerable experience assisting clients with merger control mandates. He is a popular choice with clients from the pharmaceutical sector. He currently sits as the co-chair of Blakes, Cassels & Graydon's competition, antitrust and foreign investment group.

Navin is proactive and gives very timely advice.

He is a total professional and sees the entire chessboard.

He is good at finding the right compromise between the legal and business issues.

Cassandra Brown
3
Cassandra Brown
3
Band 3

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. She is often engaged in transactions involving multiple jurisdictions across Europe and Asia.

She gets our business and she will take my call at any time of the day.

Cassandra provides great customer service.

She is a well-prepared and excellent practitioner.

Micah Wood
3
Micah Wood
3
Band 3
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.

I appreciate that he can make himself available basically any time I need him.

Randall J Hofley
3
Randall J Hofley
3
Band 3
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.

He has a good feel for the court system.

Randall is a very effective litigator and is strategic.

He has keen insight and is a relentless advocate.

Kevin MacDonald
4
Kevin MacDonald
4
Band 4

Kevin MacDonald enjoys a robust reputation for his activity in the field of merger clearances, often acting on behalf of clients in the energy and construction sectors.

He has a solid understanding of business needs.

I'm impressed at the speed with which he processes and analyses market data.

Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Nationwide - Canada

Competition/Antitrust

Brian A Facey
1
Brian A Facey
1
Band 1
Julie Soloway
1
Julie Soloway
1
Band 1
Navin Joneja
1
Navin Joneja
1
Band 1
Cassandra Brown
3
Cassandra Brown
3
Band 3
Micah Wood
3
Micah Wood
3
Band 3
Kevin MacDonald
4
Kevin MacDonald
4
Band 4
Competition/Antitrust: Litigators

Randall J Hofley
3
Randall J Hofley
3
Band 3