Department profile
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Restructuring/Insolvency

Canada Guide 2027 : Nationwide - Canada


Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Recognized as one of Canada’s leading domestic and cross-border restructuring practices, the Blakes Restructuring & Insolvency group combines unmatched experience and depth to meet the immediate and critical needs of our clients with expert practitioners across Canada. Collaborating with our colleagues as needed in Financial Services, Capital Markets, Competition & Antitrust, Employment & Labour, Commercial Real Estate, Tax, Environmental and Intellectual Property, Blakes provides top-quality coordinated service and effective solutions to the unique and complex challenges clients face wherever the parties are located or the insolvency proceedings are commenced.

We represent all parties impacted by insolvencies and restructurings, including Canadian and U.S. banks and financial institutions, corporate debtors in domestic and cross-border insolvency proceedings, restructuring financial advisory firms that act as court officers, debtor-in-possession (DIP) lenders, and investors seeking to acquire assets and businesses in distressed circumstances.

We assist clients in a wide range of industries through workouts and restructurings (including under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA), cross-border recognition of Chapter 11 proceedings under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as well as federal and provincial corporate restructuring statutes), DIP financing, security enforcement, distressed business acquisitions and post-restructuring issues.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency - Nationwide - Canada

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For
Blake, Cassels & Graydon maintains a well-established restructuring and insolvency department with standout lawyers in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver. The team has a particularly strong presence representing major banks both domestically and internationally. It is widely acknowledged for its impressive track record of assisting clients from the financial services, mining and natural resources sectors with large CCAA and cross-border Chapter 11 proceedings. The firm is well placed to advise lenders, receivers and troubled businesses, and fields additional expertise in litigation, which includes experience before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon represented Deloitte Restructuring as monitor of JTI-Macdonald in connection with the Tobacco industry CCAA proceedings.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Blakes is highly knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of bankruptcy legislation and has an ability to convey advice in a clear, concise and practical manner.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Blakes has experienced resources that are respected by the courts and financial institutions involved in CCAAs.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • The lawyers I’ve worked with at Blakes are incredibly knowledgeable and responsive, and provide strong perspectives and analysis related to complex situations.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • The Blakes team are very good at highlighting critical issues and incorporating our responses.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • The firm is very service-oriented and has a deep bench strength across a number of legal specialty areas.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeoplePamela L. J. Huff
    Senior StatespeoplePamela L. J. Huff

    Pamela L. J. Huff

    Toronto-based Pamela Huff heads the nationwide restructuring and insolvency team at Blakes. She acts on a broad array of insolvency matters involving companies in sectors such as tobacco, construction and retail.
    • Pamela has significant experience in insolvency and is very well-known in the industry. Her knowledge of the court is also instrumental in getting matters resolved efficiently.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 1Kelly Bourassa
    Band 1Kelly Bourassa

    Kelly Bourassa

    Co-head of Blakes' restructuring and insolvency group in Calgary, Kelly Bourassa centres her practice on the representation of banks and financial institutions and has notable experience advising lending syndicates. She also demonstrates strength assisting with insolvency matters in the oil and gas space.

    • She is an amazing communicator who speaks with authority.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Kelly is a very seasoned restructuring and insolvency lawyer. She has provided exceptional service and has been incredibly approachable to work collaboratively through complex situations.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • She has significant experience in insolvency matters.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Kelly is in the top of her field nationally and internationally.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 2Linc Rogers
    Band 2Linc Rogers

    Linc Rogers

    Linc Rogers maintains an impressive practice which sees him represent court-appointed monitors as well as companies undergoing insolvency proceedings. He is based in Toronto and is co-practice group leader of the firm's restructuring and insolvency group.

    • He has the uncanny ability to remain calm and composed in stressful situations and pivot to other strategies when required.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Linc moves with total speed on the most important matters.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 2Peter Rubin
    Band 2Peter Rubin

    Peter Rubin

    Vancouver-based Peter Rubin is commended for his assured handling of several prominent CCAA proceedings and counts a number of financial institutions among his clients.
    • He is a subject matter expert who manages to convey complex concepts simply.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Peter is top of his field.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 4Milly Chow
    Band 4Milly Chow

    Milly Chow

    Milly Chow has notable experience acting for financial institutions and lending syndicates on restructuring and insolvency mandates. She is based in Toronto.
    • Milly is a pleasure to work with; very focused on the task and goes above and beyond on service delivery.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Milly's expertise and experience in dealing with complex issues make her one of our most trusted advisors. She has exceptionally strong strategic and negotiating skills and knowledge of insolvency law.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • She is a tireless advocate.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 5Aryo Shalviri
    Band 5Aryo Shalviri

    Aryo Shalviri

    Toronto-based partner Aryo Shalviri's flourishing practice encompasses a range of restructuring matters. He is experienced in handling distressed M&A and commercial reorganisations on behalf of a broad clientele.
    • Aryo is experienced and commercially minded and maintains an even‑keeled, balanced approach. At the same time, he is a staunch advocate for his clients and demonstrates deep subject‑matter expertise.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Aryo is extremely strategic and is capable of handling the most complex matters.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • He is a tireless advocate for his clients. He brings humanity, compassion and a practical approach to what he does.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • He’s smart, strategic and more responsive than any other lawyer I can think of.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 5Chris Burr
    Band 5Chris Burr

    Chris Burr

    Chris Burr is a Toronto-based partner with a growing presence in the space. He has notable experience acting on debt enforcements and liquidation proceedings.
    • Chris is extremely talented and creative, understanding the interplay between finance and restructuring practices.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Chris is knowledgeable, quick-moving and has good negotiation skills.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 6Gabriel Lavery Lepage
    Band 6Gabriel Lavery Lepage

    Gabriel Lavery Lepage

    Gabriel Lavery Lepage is a Montréal-based lawyer developing a strong reputation for representing clients in CCAA and BIA proceedings.

    • Gabriel is available, practical and capable of thinking outside of the box.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Gabriel is very technically strong and level-headed.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • He's very calm, always in collaboration mode and a hard worker.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Band 6Peter Bychawski
    Band 6Peter Bychawski

    Peter Bychawski

    Vancouver-based Peter Bychawski is noted for ably representing mining companies and banks as part of his restructuring and insolvency practice.
  • Up and ComingCaitlin McIntyre
    Up and ComingCaitlin McIntyre

    Caitlin McIntyre

    Caitlin McIntyre regularly supports her firm in cross-border bankruptcy proceedings for notable businesses between the United States and Canada. She is based in Toronto.

    • Caitlin is bright, diligent and service-oriented.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
    • Caitlin has very strong legal and communication skills. She also remains calm under significant time pressures.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingClaire Hildebrand
    Up and ComingClaire Hildebrand

    Claire Hildebrand

    Claire Hildebrand is a partner based in Blakes' Vancouver office, bringing experience in complex restructurings and high-stakes disputes.

    • Claire is a trusted restructuring and insolvency lawyer who has provided excellent counsel. She is incredibly responsive and is available to discuss legal matters in all aspects from less complex to highly complex issues.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentCanada
  • Associates to watchJake Harris
    Associates to watchJake Harris

    Jake Harris

    Jake Harris is experienced in cross-border bankruptcy proceedings, particularly those with litigious aspects. He is based in Toronto.

Ranked Individuals at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (12)

Nationwide - Canada

Members

Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership