Department profile
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Projects: PPP & Infrastructure

Canada Guide 2026 : Nationwide - Canada


Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Rankings

About

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

Provided by Chambers

Projects: PPP & Infrastructure - Nationwide - Canada

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

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

Provided by Chambers

  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon acted as counsel to the City of Calgary on the development of its Green Line LRT Project, a CAD5.5 billion light rail transit line project in Calgary.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Blakes team keeps themselves abreast of commercial trends, not only in the Canadian market, but in international markets as well.

    Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • The team brings a combination of legal expertise and a truly client-first approach. Whether navigating complex legal issues or offering strategic counsel, they consistently deliver top-tier service.

    Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Blakes has always been able to source the specialist support we need promptly and with impressive results.

    Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Blakes is highly responsive and big picture partners. They are also so smart, it is scary.

    Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Blakes’ team distinguishes itself through a combination of deep sector expertise, exceptional responsiveness and consistently high-quality advice.

    Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Marianne Smith
    Band 1Marianne Smith

    Marianne Smith

    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.

    • She has an exceptional knowledge base.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • Marianne has a huge knowledge base, particularly in procurement law and really good commercial sense and drafting skills. She can strike a balance between the best legal and practical solution.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • Marianne is very strong. She is really knowledgeable across all assets, has a good depth of knowledge and grasp on issues and is a really strong advocate for us.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Band 2Sébastien Vilder
    Band 2Sébastien Vilder

    Sébastien Vilder

    Montréal partner Sébastien Vilder frequently acts as lenders' counsel in relation to power projects, showing particular expertise covering wind farm developments.

    • Sébastien is an exceptional lawyer, whose deep expertise in project finance, particularly within the renewable energy sector, has been invaluable to our organisation.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • Sébastien is super knowledgeable in the industry. He is always available and very pragmatic.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Band 3Alain Massicotte
    Band 3Alain Massicotte

    Alain Massicotte

    Alain Massicotte leads the firm's Montréal infrastructure group, frequently acting for public authorities, sponsors and lenders on a range of project developments.

    • Alain has excellent vision.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Band 5Alyssa Shivji
    Band 5Alyssa Shivji

    Alyssa Shivji

    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 is fantastic and has really incredible attention to detail in drafting.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • Alyssa is really good at working with the team collaboratively and taking instructions. She is available, incredibly responsive and a really good drafter.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • Alyssa is a highly competent and hard-working counsel with great insight and sensitivity to our business.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingStephanie Console
    Up and ComingStephanie Console

    Stephanie Console

    Stephanie Console is based in the firm's Toronto office and has a particularly strong portfolio of expertise on procurement and infrastructure projects.

    • Stephanie is very patient, understanding and responsive.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • She understands and retains information, even on very complex concepts, with a level of competence that I have not seen before.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
  • Associates to watchPaulina Balabuch
    Associates to watchPaulina Balabuch

    Paulina Balabuch

    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.

    • She is excellent.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada
    • Paulina is super hard-working and gets us answers very quickly. She is detailed and always available.

      Projects: PPP & Infrastructure respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (6)

Nationwide - Canada

Members

Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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